A PROJECT TO DOCUMENT HISTORY OF ARMENIAN-ETHIOPIANS
Tadias Magazine
http://www.tadias.com/08/02/2012/a-project-to-document-history-of-armenian-ethiopians/
Published: Thursday, August 2, 2012
A kickstarter campaign aims to produce a documentary on the history
of the Armenian community in Ethiopia. (Photo: The Boyadjian family
/ Facebook)
New York (TADIAS) - In the early 1900s, when Armenians were faced
with genocide orchestrated by the Ottoman empire, scores of families
escaped and some arrived and settled in Ethiopia. Armenians make up
one of the oldest immigrant communities in Ethiopia. Vahe Tilbian,
a 4th generation Ethiopian-Armenian, told TADIAS magazine that
"historically Armenians worked as goldsmiths, carpenters, builders,
teachers, embroiders, silk makers, and carpet makers." His great
grandfather Tavit Aslanian was a carpet maker in Empress Zewditu's
palace, his paternal grandfather was a tailor in Addis and his maternal
family members were cobblers.
Armenians have likewise contributed heavily to Ethiopian modern music.
Kevork Nalbandian was an Armenian who composed the first national
anthem for Ethiopia as well as served as the musical director of Arba
Lijoch. His nephew Nerses Nalbandian was involved in the founding of
the famed Yared Music School as well as led the Municipality Orchestra.
A kickstarter campaign has now been launched to produce a documentary
of the unique history and contributions of Armenian-Ethiopians. The
Tezeta campaign is directed by Aramazt Kalayjian.
Tadias Magazine
http://www.tadias.com/08/02/2012/a-project-to-document-history-of-armenian-ethiopians/
Published: Thursday, August 2, 2012
A kickstarter campaign aims to produce a documentary on the history
of the Armenian community in Ethiopia. (Photo: The Boyadjian family
/ Facebook)
New York (TADIAS) - In the early 1900s, when Armenians were faced
with genocide orchestrated by the Ottoman empire, scores of families
escaped and some arrived and settled in Ethiopia. Armenians make up
one of the oldest immigrant communities in Ethiopia. Vahe Tilbian,
a 4th generation Ethiopian-Armenian, told TADIAS magazine that
"historically Armenians worked as goldsmiths, carpenters, builders,
teachers, embroiders, silk makers, and carpet makers." His great
grandfather Tavit Aslanian was a carpet maker in Empress Zewditu's
palace, his paternal grandfather was a tailor in Addis and his maternal
family members were cobblers.
Armenians have likewise contributed heavily to Ethiopian modern music.
Kevork Nalbandian was an Armenian who composed the first national
anthem for Ethiopia as well as served as the musical director of Arba
Lijoch. His nephew Nerses Nalbandian was involved in the founding of
the famed Yared Music School as well as led the Municipality Orchestra.
A kickstarter campaign has now been launched to produce a documentary
of the unique history and contributions of Armenian-Ethiopians. The
Tezeta campaign is directed by Aramazt Kalayjian.