Feeling at Home
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Shashamane,
Ethiopia
Monday, May 8, 2006
Everyday we get a little rain and plenty sun. The nights are cold enough for a sweatshirt, and shirtlessness is nice in the daytime.
On Friday, the JRDC school hosted an Ethiopian boy/girl scout "graduation." The Twelve Tribes musical body provided some of the music and Saki toasted again. Later that night, the school hosted a dance with sister Maan (my Asian friend from Cali) selecting. The director of the school and Baba, Saki's oldest brother and the school's phys. ed. teacher acted as the m.c.'s.
Saturday night, I went to chant with the Nyabinghi house. The drums were nice as were the songs. It felt good to sing, though my voice is well rusty. The tabernacle is well decorated with images of His Majesty and Her Majesty Empress Mene. Sadly, Mama Baby I wouldn't let me play a drum because I'm white. My Twelve Tribes friends say that the Nyabinghi and Bobo Ashanti houses often descriminate, even though Revelation 7 says that all nations will be represented before the throne. I guess I can't blame them after all they've been through. I beat the bench I was sitting on, but didn't stay all night. I could hear the drums through the night from my bed.
Sunday was the first Sunday of the month, so the Twelve Tribes of Israel had their monthly meeting. Everyone covers their head with red, gold and green hats. Brothers and sisters took turns reading what they felt from the bible. After everyone had a turn reading, brother Desai gave a homily, and the rest of the people, young and old, had a chance to speak on the mic about anything they felt. It's great to hear people speak so firmly and clearly about their community to their community and its visitors. I wonder if there is any other place on Earth where the people know their past, their destiny and their task so well. We sang a few songs and it was time to socialize. It was a bit like the churchical Sundays we had when I studied "Black Religion in America" with Professor Flora Bridges, except that everyone had a chance to speak, and they spoke with deep love of the land they live on and the leaders who guide their daily dealings.
I've officially decided to put off visiting the holy sites in northern Ethiopia. Due to a generous group discount, it's the same price for two people to fly around Ethiopia as it is for one. I'll have to convince someone to come with me next time. Instead, I'll stick to the south central region, perhaps visiting Awasa and the Bale mountains after soaking in the hot springs at Wondo Genet.
I haven't yet mentioned that Ethiopia is the native home of the coffee plant. It still grows wild in the Kafa region west to Sudan. It was taken to Arabia a long time ago, hence the name cofea arabica. I've read that the coffee beans used to be eaten raw. These days in Ethiopia, the beans are roasted table-side over charcoal before brewing and serving the coffee, which is always served like sweet espresso.
