2nd Ethiopian Heritage Festival to focus on family & youth

May 30, 2012

2nd Ethiopian Heritage Festival to focus on family & youth

Press Release | May 30, 2012

MCW 2007 – They were university students but danced like a pro to the tune of traditional Ethiopian music. Truly impressive. The students were promoting unity through cultural diversity — which the up-and-coming EHSNA is struggling to promote. Don’t miss the coming festival in Dallas, TX.

Since last year’s Ethiopian Heritage Festival was such an unqualified success, the festival sponsor, the Ethiopian Heritage Society of North America (EHSNA), feels assured in its promise that this year the festival will be even bigger and better than the last.

The aim of the heritage festival is to educate Ethiopian youngsters about Ethiopian history, culture, and traditions, as well as the contributions Ethiopians have made to the United States. The theme of this year’s festival, “Your Roots Produce Your Fruits,” is meant to show the importance of our ties to our motherland and how its culture can influence our young people in beneficial and meaningful ways.

Friends of the Ethiopian-American youngsters are invited, as well as the community at large, to partake in this high-spirited celebration and appreciation of one of the oldest cultures on the planet. This year the festival will be more kid-centric, so there will be soccer, running competitions, tug-of-war games, sack-races, and plenty of other activities geared toward our young people.

Ethiopian Diaspora Organizations Collaborate

Early in July of this year, the Ethiopian Sports Federation of North America (ESFNA) will be celebrating the 29th year of
its annual sporting event in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Last year the EHSNA Heritage Festival was held at this same time
and plans were afoot to repeat the time and date this year. But, members of both organizations wanted to attend both
venues.

The EHSNA deferred with the spirit of cooperation that marks the historical success of organizations working together
within the Ethiopian Diaspora Community. The ESFNA sporting event will proceed as planned and the EHSNA has happily
agreed to move the date of its heritage festival to July 27-29. As noted the Society will seek to hold a similar
festival during the first week September. Exact times, dates, and places will be forthcoming.

Last Year’s Heritage Festival: Tough Act to Follow

Last year the festival featured artists and their works such as Mekibib Gebertsadik and Meseret Desta. All sorts of
exhibits, from ancient coins to stamp collections, were available for viewing. Ethiopian authors were on hand and many
poets shared their verse that helped to awaken the spirit of Ethiopia and Ethiopiawinet.

At the Georgetown University Mult-Purpose Sports Center, the stadium was fluttering with Ethiopian flags of green, yellow
and red, and the banners of the Ethiopian Heritage Society. Music and dancing were also part of the celebration with
a major cultural troupe of 15 artists entertaining the crowd with traditional and culturally diverse Ethiopian songs. The
young Abyssinian Band also performed their mix of acrobatic rock and roll and traditional Ethiopian dances.

Success Last Year Means Success This Year

EHSNA’s Festival last year was a great weekend where Ethiopians from all over the USA and Canada came together to
celebrate and honor Ethiopia. Friends and acquaintances mingled, the young and old shared the spirit of Ethiopia and
Ethiopiawinet. Young children played together in the Childrens Amba, making flags and necklaces, and sharing and
helping one another.

EHSNA is confident that this festival will be even bigger, more successful, and more enjoyable for everyone. The support
from the public and the success of the Festival has motivated, inspired, and encouraged the Board members of EHSNA
to strive once again to preserve and promote Ethiopian heritage in North America and beyond.

July and the Heritage Festival Are Fast Approaching

As last year, the Heritage Festival will be held on the campus of the Georgetown University in Northwest Washington,
D.C. Handling the logistics behind such an event takes a lot of coordination. The Heritage Festival Committee wants
widespread involvement, but cautions that vendor space is limited.

The Ethiopian Heritage Society of North America (EHSNA)