Awtar Launches Its New Beta Application

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Ethiopia: Bridging Cultures Through Music

2 MONTHS AGO

Girma Yifrashewa, *a classical pianist*, performed at skylight hotel his newest album on January 30. Girma asserted that art has the ability to bridge cultures especially music. "Even if you don't speak the language, music can help bridge cultures. Music is a universal language that can bridge cultures". Girma said that this has been on his agenda for about two years now. Currently, the US Embassy has been holding a week of art celebrations. A group of American artists, DJs, dancers, and a graffiti artist have been doing a series of workshops at Yared School of Music, which is under the College of Performing and Visual Arts at Addis Ababa University. Girma narrated how he came to do this project during the press conference. Grima said: "A visual artist from Pennsylvania University contacted me. The artist wanted me to be part of the project and to promote Louis Moreau Gottschalk music in a bigger art exhibition, and he was happy to include me and do this recording if I was interested in this project. When he contacted me, I was not aware of the American composer and I was then curious to listen to Gottschalk music. Once I listened to his music, I was in awe. In order to get this project done I requested the support of the US embassy and the current Ambassador was very supportive of my idea." Girma describes Gottschalk's music as traditional and classical that were inspired from Latin America and others. The visual artist David Hart said the music was very similar adding that he noticed that love and peace was similar to Gottschalk styles. Girma said: "I appreciated how he discovered this similarity between my music and Gottschalk. I was very surprised because Gottschalk composition is traditional inspired and collected from Latin America, traditional folk music and the Banjo from West Africa." Girma said that he wanted to inspire other African musicians with this and thought it was a wonderful opportunity. He was especially awe-struck with Gottschalk banjo inspired music as it was the most popular piece and closer to home as it is easy for the African audience. Girma had released four Albums: the Shepherd with the Flute in 2001, Meleya Keleme in 2003, Elilta in 2005 and Love and Peace which included 5 pieces, The Shepherd with the Flute, Ambassel, Sememen, Elilta, and Chewata. Organizing such an event in Ethiopia takes courage as classical music is not as favored as other trendy music in Ethiopia. This project had some challenges that needed overcoming. Sadly, as there is no grand piano in Ethiopia, Girma had problems with that and only Sheraton Hotel has a piano that can be used, but it is very expensive to use. Yet they were able to overcome this. Organizers of the event expected around 1000 people to attend. The podium was full of people excited to see the performance and the exceptional stage and lightning system was also notable.

Awtar Launches Its New Beta Application

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