While I was careful to preface Ethiopia through writers’ eyes with the following: “Like all those possessing a library, Aurelian was aware that he was guilty of not knowing his in its entirety.” The Theologians, Jorge Luis Borges … Continue reading →
In the 16th century, a Portuguese embassy reaches the court of King Lebna Dengel in Ethiopia—a king the Portuguese insist on calling The Prester, to the Ethiopian king’s bafflement. Who is this Prester that these insistent Birtukan keep going on … Continue reading →
“Like all those possessing a library, Aurelian was aware that he was guilty of not knowing his in its entirety.” The Theologians, Jorge Luis Borges It rests that as soon as a book is launched into the world, … Continue reading →
While I was careful to preface Ethiopia through writers’ eyes with the following caveat: “Like all those possessing a library, Aurelian was aware that he was guilty of not knowing his in its entirety.” The Theologians, Jorge Luis Borges … Continue reading →
Ethiopia, from the 6th century Greek traveller Cosmas to the 19th century London Illustrated News depictions of the noble Abyssinian king Theodoros reclining amidst his tame lions, has long incited the imagination of artists – and from Theseus delivering Andromeda … Continue reading →
When I first went to Gudu just a few years ago, there were a few mud houses, and no electricity. Today, Ethiopian pop blasts out of three or four coffee houses – and they even have espresso machines. A hotel … Continue reading →
Contes d’Abyssinie à la manière de Schwob et sous la forme sibylline d’un fidélaire abyssin – (33 chapitres correspondant aux 33 symboles majeurs de l’alphasyllabaire g’eez). Un homage à Jean-Michel Cornu de Lenclos (Saigon, Indochine, 13 juin 1956 … Continue reading →
I first came across the notion of the ‘hyphenated Ethiopian’ in Taffara Deguefe’s ‘Minutes of an Ethiopian Century.’ Ato Taffara talks of Ethiopians returning to their homeland after studies abroad. They feel in opposition … Continue reading →
“The best place in the world is on the back of a horse, and the best thing to do in time is to read a book” Tells us the, allegedly, Arabic proverb – and who am I to disagree, … Continue reading →
Textes et photographies de Hugues Fontaine avec un texte de Yves-Marie Stranger et des photographies de Pierre Javelot et Matthieu Germain Lambert. Ed. CFEE/Shama Books. 312 pages, 480 photographies, 100 documents et cartes postales. Édition bilingue français-anglais, relié carton. … Continue reading →
Deutsche Welle this week invited several strangers inhabiting strange lands (geographical or linguistical) to share their experience of being in several places and various languages at once: * An Algerian thinking in/of Russian * A Chadian talking about Arabic * A … Continue reading →
Equus’ Zara Yacob trail which will take place in a couple of weeks is based on the story of the great 15th eponymous Ethiopian emperor. You can read about the Zara Yacob Trail here and here, and also download the … Continue reading →
