My uncle told me this from his own personal experience of an remarkable man. Just like the story of my professor’s father in law, I find it very interesting and keep retelling it over and over.

Last week, I was in Chicago for a week, I met lots of people who I have met before and some others for the first time ever. I look at their faces and realize I knew them somehow, in particular cases I remembered how I knew them but not their names. In certain instances, I would need a name before I realize who they actually were.

I was running down to the bernos booth while Dawit was looking for me. He was standing there waiting for me with a familiar face, and nothing more.

I spoke with this person casually for a few minutes before my memory was triggered. I felt bad about it and gave him a hug. I was supposed to know this person, because this person is special to bernos.

Eventually, we spoke more and caught up! This person probably has no idea that I didn’t remember him initially.

My uncle, who years ago worked in a very large corporation, told me that he was introduced to the CEO and they casually spoke about family and life. A year later that same CEO came in town and they bumped into each other and he called him by his name and asked him personal questions.

My uncle was shocked that this man who probably met dozens of new people daily would remember an encounter that happened a year earlier in such detail. He asked him how he is able to retain information in such a manner as to not offend many not so important people. The CEO gets interrupted and never responds to my uncle.

Another half a year goes by and my uncle is called by the executive assistant to a conference room all the senior VP’s and Chief’s were in a seminar of some sort.

My uncle walked in and sits in the back listening. The speaker of was an expert consultant that was there to give the honchos information on how to be better leaders in their senior roles that demand such high level of multi tasking and networking with thousands of employees and clients.

They were told to unwind at the end of the night, sit and think for two to five minutes at the end of each night going through the day, remembering each person they meet as well as vital information’s of the day.

I was so impressed that the CEO would remember to call my uncle to the seminar because he never actually answered the question when he initially asked; I started using the same technique.

I was always one of those people that remember things I promise to do, although I have twice in 2009 ignored people that wanted me to do them favors after I initially committing to certain projects.

My uncles account was again triggered my experience with a bernos fan, this last week. I really wondered how public officials do campaigning without offending important people who happened to be supporters and donors without offending them.

I got a tweet, via my TwitterFox and its said praying for MJ. I was thinking Michael Jordan for some reason. I left it go and searched the web.  Later I heard he went to the hospital and then he died. I got a lot of text messages.

Eventually it was confirmed. I am so sad! Recently I found out someone I knew that was really young had died and I was and have been thinking that I should make the best out of my life because you never know what could happen tomorrow.

Rest in Peace MJ

The 25th of the Ethiopian soccer tournament in DC was well organized and well executed. Now it is on to the windy city of Chicago, and ESFNA has been steadily improving as an organization. The vendors are becoming more noteworthy and offering better products for our niche market. The facilities have noticeably improved, since the venues of high schools and community colleges and so has commercial and monetary aspects of the tournament. People often complained about ESFNA and their inadequacies. However, we must disagree because they have come a long way, and love going.

What if any problems do you have with ESFNA?

AND what are you looking forward to in Chicago?

This year bernos is looking forward to topping the fashion show we had at LOVE, DC’s biggest nightclub, with a live photo shoot in one of Chicago’s hottest nightclubs.

We’ve decided to put a twist on our event this year. We will have Model’s and a photographer in one of Chicago’s state of the art Avila nightclub.

What is a Fashionista?

You. We believe that everyone has their own style and sets their own trends. We don’t believe in following a trend, we believe in making a statement. We’re working with Bernos’ own Beshou and her Rendez-Vous crew to pull off Thursday night, July 2nd, at Avila Night club.

The bernos booth

We are going to live for 7 days in Chicago, full time, full crew, stocked and ready to meet new Midwestern folks.  Come by the bernos booth to get your tees (including a limited edition of the original Addis Ababa Classic). Take a picture and get to know us.

One of the most popular phrases,

If it works in Africa, it will work anywhere.

The statement I am quite familiar with was recently harked back by one of the most popular African bloggers is Hash aka Erik Hersman of White African who actually grew up in Kenya & Sudan.

I think this statement as well as Hash’s AfriGadjet showcases the African ingenuity & persistence.

I sometimes feel like I lack real African experiences but sometimes I am dubious about my uncertainty thankfully by my social interactions. I am not the worldliest persons but I at least appreciate the fact that I am connected to Africa everyday through the internet.

Of course my route here at bernos has been not only a creative outlet by a link to my Afrocentricity.

But reading blogger’s like Hash makes me really sad because I feel like as Africans we tend to refrain from sharing real world social experience. There is a huge gap in the amount of socially relevant literature, media outlets and even in the form of art.

At the end we African are to blame because most of us that are lucky enough to have an extra minute or two after the struggle for survival tend to worry about life from a limited perspective.

We educate ourselves in western values! And easily dismiss our own social culture, art, and talent. Thus artists, craftsmen, and authors are discouraged to continue to struggle to share their life through their art.

I envy those westerners that appreciate Africa and African culture and art more that real Africans, because their lives are the better for it.

In my business, that is the web world words like SEO, analytics and great content are thrown around. For most of you they might not mean much but they break or make a business or a website.

At the end ‘Content is King,’ brings in the people. Magazine editors and web publishers knew this long time ago, and successful bloggers are making living. Of course, it’s a different world trying to compete in a niche market.

Here at bernos, I analyze the traffic. Where is it coming from? What are they looking for? It’s interesting in two aspects, for me. I am in the business and the topics interest me.

One of the most read bernos post is the “How to Ask Ethiopian Girls Out?” almost 400 comments and counting. The top searched key words that direct traffic to bernos are “bernos, bernos blog, and then Ethiopian girls.” People are coming to bernos looking for Ethiopian girls; and I find it fascinating that there are more people looking for Ethiopian girls as opposed to African Tees.

Google tracks top searched keywords via Google trends and that information is public up to a certain extent. I wish, much like many SEO guru’s and web marketers I could have a good look in their data for demographic tendencies.

How to land an Ethiopian girl?

How To Pick Up An Ethiopian Girl? According to Roosh you need to create a connection with her. Of course if you are already Ethiopian you can skip this step.

Don’t get intimidated by beauty? According to the guy that asked the question, it seems like he has a fetish like need for an Ethiopian girl. Of course, this approach will definitely get you turned down fast. Most Ethiopian girls do not know the reason some non-Ethiopian males want them for not who they are as opposed to what they are. You would have to make them think you are interested in who she is as opposed to what she is.

This dude apparently is intimidated by her Ethiopianess. At the end she is just a girl, just like every other girl. This outlook will definitely get you turn down real fast.

What you really need to know?

• Be straight forward, telling her your intention right away is a sure way not to get in the Ethiofused — friendship zone.
• Play it cool; girls do not respect men that are all over them.
• Be persistent, if you really want her. Ethiopian girls are more likely to be more confused than other women. She will change her mind if you are persistent.
• If she wants to be friends, run away. A girl whose intent is keeping many platonic male friends around tends to be selfish and just need attention.

Good Luck!

Do I need to say more! She is the champ of folding.

I don’t know how to fold, so it always impressing to see some people organize their cloth so well. My sister probably has the most organized closet from the people I know.

And then their is Dawit, he is very annoying with his perfection when it comes to folding and organizing stuff.  I send mine out to the washers, it comes back  as seen here.

Besides being a popular phrase; ‘state of mind’ is the perspective on which you look at situations. Yes my definition because I was not able to find my application of the phrase online being described.

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear”

I love that phrase because perception is not reality; and reality is relative perception. Are you confused yet?

I have heard people say, ‘he/she hurt me;’ and the fact is he/she did. And that is reality! If someone feels hurt it’s a fact, regardless of the action that caused the hurt by general measurable standards was considered hurtful.

So being hurt is a ‘State of Mind.’

I find myself saying, I don’t care if it works out it works out and if doesn’t then so be it. Eventually I believe it, and then I live it and truly I didn’t care.

I just found out some news that could have been looked at as either a positive or a negative. I found myself looking at it negatively and being unhappy about it. But in reality since the news is a fact that I can’t change, I should have tried to look at it positively so that I could actually be nonchalant about it.

If you are like me… and like most people drinking coffee is an integral part of your daily routine. Be it one cup or five cups most of us drink at least once a day.

The few people I know that do not drink coffee; I call them decaffeinaterians, annoy me! I drink coffee first thing in the morning; and most of the time I don’t stop drinking till about early afternoon. I know that maybe a bit too much but my current office doesn’t have free coffee and I am been forced to decrease the input in my coffee.

The few days I am too tired or too behind schedule to brew my morning coffee… I pick it up from 7-11 or Starbuc {I say starbuc not Star Bucks).

Let’s get to the point of this post. I am sure most of you like Macchiatos Ethiopian style. For example, most Ethiopians haven’t had Cafe Americano before they left Ethiopia. Americano is the regular hot water drip coffee we buy in the US. The prevalence of American style coffee throughout the world is well I don’t know and I couldn’t find the details via Google.

I have had many types of coffees, including the ever popular Ethiopian style brewing as seen on bernos’ buna tee. I love the Turkish style infusion; I had the privilege of enjoying some 11 years ago when I had it at middle-eastern friends place. Cerve pronounced ‘Jez-veh’ is used to boil powdered beans and let tell settle before drinking.

A recent ‘fancy’ French restaurant served me coffee made with French press. I think it makes some really refined coffee, but the key to the French coffee is the freshness of the roast. Here in the US almost everyone buys roasted coffee, only a few of us do grind our coffee ourselves.

My favorite type of coffee has to be the Ethiopian style Macchiato, and no barista from Italy can make me the Macchiato the way I like. Ethiopian baristas since the days of Kebele 23 coffee shop have been making it the way; I started to drink between the ages of 8-11. Pictured scene above, enjoying my Macchiato at Dama Coffee & Bakery!

There is the pure Espresso, and there is the popular Cappuccino but the Caffè Macchiato is the middle ground and it’s the best. Caffè Macchiato is stained Espresso, the reason was according to how wiki describes it:

for the baristas to show the serving waiters the difference between an espresso and an espresso with a little milk in it; the latter was marked.”

the perfect ratio

There is a new trend; I haven’t seen this as Starbucks or any major chains but in a two city shops, one in the north side of Manhattan and in a small Shop in DC. They call it Latte macchiato but it’s basically a half a shot large Cappuccino. Not to be confused with a Misto or Café Au Lait, which is my sister’s favorite at Star Bucks, which is the Americano over milk.

The perfect Macchiato is not stained; it’s not dropped like the Portuguese. Its two tablespoons of at milk, and foam till it covers every surface of the serving dish.

There was a fantastic article of how the ratio of Espresso changes with the choice of serving paper cups at Starbucks.

A short and ‘Tall’ get one shot while a ‘Venti’ gets two shots of Espresso. Thus a ‘Venti’ is stronger that a Tall. A ‘Short’ which also comes with one shot is the strongest. A macchiato comes stained and bitter. I now have devised the best way to order a Macchiato at Star Bucks.

A short cappuccino has a 1 to 3 ratio; the latter being the steamed milk. Want you want to do is get to the 2 to 1 ration; you want twice the amount of Espresso to the milk to get to as close to the Ethiopian style as possible.

A Short double shot dry Cappuccino will get you 50/50. If you order it with extra foam or with room then the space needed will be fulfilled by the amount of steamed milk, and thus arriving to the perfectly blended Ethiopian style Macchiato.

I like to organize my time to the point of oblivion; I have various projects in my hands at all times.

For bernos alone, I might have to write out an email to our e-newsletter subscribers, update some web advertisements among many other small menial tasks of running a really small business.

For the day job, it’s a whole list of tasks that you guys are probably familiar with — like reading your emails and responding to some.

I am always late to jump on new technology, especially those related to social aspects. I think email is the best thing since sliced bread; up to the point that I prefer not to date someone that is not apt to communicating via email.

One of the tools we love here at bernos is Facebook, although I have been somewhat critical of it. A friend was supposed to send me some details and she opted to send it via Facebook mail. Needless to say, I was very annoyed. Email it!

I use various task lists, Gmail calendar, work calendar, Gmail Tasklist, Tada list and for my work my beloved Moleskin Legendary Notepad (seen on the image above, that is my hand). I use it to draw mock-ups for my designs as well as organizing my thoughts on how I am going to approach my design projects and front end coding.

On my task list, for months (since Dec 08 actually) has been researching how bernos is going to utilize Twitter. I have a very simple understanding of how Twitter works. And I signed up as myself after getting a lot of invites from various sources.

Now I just completed signing up we are going tweeting. Already following Chachi Taddesse!

On my task list this week is to learn as much as I can about tweeting — mainly how to tweet via phone and then connect the tweet to be the same as our bernos fans page status.

Once this whole thing gets connected we will be connected in real-time from with bernosiawians, or should I say Twitterers?

Update: Twitter officially is having some major problems… the account i signed up for – actually two of them are not working. What a waste of 1.5 hours I spent trying to figure it out. I am pissed. Its things like this that discourage some of the things I try to do.

Up Finally Follow us on Twitter:http://twitter.com/bern0s

If you have been reading bernos for a while, then you will know that the bernos readers helped name a midget; a baby that is.

My sister had another baby boy today. Betam interesting. Eventually all these babies that all you people are having will be adults. It’s amazing!

Congratulations to my sister, I guess! I must say I don’t beleive in having babies for sociopolitical reasons, which I don’t want to get into right now.

Right now it’s champagne time, because I am an uncle again for the 4th time in less than 3 years.

Wowzer’s the power life!

A protracted effort from all of us her at bernos, we took our time since our last launch. We’ve had a few local events including the ‘I am bernos: openhouse,’ which was a success thanks to our fans. We reproduced some of our existing concepts for wholesale on demand; details will come in the near future with a new section on our website with information on press and bernos vendors.

Buna

In recent years, there has been a push by East African coffee farmers to market themselves as throughout history they have produced the finest coffee in the world.

Celebrating the East African coffee ceremony is bernos’ Buna concept with the motifs of the Jebena (coffee brewer) & Sini/Finjal (cups). Our aim was to reflect that our culture, the coffee ceremony is more than a ‘coffee Break;’ the ritual is an expression representing a spiritual time of the day to look at our blessings and give thanks to our elders.

No to go cups here! We start by roasting some fresh Sidamo beans, and then enjoying the aromatic smoke of the roasted coffee beans. Then the roasted coffee beans are grinded into powder by hand and then brewed with no filter in the Jebena; we let the ground beans rest for a while before serving. Re-brewing is a must for a second round of serving and possibly a third round.

Presenting the bernos’ Buna;  now available on silver American Apparel tee for only $20.95.

African Warrior

‘More than defensive weaponry’ the African shield is ‘power, art & identity.’ With this concept we are trying to show that the African Shied is not just warfare equipment; it serves in multiple capacities as emblems of status, rank & art.

With that in mind we looked at a lot of African shields from all over Africa. We loved the texture & softness of the Azande shields from Congo; and the colors of the Masai Warriors shield and clothing. With inspiration to include the peoples of the Lower Omo Valley to the peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro we created our own ‘power, art & identity’ through the shapes, color and texture of the African Shield and Spear.

We call this concept the bernos African Warrior, and it’s available on slate American Apparel tee for only 21.95.

I struggle with this; being complacent is one of those things that come with consistency in our lives. Stability, resilience & security are some of the things we strive for as we get older.

In reality though in our lives —although stable with basic necessities — we are dealing with problems that come and go; losing a job, relationship problems, and health issues among the many unforeseen variables. The mundane and trivial trails that god — if you believe in that — or pure existence puts us through. The other most stable part of almost everyone’s lives are the people that somehow share your livelihood; friends, family, random relationships & significant others.

I have seen this from different angles. I have disregarded — aka taken for granted people who happen to be involved in my life because I was dealing with a major headache of some sort that instance, that week, or even that month.

I have seen others overlooking friends just because they are in a new romantic soiree. I have seen new significant others ruining friendships and relationships within the family.

I have lost friends that were an integral part of my life and I of theirs because we being incompatible due to married. They now have married friends; his wife prefers him not hanging out or even talking with someone that marks single on their tax forms.

Long ago a friend asked me to join him on a night out in town; I declined to join him. He was adamant on a legitimate excuse for my hesitation to join him and then asserted that if the shoes were the other way around it wouldn’t be the case.

Most people, I have noticed would generally give a white lie in this situation. I have to do some errands; I have a headache or something to that extent. I usually do not lie about such trivial things and I get in trouble for it.

The thing is; he who asked to join him had in the past ignored me for months when he was hot & heavy in love with a new girl. So I mentioned it, and he said yes, if he was to do it all over again he would – he exhaled. Meaning it should be that way, apparently friends should step aside when its not convenient for them.

I have seen this happened not just to me but in society in general. Not to say I have never been guilt, I have been — I have said that I just can’t make it tonight I have to go see about a girl. Gin its never been so bad that I would avoid my friends at all costs including phone calls just because I happen to be in love this month.

You see what people tend to forget is that friends & family are there forever through thick and thin. They don’t leave you because you are broke or you gained weight or lost your hair or you go to jail. Significant others are not replacements and should not be treated as such.

Don’t take me for granted, I never have!

A couple of months ago, we told you about this artist named K’naan. We also told you that we attended his concert in DC and that was great. I also wrote a short review of his album , Troubadour. We also had the chance to meet K’naan, his band and his management team.

At that particular moment, we gave them some Bernos shirts. Now, we didn’t think they were going to wear the shirts on stage for any concert. Most of the time, artists have a set wardrobe for their shows, or some prefer to wear what they feel. A few nights later, they had a show in philly, which I attended (yes again, sue me). Rayzak, one of the band members wore the “ET ALIEN” shirt. It was such a surprise! I did not expect it.

Yesterday morning on my way to work, I read online that K’naan’s wearing the “MADE IN AFRICA” shirt on his new music video, T.I.A (This Is Africa). Now mind you, this on the train with a phone that I can’t really stream videos. I call Nolawi and he doesn’t pick up.

I call Dawit 6:30am, he thinks that something happened to me. When I informed him, he said “what? beshou I thought something was wrong with you! Call me back later” and he hung up the phone. I don’t think it registered. So here I am on my way to work and no access to VIMEO.

Long story short, I saw the video later that day and was blown away. Not only is the video visually stimulating, but that K’naan was wearing the Bernos shirt throughout the video. It litterally made our day. Dawit and I were calling each other throughout the day and could not hide our excitement. I finally got a hold of Nolawi and expressed how excited I was.

We want to thank all of you for your support the last few years. We have a positive artist sending out a great message wearing our shirt. This is the greatest gift to us. Next on our list is to be in your local store, to go national and international. This is just the beginning for us and we hope you join us on our journey. Because without you, our customers, supporters, friends and family, Bernos would not be where it is at. Thank you!

Enjoy the following videos!

K’NAAN “T.I.A” music video directed by: NABIL from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Wavin’ Flag

Bernos is back at it again! And this time we’re here to spruce up your wardrobe, with some African flavor. Who says a t-shirt can’t be sexy, fashionable and make statement?

We have 2 new shirts that will be available for sale. Be the first one to purchase your shirt! We usually don’t do open houses, so this would be a great time for us to meet our clientele, our customers and our avid blog followers.

If you’ve been to our events in the past you know what you’re in for and if this is your first time…you don’t want to miss it.

4NXC Boutique is allowing us to host the launch of the new line with an in store event.
Beverages will be provided by Blue Storm Energy.

Hope to see you all there! For more info check out our website.

Most of you probably have never heard of a Holga. A Holga is a camera that is down to the bare bone of its essential; A  hole for the light to expose the film.

Years ago I actually built a camera from scratch, a pinhole camera based on a cardboard can. Those of you that are connected with me and the bernos crew on facebook ( your cue to become our fan) know that we have a group of sorts who go out and experiment with our fancy SLR camera’s.

I read a website called Ken Rockwell and according to him the camera doesn’t matter— and the more I know and read about photography techniques the more I realize there is so much about photography outside of technical specifications of your camera. Obviously its very important to know how to manipulate your camera to the extreme. Understanding how a camera works and how it operates, what an aperture does; is more important than how expensive your camera is.

In layman’s by wiki “The Holga is an inexpensive, medium format 120 film toy camera, made in China, appreciated for its low-fidelity aesthetic.”

Take a look at this wonderful shot I found on Flickr.  Very nice photo and I probably would not be able to recreate unless I was there the moment the subject turned away to look in the field of endless yellow flowers.

Today I got my Holga in the mail and I spent the evening customizing it via youtube as you can see in the picture above. Tomorrow I will take my first shot and in month I will get it washed.

I actually have posted a few finds over the last month, from the films of Habesha Life and music video of Munit.

As a whole it seems like the Ethiopian readers of bernos are very harsh critics of the arts they are provided for free.

It seems to me like there are disproportionately higher numbers of Ethiopian haters compared with other societies.

I have also noticed that credibility for an artist for the Ethiopian community comes only after there has been a societal consensus.

This is like the empty weyiyite cab, no one wants to use because it’s going to use a time to fill — once it gets half way people fight to get it.

I have seen it over and over and over — 5 years ago I read a review of Wayna were the author basically ripped up her talent and music for no apparent reason. I don’t remember the details but I wonder what his reply is going to be if he/she was confronted with the details of his/her words and a Grammy nomination.

In conclusion, what I am saying is that ‘most of you are talentless assembly line workers,’ think about that before you start hating what your mind is not capable of comprehending.

Supporting the arts and artist is an enlightening experience which can possibly upgrade your simple existence. Or go get married to someone like you, have a baby and move to the suburbs.

Over the past few years, this phenomenon of blogging has taken over the Internet. Personally, the only blog I religiously follow, and this may be because I am biased, is Bernos. Not to say there aren’t any good ones out there, because there are,  I just may not know about them or don’t have enough energy to muster up and search the world wide web.

However, an honorable mention would be Tse’s Senduq. That being said, in college we were used to web zines. What are web zines?  A prime example would be abesha . I actually used to submit short stories and poems to them, before i lost my knack for writing. More than a webzine, the writers, the individuals behind abesha became family to me over the years.

As the website grew, so did my thirst for perhaps something similar to abesha. Much to my surprise, I landed on Seleda . A friend of mine wanted me to read an article he had written to be submitted to them. I had no idea what they were about, who they were. One thing I knew is that they had peaked my interest. Here was a website (or webzine) whose contributors were not only writing in English but almost in Amharic. But the Amharic was not only in fidel, it was in latin. Seleda is/was from a different breed.

Call me naive, innocent, or what have you but I was impressed and intrigued. Moreover, these contributors were only known by their monikers and their identities remained a secret. So here I am, a 19 yr old college student, thinking I had found the best thing since sliced bread (in the case the sliced bread would be abesha ). A secret society of intellectuals who prefer to addressed as ‘Seledochu’ had me little old me mesmerized.

I’d engulf myself in their website and I could not wait until the next issue came out. One day, I waited, waited and waited. Nothing. Still Nothing. Rumor had it that they were coming out with a new one. Weeks passed, months passed and NOTHING.

The ‘Seledechoh’ had left the world wide web without a proper good bye.

Five years after their dramatic disappearance, they ARE BACK!! Back for one last hurrah! And this time they are going out with a BANG.I wish I could give you a preview of what is in the works, but I can’t. It’s not because I don’t want to, it’s because I do not know, which means it’s something great in the making. Nolawi told me they were coming back and I was ecstatic!

One last issue to quench my thirst and put me (and others) at ease. I’ve always wondered about the identity behind these fascinating characters, but I don’t want to kill my curiosity. So ladies, gather up the jebena and the senis, this is going to be one ‘Intin’ buna session you are going to gossip about for a while. Gentlemen, forget the politics chewata or the next barca vs ‘Intin’ game. This is one virtual event you do not want to miss. When is it you might ask? Well, we’ll leave that up to Seledochu.

The first time I saw Tilahun live, I couldn’t help the tears that fell down my cheeks. He was so humble when people would come and talk to him. He was on a wheel chair but yet he would try to raise himself up to show respect.

There are a few song by Tilahun I constantly listen too. He is the undisputed king of modern Ethiopian Music and I think that title is going to stay with him for the rest of my lifetime.

Tilahun Gessesse, 69, passed away at midnight on Sunday while he was being taken to the hospital feeling serious pain.

Rest in Peace Tilahun!

I’ve posted some old school videos of the Late singer so some of you youngins can listen and appreciate the style and grace.

I do have a few Tilahun jokes as well, which I would like to share with you guys but since it doesn’t translate that well, I might just podcast.

I have often complained whenever I hear new music from Ethiopia or by Ethiopians. Obviously I’ve heard a few sounds over the last 5 years that doesn’t make me cringe.

I do not like synthesized music — Melaku Sahluof Addis Connexion wrote a nice piece explaining our complaints as well as the thought from the musicians perspective.

An audience that is largely ambivalent to the precipitously detrimental effects of unlicensed copying and distribution (especially given the increasingly easy ways to do this) results in untold amounts of lost revenue and the forms of music copyrights and distribution traditionally practiced, leave many artists at a distinct financial disadvantage.  The net effect may be that some amount of talent may not enter the field at all or produce work that is not of the quality that it could be.  Many music purists have complained about the proliferation of synthesized sounds throughout contemporary Ethiopian music but the prohibitive costs of using live musicians for endless recording sessions cannot be practical to all but the most successful artists unless the current business model is changed quite a bit.

Now when I want to hear something new that is from Ethiopia, I listen to Azmari musica, I haven’t liked anything out of Ethiopia since forever.

Ere  Bati Bati: Etenshe & Gashaw

I do like stuff by Ethiopians that are not in Ethiopia. I like Ethiopian Hip Hop or jazzist like Either Orchestra or Dereb Desalegn and Nicky Bomba.

I know and have heard Munit from the above for years when she was backup for Wayna or singing live with Burntface. I like her style and music.

We all have heard the stories… the ones that start by saying you know so and so killed his wife or so and so tried to kill her boyfriend and lately I have heard so and so killed his wife and then shot himself to death.

Now what I want to know is why do we as individuals go that far and not even consider seeking professional help? What is holding us back? Could it be we are scared of being labeled as “crazy” by our community for seeing a mental health professional?

I think we as a society could take some of the blame for being quick in labeling some individuals “crazy.” Do we ever think of the word “crazy” and how it affects an individual? I also think some of the myths we hear about counseling and psychiatrists actually plays a role in making our decision not to seek help.

I can tell you from my own circles of friends and random people I encounter on social events say to me “Therapy?  Please that stuff never works for Abesha people” or my favorite one is “Crazy people need therapy I’m not crazy” and another one that makes me smile is when I hear older people say to me, “Well that’s what buna is for… by the time you drink the third round you have solved your problems.”

Granted that might have worked for them but in this day and age something has got to give for our generation. I think we should all participate in creating awareness about this issue.

The Film continues, I am still hooked! I love drama, dating worE.

What do you think of this episode, I had wished they showed a bit more about the new girl that is kinda waiting for the guy at the bar.

And the funniest part of all, the guy picked that girl up for a possible one night stand. BesaQ!

Interview by Shirlene Alusa-Brown (jamati.com) Photography by Bernos | Posted Monday, April 6, 2009

Bernos stands for quality.  Bernos stands for cultural pride.  But what is Bernos? Bernos is becoming a cultural phenomenon in the Washington DC area.  Their shirts have been seen on K’naan, featured on several local news outlets, and are poised to make a difference in a big way in the region.  Their fans have been growing and their t-shirts can be spotted on any given day in the DC area.  What made them such a phenomenon?  Jamati.com caught up with them to find out.

Jamati: Bernos has come a long way from its humble beginnings.  How did you all, as founding members come up with the idea to make t-shirts?

That’s a good question. The idea behind making Bernos t-shirts is simply organic. We were all looking for a way to express ourselves creatively and felt it would be a great avenue to do something that came naturally. Being lovers of t-shirts, and it being the main source of our fashion statement, we wanted to design t-shirts that expressed our historical and cultural landmark. Each one of us plays a respective role in the daily operations of the organization. Together we each bring our individual skills in the areas of business, fashion, graphic design, and photography. With all our talents combined it was inevitable that our brain child Bernos was born.

To read the rest of the interview, please visit www.jamati.com

There was a note weeks ago that was sent out from Facebook headquarters to the users about some changes taking place.

In it they also announced that they reached 150 million users in February, meaning:

it would be the eighth most populated in the world, just ahead of Japan, Russia and Nigeria.”

Wow, so Facebook is so famous and so used that online businesses that are not utilizing it as a resource are just going to die eventually.

One recruiter I worked with recently has a group that she updates with jobs that she is recruiting for.

I am against Facebook in many ways although I use it extensively. Beshou filled up my application for Facebook months ago and I was one of the most last webby type to get on Facebook, although we do have a bernos group.

When I updated my profile, I decided to put ‘None’ for the location but ‘None’ is a city in Japan, I later found out.

I got an email from a random Ethiogirl saying she wanted to see me on her next visit to Japan, along a list of other Ethiopian residing in or around Japan. With replies and updates at least a dozen emails went back and forth before I told them I didn’t know what they were talking about and to take me out of their list of Ethiopians living around Japan.

Weeks later one Sunday morning I receive a call from an international number, I didn’t pick it up the first time, but it rang again. I picked it up and ended up talking to an Ethiopian girl in Dubai, who apparently found me interesting, although she didn’t even know about bernos.

Usually its bernos that makes me interesting but this time it was me, I don’t know what. She asked what I was doing in Japan and that is when I realized that people thought I was in Japan because of my Facebook profile.

So serious, aye… I once had a phone call from a friend — a girl who was dating this guy whose picture she saw on his ex girlfriends profile together looking all cute and happy.

She asked if it was too forward to ask him if the picture was taken after they started dating. I told her “No,” if she indeed asks this, then he is going to think that the she is too much into his business too fast. Which eventually will change his outlook on her; well she asked and I was right, the relationship ended.

I also heard a story recently in which someone who was engaged got a note from a girl on his profiles wall saying thank you for helping me move from my apartment.

His fiancée saw this and put the brakes on the engagement because he hadn’t told her that he helped a friend who just happens to be a girl move without telling her.

I was thinking if she was going to be like that… good riddens eh! The marriage would have been a headache anyways.

Take me to the streets of Bamako
Camel trekking to Timbuktu
Lead me to a silent prayer in Djenné
Barefoot dancing with the Tuareg in Essakane

N’Tesse by Bamada
N’Tesse by Bamada

Strike the balafon
“Anke dje, anke be” – Everyone gather together
Strike the djembe

The griot spins oral tales
He weaves me into a fabric of Malian existence
Hips oscillating to a talking drum
Head flings back, arms raised high, legs flaying back and forth
To a sounou dance – I’m in a trance

Rhythms of nostalgia
Caressing to calm my gooseflesh
Chants of an ancient kingdom
Engulfing me with euphoria
I’m set into vibration
The shaking, the rubbing, the scraping
Being made love to in sweet percussion.

Massakè by Bamada
Massakè by Bamada

Source: Eric LAFFORGUE

Selam Sewoch, I haven’t been writing on bernos consistently because you know, I can’t really say why. You can take a guess, I don’t mind.

But now I am back and so don’t be mad at me! I love you guys, we have been through thick and thin, so don’t complain. I am 100% back with my undivided attention, I have gotten all your emails.

I appreciate the continued support of bernos. Don’t forget to get you a tee, and tell your friends about us.

Special note: to the BP’ers: BP is never coming back so don’t bug me about it.