Ethiopia Blog 6: The Halfway Point
- May 12th, 2011
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So, he we are, at the halfway point of this journey. And so far, so EVERYTHING. I have felt great joy and connection on this trip, I have felt sadness, I have felt numb and completely alone in myself and views on life. I have loved the people here and I have said to hell with them. I have been very happy to be here and have wanted to go home a number of times as the vibe here at times has felt the farthest from any semblance of home. One of the things that I have always found challenging is when protocol, politics and the upholding of self-images get in the way of connection and love. This trip has been full of occasions where the essential point of being here becomes overlooked by some kind of agenda. What is the essential point of being here? For me, it is the desire to carry out connection to my fellow human beings to inspire through the sharing of music,togetherness and being. When I first heard about this opportunity to play in Ethiopia at The Music Without Boundaries Festival, I was very excited. I was excited at the title of the festival alone and traveling to somewhere that I have never been before. I envisioned meeting musicians and artists performing in the festival and in Ethiopia. And it has been that and it is has been obscured by politics and protocol. I recognize the importance of adhering to certain formalities but where I draw the line is when the relationship or interaction loses its organic quality and the protocol gets in the way of the essence. For me that essence is play,inspire,connect,love. Repeat. This is what everything I do is about. Reveling in the inherent value and simplicity of Being and watching what unfolds from there.
What I can sense here in Ethiopia is a rapid and exponential development. It feels like the Ethiopia of this moment is drastically different from what it was 6th years ago and this seems to continue everyday even though seems to move very slow here. The view from my 9th floor balcony hotel is quite poignant. Below,me I can see the swanky recreation area of the Addis Hilton with its lounge, tennis courts and swimming pool. In front of me I can see high rises being built , some in their beginnings others in their early stages. Outside of the gates of The Hilton lies a shanty town where the poor. All this juxtaposed by this epic sight of the natural beauty of the mountains calling forth the majesty of this historic country.
In this moment. I just came from downstairs, a little break from what felt like slight kinks in the flow of my thoughts. I walked around the hotel lobby, went outside and gazed the beautiful sunshine. A little boy said hello and I waved back. I went back inside and the lovely woman who performs the coffee ceremony in the Hilton introduces herself after seeing a couple of performances here in Addis. I am back in my room with a warm smile on my face, with the humorous thought in my head. “What the hell were those last two paragraphs about?” In this moment this trip has been wonderful. 
Thanks for the uncut reality check. How do the Ethiopians feel about the changes of the last 6 years? Are they political too?
Love this, you paint a vivid picture and I like the texture of feelings you embrace here that sort of mirrors the scenery you discribe from you hotel view.
Interesting!
I was looking for Bellevue jazz festival artist and show schedules but in the process I stumbled to your blogs about trip to Ethiopia, at first I was confused…amI in the right place? and then I glanced the headline… suddenly stopped and start reading and didn’t stop until I finished every last one of your trips blogs, very powerful from human 101 prospective. I like the way you express your momentous experiences on your trip, very natural, honest, and vivid…it invites your readers to imagine, think and examine themselves/how would they react, respond or feels, also its very engaging, you lay it down in a very humanistic way possible.
You are not only gifted musician but talented writer as well, I think your musical ability play a role for seeing things the way they are and associate them with yourself genuinely….what do you think?
I am originally from Ethiopia/Addis Ababa, I left home in my late teens, since then I went back to visit three times, during those visits I spend great deal of times exploring Ethiopia, East, central and North Africa so I know exactly what you mean when you trying to express your view by being honest to yourself at the time….. many thanks for sharing.
It saddened me that the culture and traditions of many societies in this country are eroding faster than the land they are farming on, especially among young generations, loosing such a basic ingredients in the society could cause identity crisis for coming generations. (not that everything is there fault, thats another story)
On my trip to Ethiopia last November I was also in ‘Allzie Jazz’ Lounge, reminds me good ole days smoky jazz clubs here in US…any way I had great time, I also had a chance to met a couple of young musician Henok/the Drummer and Yared /electric bassist/, you may had met them they are regular gigs in that joint.
I am glad you made this trip and enjoyed it, specially your connection with the young Yusef… very touching, you probably made the turning point in this boy’s life for better…we never know, what count is you took the time and acknowledged his presence and that means a lot for any one
perhaps we will chat more when I see you again in ‘LUCID’, but 1st I will see you @ ‘Twisted Cork’.
By the way, have you heard a composition by pianist Larry Willis called ‘Ethiopia’ from his album ‘The Offering’/2008, I am not sure what inspired him to write the tune, but I like it , there is Chellos/or standup base part at the beginning of the tune its silky and meditational..which mimic the very foundation of Ethiopian music/in church, the traditional instrument is called ‘beggena’, you may have heard of it.
Cheers
Abe