Now to the subject at hand… tyim vs. yeQey dama… now though I can not categorically say that all Ethiopians have fixations on complexions, I think we can all agree that we have run into sufficient amount of common held beliefs and Yezelemad ababals enough to understand and relate to Nolawi’s point and even dare to say many abesha relate color complexion with beauty or the lack there of. At the very least it plays a significant role in the labling. TeQura, Baria, YeQye Doro, Deme Gibu, teyim zeleg yale,…wezeterfe…
Abesha (

I don’t know if you are familiar with our saying “kilat Melk ayfejim”…here it is suggested that if you are of the lighter complexion, it doesn’t really take much to be konjo… where as if you are of the darker complexion you would need more than your skin color to carry you afloat the beauty line. I must admit it holds a bit of truth in my case… I am of the lighter complexion (very lightJ) and I have found myself, on several occasion, wondering and saying out loud “ene eko tinish tekor bil…”J It is as though you can be Gorada, Kerdada, Kofada, Chemdada, Fendada, Welgada etc but you would fare much better against Ms/Mr. TeQura if you have some color to create distraction over your shortcomings. Let us keep in mind though that we are not speaking of tyimnet here, we are speaking more of the darkness in the color spectrum. In fact tyimnet (especially when it comes to the alpha male) is related mostly with not only plain konjonet but also some sort of allure and sex appeal. Exhibt A… Aster Awake’s “Teyim Zeleg Yale”, I think this phrase is etched in the many young Koreda’s heart & mind, at least it was mine (too bad I got the teyim but he lacked the Zeleg lol).

Just like the kilat and tikuret, kistat and wifret used to be equated with memechet or alememechet…even as far as to determine one’s Kebertenet because the meat on your bone meant you were well nourished with the finer things that life has to offer. Of course this was back in the days and back home. Now I hear it is all a different ball game. Good thing I exited in due time for I got few rolls in me pouch to keep me comforted in the loneliest nights J At least here in Ameriha I can butter me rolls and walk out straight into the obesity that surrounds all of us & bask in my obscurity.

Sorry I digress…
What is beauty?
But first we have to clarify what beauty is. Is beauty mental? Is it physical?

What is beauty? Beauty is multifaceted. However, vanity being one of our deadliest sin, we often zoom in more on the physical aspect of beauty hence speak in abundance of that and relate to that as opposed to the skin deep.

If I care for someone, would that automatically qualify a typical person beautiful?
First of all what’s a “typical person”? What ‘typical’ aspect of a person are you referring to? Physical? Intellectual? Spiritual? Based my understanding of your article I will go out on a limb and dare say you are speaking of the person’s physical beauty. See by your own unconscious admission you have already “sized up” this person’s physical beauty and have concluded it to be “typical” (what ever this means to you and however you reached to this conclusion is solely yours though a universal beauty-meter might have helped you in forming, influencing or reinforcing your conclusion of her/his ‘typical-ness’). Now that you have satisfied that vain part of us I mentioned earlier, you are trying to go past the surface and into the skin deep, hence your question “if I care for someone…”Going back to my initial definition…
Beauty comes in all shapes, forms, and types across a broad spectrum. Its variation in relation to you depends on to which specifications you subscribe to. Perhaps that is why it is more fitting to say, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” because what tickles your fancy may not even nuzzle mine. Though commonality and universality exists, individuality by far outshines and determines how we see, relate to and ultimately experience beauty.

fixation with complexion

. Just spending a year in Ethiopia will reveal the reality…and I bet you have heard the saying “Key melk ayfejim”…what do you think it means?Also,I think, to be fair, the poll should ask what the voter’s skin color is. Personally, I like Teyim wend (and though don’t really care for Key wend, I’d prefer Key to Tikur wend….I just don’t like tikur wend at all). And If I were to choose g/fs for my friends/bros, I’d def. Choose key or Teyim. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are more beautiful than the dark skin ones, is just my preference.

just another proof of how the world is so skinopreferencoholic!

Feleqleq, the commercials are terrible, aren’t they; I remember being aghast the first time I saw one of them on the Arab channels. In India, the color of your skin can, in some cases, decide your lot in life.

At the end of the day, I don’t think the usage of this creme is a big issue in Ethiopia. Not many people use it and if they do, it is mostly because of the idea that it clears up dark spots and madiat; and funnily enough, it does (temporarly…) and then you have to keep on using it, in the end totally screwing up the natural balance of your skin.

In my humble opinion, the color issue is not so pervasive that it is the end all factor for judging beauty. I think overall, Ethiopians put a huge emphasis on certain types of facial features to judge beauty. Type of hair (for women) is also very important. And generally Teyim men rule the chicken coop (from my experience:)

“the only thing that made sense in this thread”

so i was surprised.. because i think the skin color preference thing definitely exists!

no tobian I don’t mind…. I think denying the fact that skin preferences is somewhat childish… i didn’t say it doesn’t exist… just that it exists… the problem with you is that you are too idealist

Nolawi,

I’m hoping that this entire text was not in reference to my comment … because if it is, I’ve no clue what you are talking about.

There’s nothing in my comment that betrays what i think regarding this issue .. as I didn’t say anything.

I made fun of Yemi for her playful clarification, because it made me laugh. Other than that, the only thing that can be determined from the poll I set up is that I do have a preference for skin color … because I neglected to give the option of ‘I have no skin color preference’. And I’m reconsidering that.

But on the topic of idealism, yes I am as idealistic as I can be and no, I don’t see that as a ‘problem’. I also think I am a hypocrite. I think there should always be a better way of looking at this world(idealism) … even if I’m not there yet(hypocrisy). I think our lives are for filling the gap in between.

Cheers.

Have u seen the Fair and Lovely commercials? Here are some.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIUQ5hbRHXk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-9tcXpW1DE

The first one run in Ethiopia (not on ETV but on Arab Sat. channels)[/quote]

Please drill the self esteem deeper because 6 feet is not deep enough! That’s what those commercials are screaming to the tanned ladies of the world.

Hard to have these discussions online.

Must go pull hair now!

Nolawi, just to see where ze peoplez’ mindz are at, can we have a bernos poll?

Created one at http://nupolls.com/snippet/33226/ .

Hope you don’t mind.

Yemi,

“And I am certainly not saying browns, blacks and other naturally tanned people are so because of stress!”

No? But that was about the only thing that made sense in this thread!

Have u seen the Fair and Lovely commercials? Here are some.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIUQ5hbRHXk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-9tcXpW1DE

The first one run in Ethiopia (not on ETV but on Arab Sat. channels)

Tell all your cousins and whoever you come across to stay away from that shyt. I do that.

Yes, the phenomena of lightening skins has become global. It is really annoying. I do not buy any face creams here in China because I am afraid they contain that stuff.

About the second point of people associating getting darker with being tired and looking unhealthy… What I am trying to say is that it is not associated with the preference for the lighter skin complexion.

It is a separate issue. It is associated with what happens when people are stressed… everyone including white people and black people get dark circles under their eyes when they are stressed and are not getting enough rest, sleep, and taking care of themselves.

I guess my point is, in that one specific context it has more to do with an expression. In the US people say “you have dark circles under your eyes” in Ethiopia people say “teqork”.

Yemi,
Sometimes when people say “minew tekork/tekorsh” they do mean you look tired, but it also means they are associating being darker with being tired looking unhealthy etc…

My above explanation does not apply to any other situation and is not an answer AT ALL for why people prefer lighter skin over darker skin in many places around the world.

And I am certainly not saying browns, blacks and other naturally tanned people are so because of stress! I hope my post was clear. It is early in the morning here…:)

I have not heard of the Yellow Spot but I am sure it is very bad for the skin. I heard people here in China use mercury which is terrible not just for the skin but for their overall health.

Here in China, people could really look white (and not like white people) but the color white… when they use the fade cremes. I think they use something stronger than the one that is sold in other places. it is really off putting to see someone’s face look really white and then their neck be olive brown color! Every time I see that I cringe.

In Ethiopia, this fade creme is marketed really well through the new satellite TV phenomena. As you know, the satellite tv comes from the Middle East and most of the channels advertise the creme like crazy… I even have the jingle that goes with it in my head now, I have seen it so many times!

There has been radio programs to explain what the creme does and how it damages the skin because people have this beliefs that it erases the “madiat” many women get on their cheeks.

Now the thing about “Menew teqork”… I had a discussion with friends once about why people say that? And we talked about it for a long time.

Our conclusion is that when someone is under huge stress, they generally have this unrested look about them that includes large dark circles under the eyes.

They also do not take care of themselves well. They don’t sleep well. They don’t eat well. And if they smoke or drink, they do that more often than they did when their life was going well. So their skin becomes dehydrated and unrested… this kind of skin generally looks brittle and lifeless than the person’s original skin and with the dark circles under the eyes, it makes the person appear “darker” not in a natural way.

Now, the above explanation does not hold if a person is not implying that you look stressed… are you ok… in their “teqork” question.

this is my 2 santim about the issue via discussion with friends a couple of years back in Addis.