Arts, Entertainment & Role Models

Friday, 29 October 2010 07:02

Written by EritreaCompass

UMOJA winner of Planet Africa Awards, FNB VITA Awards, Performing Arts Awards, SAMA Award

The Planet Africa Awards program is aimed at identifying and recognizing hard work, excellence and professionalism, which produce role models, especially for youngsters.

It is aimed at individuals, organizations and businesses making a profound difference in the lives of people of African heritage.

Two long-time friends and celebrities are responsible for bringing together a unique troupe of African dancers and singers. Todd Twala and Thembi Nyandeni met each other growing up in the townships during South African apartheid. Through their drive and careers they got a rare chance to see the world outside. Only a few "black shows" with tribal dances were allowed by the white rulers as they were regarded as primitive and harmless folklore. When apartheid was finally abolished in 1994, working conditions improved and in late 2001 the show "UMOJA – the Spirit of Togetherness" premiered in London's West End. Umoja and its cast emerged from a dance school in Soweto. An admirable project aiming to keep kids out of trouble and off the streets.

Arts, Entertainment & Role Models

Friday, 08 October 2010 12:44

Written by Tedros Markos

When Traditional Food Morphs into a Neo-Soul Music

Tedros Markos

A colleague of mine was telling me the other day of an amazingly impressive incident he observed at the Fourth National Eri-Youth Festival 2010. It is common knowledge that EriAm Sisters and Eri-Artists from the diaspora were among the prominent cultural troupes that staged marvelous musical shows. With an improvised rendition of a very well-known piece of music, Saba Tewelde took control of the podium owing to her exciting vocals that resonates Astyni May Tsemaeko–Offer Me a Drink of Water–from the main stage.