Comments on: Support is Ethiopian

By: adey

adey — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 18:26:29 +0000

Bernos Team-
Thank you again for the Helm magazine subscription!

By: Nolawi

Nolawi — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 04:56:22 +0000

[quote comment="14247"]Teinayistilign,

Do have plan to bring those shirts to your brothers and sisters here in Addisaba?

I think BERNOS must be promoted here in Addis too.

[/quote]

we are a very small operations…

Nolawi, with all due respect there is a bit of a difference in wearing ones’ design T-shirt and flaunting and bragging about ones’ craft be it music, acting, painting or whatever. I don’t and will not dare belittle the design art, I firmly believe that it is equally estimable like any form of art. I don’t think artists would shun away from acknowledging their art, no matter how mediocre or at worst embarassing their own work apeears to their shall I say after taste.

hmmm but what if you know your art is mediocre and you are trying to sell and no one is buying… do you still have the right to complain.

By: Wudnesh

Wudnesh — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 19:20:51 +0000

Personally, I didn’t deserve the gift, was totally unexpected!…makes it ever more special! Thank you Bernosochiyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

By: Nolawi

Nolawi — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 16:45:50 +0000

[quote comment="14376"]Nolawi,
I don’t have your email so, i have to post this comment here sorry. Are you thinking about coming up with a T-shirt that has a picture of kenenisa and Haile. If not can you think about it, i think it will be cool. Think about it, and let me know.

Thanks[/quote]

you can use the press for this discussing.. thank you for suggesting!

By: Nolawi

Nolawi — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 16:12:00 +0000

He concluded, ‘ina inante irasach’hu yalaregach’hutn hizbu lemin yigzaw?’

wow interesting…

By: Tobian

Tobian — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:01:05 +0000

Agree. Mediocre quality products transcend the arts in our culture. Your article reminded me of some producers convention of sorts they had in Ethiopia few years back. Ethiopian shoe producers had a question to our gudegna PM. They pointed out that they’re unable to compete with shoes produced outside the country - perhaps the gov’t can help the industry by raising tax on imports, or something? The PM looked at them and asked, ‘How many of you here are wearing non-imported shoes right now?’ Of course, nobody was. He concluded, ‘ina inante irasach’hu yalaregach’hutn hizbu lemin yigzaw?’

I think the only thing that’s of highest quality is yehabesha libs, for lack of competition And coffee …

By: Timo

Timo — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:56:56 +0000

soj,

I TOTALLY agree! I think in-your-face self promotion shows insecurity about the work. Total turn off.

By: soj

soj — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 02:41:15 +0000

Nolawi & the gang,

Keep up the good work guys!

Just wanted to make a note about artists not wanting to endure their own work of art in public or otherwise.

Eventhough what you said is one possible explanation, as ppl above commented,that by itself can not be taken to mean that they think less of their work. As we would say in any field of science, “the observation is astute, but the conclusion is one sided”.

In fact, if you have noticed this, some times artists reveal so much about themselves through their art work that it kinda becomes their secret affair, something they’d rather not endure in public, or if you take the incidence mitmita was talking about, that particular music may have brought back harsh(pictursque) memories from his heyday, which may not exist no more? it might have made him feel nostalgic? ….thus, less enjoyable.

To the contrary what would be rather detestable is what ” ‘maki’,did”. I know I don’t have any say as to how artists or the general public for that matter, should behave, but the last thing an artist should do, as to me, is, aggrandize his/her own work! Let it speak for itself! Any art has its own medium of communication, and if it is any good, it will be heard!

Now I am not saying marketing belittles art but such an act of self promo I think takes away from the art instead!

If you ask me it indeed shows a lower self esteem, because the arrogant, egotist artist would actually prefer it when others applaud his/her work.

cheers,

By: adey

adey — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 01:50:06 +0000

Keep up the hard work Nolawi /&team. I thought being the unpopulargraveyardshift member would get me a yr&1/2 subscription..some bernosawi doesn’t have no payroll exp.

By: Ethio-Queen

Ethio-Queen — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 01:39:20 +0000

Nolawi,
I don’t have your email so, i have to post this comment here sorry. Are you thinking about coming up with a T-shirt that has a picture of kenenisa and Haile. If not can you think about it, i think it will be cool. Think about it, and let me know.

Thanks

By: Ethio-Queen

Ethio-Queen — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 01:11:55 +0000

Nolawi,

If that first famous person you were talking about was teddy afro, let me know i will give you my email. I have lots of question for that guy!

By: Nolawi

Nolawi — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 00:19:24 +0000

Zgent, i should have included that in the post. ofcource, as you & dinich have said that artists do not like to view or use their art. because its never perfect among other reasons.

What i meant is somewhat not clear and I will clarify on it at a later time.

By: zgent

zgent — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 23:53:26 +0000

And right you are Dinich. the other reason could be sheer modesty, an admirable virtue. It is not an Ethiopian thing either. A lot of accomplished artists do not listen to their music, or watch their movies, or frequent the gallery where their work is being exhibited. Once it reaches the public there is nothing they can do about it until they rectify whatever mistakes or imperfections they find in it by a later take. Sometimes moulding art does not produce the desired effect either, the first take is still better. After writng one of his profound verses, the great Gebrekristos Desta says “Is this poem incomplete? I did not find it expressed my sentiments (of the time) adequately. I later made several attempts to expand and improve it, but realized I could not, and left it as it is.” Menged seTuN sefi kemilew metsehaf yetewesede. There is more about critical sensitivity in this book.
As far as promotion is concerned, musicians have way too many opportunities to promote their art; concerts, gigs, interviews and the like can be used efficiently for this purpose. I don´t think the reason they don’t sway to their music while sitting on a bar stool or a friends car is entirely loathing their own fruit of labour. Seldom one sees an artist performing with indifference. However, at times a not refined piece of work produced during their maturing period, or when dealing with over zealous or shady producer could produce a sense of embarrasment. Few produce aces all the time. Every piece doesn’t come out a hit.
Nolawi, with all due respect there is a bit of a difference in wearing ones’ design T-shirt and flaunting and bragging about ones’ craft be it music, acting, painting or whatever. I don’t and will not dare belittle the design art, I firmly believe that it is equally estimable like any form of art. I don’t think artists would shun away from acknowledging their art, no matter how mediocre or at worst embarassing their own work apeears to their shall I say after taste.

By: Dinich

Dinich — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:58:53 +0000

In fairness to those artisits who did not want to listen to their songs, sometimes singers/producers listen to their songs too much to the point that they need a break from it. So, sometimes it is not because they are not proud of what they did but they might have listened to it too much and they need a break. It does not matter how a good a song is, if you listen to it too much, you definitely need to get away from it at least for some period of time.

Just another possible reason why they don’t listen to their songs.

By: Nolawi

Nolawi — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:53:28 +0000

thank you all, and mitmita

By: Nolawi

Nolawi — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:53:04 +0000

[quote comment="14242"]hey nolawi
As artists we try as hard as we can. But it all depends on how much we want to starve. I my self don’t like to starve in order to satisfy my artistic hunger. I do try to balance the two. Paying rent and choosing the good meet from the lard means a lot to me. Only very few of us are Van Go. So give as a break.[/quote]

hello moki, I understand what you are saying.. I do not know what type of art it is you do… but i think you are missing the point of what I was trying to say…
my point is we, artists protest the level of support from the ethiopian consumer but we do not question the quality of the art… from the artists perspective… therein lies dubious affair…
is all blame on quality on consumer… no… is some blame on consumer .. yes, for not demanding quality…
but that is questionable, the consumer is not buying … maybe that is a way of saying we need something else..

By: Mitmita

Mitmita — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 14:50:50 +0000

You’re absolutley right Nolawi, many Ethiopan artists don’t like to hear thier own music. I was in Ethiopian Restaurant in DC and Teddy Taddesse was sitting at the bar and getting drunk as usual, and the owner started playing Teddy’s record and Teddy got up and decided to walkout pretending he has to smoke… I happen to grab his hand said hey that’s your joint thyere playing stay until it’s finshed, he said he dosen’t like to listen to his own music.. LOL

At the same token you I’m proud to hear the new cats like Maki (Bole2Harlem) and Elias AKA Profit of Burntface jamming with thier own joint while driving…

By the way I too own Bernos T-Shorts and proud to wear them.

Mitmita

By: chonese

chonese — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 06:30:20 +0000

Teinayistilign,

Do have plan to bring those shirts to your brothers and sisters here in Addisaba?

I think BERNOS must be promoted here in Addis too.

tnx.

By: jj

jj — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 05:58:48 +0000

By: moki

moki — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 05:28:48 +0000

hey nolawi
I know you have a day job. This is not your bill payer. Don’t get me wrong. I am very happy for you and this website, but we all like to say we don’t sell out, but we do. As artists we try as hard as we can. But it all depends on how much we want to starve. I my self don’t like to starve in order to satisfy my artistic hunger. I do try to balance the two. Paying rent and choosing the good meet from the lard means a lot to me. Only very few of us are Van Go. So give as a break.

By: celebratelife

celebratelife — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:49:20 +0000

Thank you Nolawi, That is very kind of you. I love Bernos and what you do and hope to see you succeed for many more years to come.

By: chelema

chelema — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:38:29 +0000

Nolawi, I am speechless. Thank you.
“A gift is only as good as its intentions” I am touched. So thank you.

By: Rahwina

Rahwina — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:28:23 +0000

Thanks Noles…now that, I didn’t expect… contributed to my greatest smile this evening ;)While we’re at it, do you guys still have the “Bikila” T-shirt in Large or XL?

By: adey

adey — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 00:26:58 +0000

Nolawi - thanks for the gift. I really appreciate it.

By: tata

tata — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:50:59 +0000

chelema has pulled to much attention lately he should be
number one and all the others number 2…