The well known Senegalese singer known in the hip hop music world as Akon, is said to have recently presented over $100,000 worth diamond watch to his Ethiopian mother-in-law, APA learns here Sunday.
Akon, who is married to an Ethiopian wife a few years ago presented the gift to his mother-in-law during her 40th birthday celebrations.
The news came as a surprise to a majority of people in Ethiopia where there is no such habit (culture) of celebrating birthdays, let alone making such expensive birthday gifts.
Akon’s mother-in-law is living in Addis Ababa,and usually visits Akon and his wife, particularly when Akon’s wife gave birth a few months ago.
Akon, based in the United States got married to Rosina Bruck a few years ago, and they have a new baby- boy- born at the end of 2008.
Rosina is a designer, known for her best design clothes for famous musicians based in the USA.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Grammy Nods for Two Ethiopian Artists
Two US based Ethiopian-born musicians are among the 2009 Grammy Award nominees. Wayna (born Wayna Wondwossen, featured on AfricanLoft, April 20, 2008), and Kenna (born Kenna Zemedkun) are both nominated for the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category.
Wayna’s remake tune, Lovin U (featuring Kokayi, watch a live performance of the song ») highlights the ups and downs of the music business through the eyes of an independent recording artist. The song got the nomination for Category 27 on the Grammy List.
For Kenna, his nomination came via “Say Goodbye to Love” — a very-retro, funkified video performance, Watch video »
Wayna attributes her Grammy nomination to the combined power of new media outlets like iTunes and CDBaby.com: “As an independent recording artist, its hard to get enough publicity without the backing of a major record label. The bulk of my records have been sold at shows and on-line through iTunes and CDBaby.”
Her life in Washington DC exposed her to the problems facing immigrant communities. In her song “Home” from the album Higher Ground, Wayna includes a verse about a woman who left home “and a sense of belonging” for the prospect of better economic opportunity.
“So many Ethiopians deeply miss and love their homeland. No matter how acclaimated they’ve become abroad, they feel an aching for that place where they’re completely understood, without effort or explaination. The song, “Home,” is a testament to them and to that longing, which is something I think any person or culture can relate to.”
Kenna is the eldest son of an immigrant family grew up in Cincinnati, and Virginia Beach, according to his entry on Wikipedia. Kenna began to express an interest in music upon receiving a copy of U2’s The Joshua Tree. The way he was discovered and the obstacles he faced to land a record deal are briefly discussed in Malcolm Gladwell’s 2005 book Blink. He attended the same Virginia Beach high school as Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams of N*E*R*D and the Neptunes.
The nomination is a first for the Grammy Awards, no time had two Ethiopian Americans nominated under the same category. “I am thrilled that Kenna and I are nominated in the same year” Wayna stated. “I hope it sends a message to young Ethiopians that there is no goal beyond our reach.”
Wayna’s remake tune, Lovin U (featuring Kokayi, watch a live performance of the song ») highlights the ups and downs of the music business through the eyes of an independent recording artist. The song got the nomination for Category 27 on the Grammy List.
For Kenna, his nomination came via “Say Goodbye to Love” — a very-retro, funkified video performance, Watch video »
Wayna attributes her Grammy nomination to the combined power of new media outlets like iTunes and CDBaby.com: “As an independent recording artist, its hard to get enough publicity without the backing of a major record label. The bulk of my records have been sold at shows and on-line through iTunes and CDBaby.”
Her life in Washington DC exposed her to the problems facing immigrant communities. In her song “Home” from the album Higher Ground, Wayna includes a verse about a woman who left home “and a sense of belonging” for the prospect of better economic opportunity.
“So many Ethiopians deeply miss and love their homeland. No matter how acclaimated they’ve become abroad, they feel an aching for that place where they’re completely understood, without effort or explaination. The song, “Home,” is a testament to them and to that longing, which is something I think any person or culture can relate to.”
Kenna is the eldest son of an immigrant family grew up in Cincinnati, and Virginia Beach, according to his entry on Wikipedia. Kenna began to express an interest in music upon receiving a copy of U2’s The Joshua Tree. The way he was discovered and the obstacles he faced to land a record deal are briefly discussed in Malcolm Gladwell’s 2005 book Blink. He attended the same Virginia Beach high school as Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams of N*E*R*D and the Neptunes.
The nomination is a first for the Grammy Awards, no time had two Ethiopian Americans nominated under the same category. “I am thrilled that Kenna and I are nominated in the same year” Wayna stated. “I hope it sends a message to young Ethiopians that there is no goal beyond our reach.”
Thursday, June 12, 2008
New York Based Ethiopian Model to Revamp Historical Relic
The century old traditional house of Dejazmach Ayalew Emiru is to be handed over to Liya Kebede, a super model residing in New York. Feleke Yimer, deputy general manager of the city, has, on June 2, 2008, instructed the city Housing Development Project Office to furnish condominium housing to 24 head of households who are currently occupying the building.
The decision to grant the historical house to Liya was made by Berhane Deressa, former mayor of the city, during his last days in office. The house is located in Kirkos District, Kebele 02/03, behind the Cameroon Embassy off Africa Avenue (Bole Road).
“The one-storey building is not in a good form now,” says Worku Ambaye, who has been staying in the house since 1974. “Rain leaks into the house. It is because I have no better option that I am living here with four of my children.”
Every household has a single or two rooms. Although the house was initially put up with lumber, the residents have been overhauling it with corrugated iron sheets.
What are considered as historical relics in the city master plan are 33 churches, two mosques, 73 houses of former chiefs, 2 institutions, and 17 monuments, trenches and bridges.
The city has plans to outsource such houses to private investors that would like to use them as galleries, hotels or exhibition and bazaar spots. Thus, Dejazmach Ayalew’s was granted to the famous Ethiopian model. Dejazmach is a military title meaning commander of the central body of traditional Ethiopian armed forces. Dejazmach, who died forty years ago, was the leader in the fight against Italy.
Liya’s plan is to revamp the houses a bid to make it a hub for tourists, according to those who were exposed to her proposal.
Liya was born and raised in Addis Abeba. While she was attending Lycee Guebremariam, she was introduced to a French modeling agent. After completing her studies, she moved to France to pursue work through a Parisian agency. She later relocated to New York City. For her 2.5 million dollars earning in July 2007, Forbes named her the eleventh in the list of the world’s 15 top earning models.
http://www.addisfortune.com/New%20York%20Based%20Ethiopian%20Model%20to%20Revamp%20Historical%20Relic.htm
The decision to grant the historical house to Liya was made by Berhane Deressa, former mayor of the city, during his last days in office. The house is located in Kirkos District, Kebele 02/03, behind the Cameroon Embassy off Africa Avenue (Bole Road).
“The one-storey building is not in a good form now,” says Worku Ambaye, who has been staying in the house since 1974. “Rain leaks into the house. It is because I have no better option that I am living here with four of my children.”
Every household has a single or two rooms. Although the house was initially put up with lumber, the residents have been overhauling it with corrugated iron sheets.
What are considered as historical relics in the city master plan are 33 churches, two mosques, 73 houses of former chiefs, 2 institutions, and 17 monuments, trenches and bridges.
The city has plans to outsource such houses to private investors that would like to use them as galleries, hotels or exhibition and bazaar spots. Thus, Dejazmach Ayalew’s was granted to the famous Ethiopian model. Dejazmach is a military title meaning commander of the central body of traditional Ethiopian armed forces. Dejazmach, who died forty years ago, was the leader in the fight against Italy.
Liya’s plan is to revamp the houses a bid to make it a hub for tourists, according to those who were exposed to her proposal.
Liya was born and raised in Addis Abeba. While she was attending Lycee Guebremariam, she was introduced to a French modeling agent. After completing her studies, she moved to France to pursue work through a Parisian agency. She later relocated to New York City. For her 2.5 million dollars earning in July 2007, Forbes named her the eleventh in the list of the world’s 15 top earning models.
http://www.addisfortune.com/New%20York%20Based%20Ethiopian%20Model%20to%20Revamp%20Historical%20Relic.htm
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