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How Ethiopians in the US cling onto their heritage | How Ethiopians in the US cling onto their heritage |
(25 days later) | |
The traditional music plays and children, some dressed in Ethiopian costume, perform a traditional dance: Raising and lowering their shoulders to the beat. | The traditional music plays and children, some dressed in Ethiopian costume, perform a traditional dance: Raising and lowering their shoulders to the beat. |
Like millions of other children in the United States, these American-Ethiopians are at summer camp. | Like millions of other children in the United States, these American-Ethiopians are at summer camp. |
However, this one is about maintaining their connection with their roots abroad. | However, this one is about maintaining their connection with their roots abroad. |
The camp, which is for about 35 children, is at the Ethiopian Community Centre. | The camp, which is for about 35 children, is at the Ethiopian Community Centre. |
It is in a regular office block on one of the main roads out of the US capital, Washington DC. | It is in a regular office block on one of the main roads out of the US capital, Washington DC. |
A 21-minute drive away is the grand venue where African heads of state and President Barack Obama are discussing US-Africa relations. | |
As the leaders try to negotiate a new phase of that relationship, the Ethiopian diaspora community is grappling with how it should relate to back home. | As the leaders try to negotiate a new phase of that relationship, the Ethiopian diaspora community is grappling with how it should relate to back home. |
Estimates vary, but there are thought to be more than 200,000 Ethiopians in the Washington metropolitan area, by far the city's largest and most visible African diaspora group. | Estimates vary, but there are thought to be more than 200,000 Ethiopians in the Washington metropolitan area, by far the city's largest and most visible African diaspora group. |
While integrated into American life, many of them do not want to lose that connection and are keen for their children to know where they have come from. | While integrated into American life, many of them do not want to lose that connection and are keen for their children to know where they have come from. |
"They are here in the United States, but they still have to keep their heritage," says Hermela Kebede, who runs the community centre. | "They are here in the United States, but they still have to keep their heritage," says Hermela Kebede, who runs the community centre. |
"That's who they are, and it will make them proud." | "That's who they are, and it will make them proud." |
In another room, the children are listening to an Ethiopian folktale being read in one of Ethiopia's languages, Amharic. | In another room, the children are listening to an Ethiopian folktale being read in one of Ethiopia's languages, Amharic. |
It is part of the effort to ensure they keep up their language skills as well as learn traditional stories. | It is part of the effort to ensure they keep up their language skills as well as learn traditional stories. |
Eight-year-old Mikiyess listens carefully. | Eight-year-old Mikiyess listens carefully. |
He left Ethiopia with his family when he was two and has some vague memories of what life was like there. | He left Ethiopia with his family when he was two and has some vague memories of what life was like there. |
He clearly gets the message of the camp. | He clearly gets the message of the camp. |
"You need to learn about your culture," he says in a flawless American accent. | "You need to learn about your culture," he says in a flawless American accent. |
"Because you can't just learn about another culture and think, 'Oh, I'm from that culture', you have to think about your old culture too." | "Because you can't just learn about another culture and think, 'Oh, I'm from that culture', you have to think about your old culture too." |
Jokes and ignorance | Jokes and ignorance |
But asked if he is more American or more Ethiopian, Mikiyess is hesitant, but admits feeling more American. | But asked if he is more American or more Ethiopian, Mikiyess is hesitant, but admits feeling more American. |
"I speak Amharic, but English is my first language and I have more things from America. I have a portion of things from Ethiopia and I eat a lot of the food." | "I speak Amharic, but English is my first language and I have more things from America. I have a portion of things from Ethiopia and I eat a lot of the food." |
He reckons that from just watching his mother cook he now knows how to prepare the traditional dishes. | He reckons that from just watching his mother cook he now knows how to prepare the traditional dishes. |
Mikiyess looks set to grow up to be a fully-fledged member of the Ethiopian-American community, and join the thousands of others who are comfortable with a dual identity. | Mikiyess looks set to grow up to be a fully-fledged member of the Ethiopian-American community, and join the thousands of others who are comfortable with a dual identity. |
There seems to be a growing confidence amongst many of them. | There seems to be a growing confidence amongst many of them. |
Some who arrived in the 1970s and 1980s had endure a lot of ignorance about their home. | Some who arrived in the 1970s and 1980s had endure a lot of ignorance about their home. |
Ethiopian-born singer Wayna Wondwossen remembers being at high school at the time of the famine in Ethiopia in 1984. | Ethiopian-born singer Wayna Wondwossen remembers being at high school at the time of the famine in Ethiopia in 1984. |
"I have vivid memories of people making jokes about me, saying I was the fattest Ethiopian they had ever seen." | "I have vivid memories of people making jokes about me, saying I was the fattest Ethiopian they had ever seen." |
Now she writes and sings about her identity. | Now she writes and sings about her identity. |
Her latest album, The Expats, is a celebration of being different. | Her latest album, The Expats, is a celebration of being different. |
Many Ethiopian-Americans, who have become financially successful, are now looking to invest their money back home. | Many Ethiopian-Americans, who have become financially successful, are now looking to invest their money back home. |
One group of medics, for example, plans to build a new private hospital in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, with money from investors as well as their own. | One group of medics, for example, plans to build a new private hospital in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, with money from investors as well as their own. |
They hope the hospital will be as good as any facility in the US or Europe. | They hope the hospital will be as good as any facility in the US or Europe. |
Melaku Negussie, who is co-ordinating the project for the Ethio-American Doctors Group, admits that there is money involved and a hoped-for return, but he says this is not just about the cash. | Melaku Negussie, who is co-ordinating the project for the Ethio-American Doctors Group, admits that there is money involved and a hoped-for return, but he says this is not just about the cash. |
"Some of the doctors have actually told us that they're committed to going back to Ethiopia to work, when this hospital opens," he adds. | "Some of the doctors have actually told us that they're committed to going back to Ethiopia to work, when this hospital opens," he adds. |
"There is an emotional attachment to their country and to them this is a wonderful opportunity to give back and be part of something transformational." | "There is an emotional attachment to their country and to them this is a wonderful opportunity to give back and be part of something transformational." |
That emotional attachment is clear to see at the Ethiopian community centre. | That emotional attachment is clear to see at the Ethiopian community centre. |
Camp counsellor Megidelawit Yirefu works as the camp's dance teacher. | Camp counsellor Megidelawit Yirefu works as the camp's dance teacher. |
She came to the US when she was nine and is proud of her identity. | She came to the US when she was nine and is proud of her identity. |
She now wants to pass her passion on to the children. | She now wants to pass her passion on to the children. |
"My parents embrace a lot of my culture from Ethiopia, which reminds me of home and how I used to eat those foods," she says. | "My parents embrace a lot of my culture from Ethiopia, which reminds me of home and how I used to eat those foods," she says. |
"So culture helps me identify with who I am as an Ethiopian-American and stand out from the crowd." | "So culture helps me identify with who I am as an Ethiopian-American and stand out from the crowd." |
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