"When you are in the diaspora, you live in Mek'ele with a sense of yearning. To be in the diaspora means to live in yearning, to live in longing. You are so far away from a place you think about every day. So, of course, the only way you can connect to that place [Mek'ele or Tigray in general] is through your imagination, in your mind, in your memories." - Freweyni. What a beautiful way to put such a thought of many into words. I wonder how she would direct it into a painting. I plead with her to do so. Freweyni is both down-to-earth and genuinely pleasant to be around. She is a beautiful storyteller whose works capture the beauty, pain, and hope of Tigray in every piece. I feel so fortunate to have watched her newly published animated film Nebsey (meaning "My Body") and to have experienced her other artworks, which perfectly embody everything I'm saying about her. With people like Freweyni, who are highly talented and philosophically immersed in the interdisciplinary fields of arts, technology, and culture-and who have already done immense work in those areas, especially in the depth and meaning she brings to her expressions of Tigrayan culture and experiences-I would never dare waste a second talking about petty politics, those that form the contemporary narrative of Tigray. I would have asked her more questions like: 1) In a community where art was once deeply embedded in their culture but is now experiencing quite the opposite-a sadly cultural shift in how art is perceived in Tigray-how do you think this gap has arisen? And how does it feel to be the one striving to fill that gap? 2) How do you navigate the intersection of your diverse cultural heritage in your art, and what challenges and opportunities does this multicultural perspective present? 3) Your roots, as well as your work, really bridge multiple worlds-traditional and modern, many cultures and different art forms. How do you see the role of the artist in our increasingly interconnected yet often divided world? 4) In your opinion, what is the relationship between art and cultural identity in the age of globalisation? 5) What do you believe is the potential of art to heal, unite, or provoke change in society? And, in this context, do you see any hope for the people of Tigray? Etc. Etc... Thank you.
Hi Teklai Thank you for bringing our lovely TIGRAYAN sister Gabrielle to this platform she is the inspiration of for many TIGRAYAN please keep up the good work TIGRAY needs more of your knowledge and intellect despite our political leaders failure TIGRAY have a bright future for having people like you Gabrielle. TIGRAY SHALL RISE UP TO GLORY.
This is a future looking healing work. I wish you all the best. I think Tigray and Ethiopia in general diaspora activists like Teddy etc can learn from this interview and work to help the healing process. Traumatized generations of child soldiers need profound healing for the cycle of trauma to end. A healed society, build its future on healthy solid rocks; and a new peaceful beginning divorced from the vicious wrongs of the past. Inspiring work!
This is a future looking healing work. I wish you all the best. I think diaspora activists like Teddy etc can learn from this interview and work the healing process. A healed society, build its future on healthy solid rocks; and a new peaceful beginning divorced from the vicious wrongs of the past. Inspiring work!
Thanks for the insight. I hope to see artistic expression flourish in Tigray, and for hizbi Tigray (young and old) to find some healing and freedom in channeling and creatively expressing their emotions in innovative ways, rather than resorting to habits and vices that will only cause them, and the environment around them, more harm.
What will Tegarus make of art? They are battle hardened and their traditional game is in the art of war as one activists famously said. Let that tradition live on so that they keep losing all what they have accomplished after 17 years of armed struggle and 27 years of rule over Ethiopia.should be lost in a twinkle of an eye.And there will never be accountability as Abiy and Isaias are always to blame for what is gone awry in Tigray. Was not an uncommon wisdom or a stroke of genius on the part of Dr Debretsion to engage two national armies at the same time? And Debretsion is not done yet. Thanks to his glorious accomplishments he is entitled to rule Tightly for life.And Tigray is lost without him. And this is democracy Tigray style!
thank you for presenting her in ur show brother. and her insightful speech adds energy to our creative community out here
Thank u for using your gift to bring change💗🙏 in Tigray.. love u💗💪🏿🙏
Thx Teklay for all your efforts
gabrielle one of my favorites you're doing a good job.
keep it up!
"When you are in the diaspora, you live in Mek'ele with a sense of yearning. To be in the diaspora means to live in yearning, to live in longing. You are so far away from a place you think about every day. So, of course, the only way you can connect to that place [Mek'ele or Tigray in general] is through your imagination, in your mind, in your memories." - Freweyni. What a beautiful way to put such a thought of many into words. I wonder how she would direct it into a painting. I plead with her to do so.
Freweyni is both down-to-earth and genuinely pleasant to be around. She is a beautiful storyteller whose works capture the beauty, pain, and hope of Tigray in every piece. I feel so fortunate to have watched her newly published animated film Nebsey (meaning "My Body") and to have experienced her other artworks, which perfectly embody everything I'm saying about her.
With people like Freweyni, who are highly talented and philosophically immersed in the interdisciplinary fields of arts, technology, and culture-and who have already done immense work in those areas, especially in the depth and meaning she brings to her expressions of Tigrayan culture and experiences-I would never dare waste a second talking about petty politics, those that form the contemporary narrative of Tigray.
I would have asked her more questions like:
1) In a community where art was once deeply embedded in their culture but is now experiencing quite the opposite-a sadly cultural shift in how art is perceived in Tigray-how do you think this gap has arisen? And how does it feel to be the one striving to fill that gap?
2) How do you navigate the intersection of your diverse cultural heritage in your art, and what challenges and opportunities does this multicultural perspective present?
3) Your roots, as well as your work, really bridge multiple worlds-traditional and modern, many cultures and different art forms. How do you see the role of the artist in our increasingly interconnected yet often divided world?
4) In your opinion, what is the relationship between art and cultural identity in the age of globalisation?
5) What do you believe is the potential of art to heal, unite, or provoke change in society? And, in this context, do you see any hope for the people of Tigray?
Etc. Etc...
Thank you.
Hi Teklai Thank you for bringing our lovely TIGRAYAN sister Gabrielle to this platform she is the inspiration of for many TIGRAYAN please keep up the good work TIGRAY needs more of your knowledge and intellect despite our political leaders failure TIGRAY have a bright future for having people like you Gabrielle.
TIGRAY SHALL RISE UP TO GLORY.
This is a future looking healing work. I wish you all the best. I think Tigray and Ethiopia in general diaspora activists like Teddy etc can learn from this interview and work to help the healing process. Traumatized generations of child soldiers need profound healing for the cycle of trauma to end. A healed society, build its future on healthy solid rocks; and a new peaceful beginning divorced from the vicious wrongs of the past. Inspiring work!
This is a future looking healing work. I wish you all the best. I think diaspora activists like Teddy etc can learn from this interview and work the healing process. A healed society, build its future on healthy solid rocks; and a new peaceful beginning divorced from the vicious wrongs of the past. Inspiring work!
Thanks for the insight. I hope to see artistic expression flourish in Tigray, and for hizbi Tigray (young and old) to find some healing and freedom in channeling and creatively expressing their emotions in innovative ways, rather than resorting to habits and vices that will only cause them, and the environment around them, more harm.
How about doing murals? That would be a new experience for the people in Mekelle.
Charlie. Bro
What will Tegarus make of art? They are battle hardened and their traditional game is in the art of war as one activists famously said. Let that tradition live on so that they keep losing all what they have accomplished after 17 years of armed struggle and 27 years of rule over Ethiopia.should be lost in a twinkle of an eye.And there will never be accountability as Abiy and Isaias are always to blame for what is gone awry in Tigray. Was not an uncommon wisdom or a stroke of genius on the part of Dr Debretsion to engage two national armies at the same time? And Debretsion is not done yet. Thanks to his glorious accomplishments he is entitled to rule Tightly for life.And Tigray is lost without him. And this is democracy Tigray style!