AMSALE ABERRA

Amsale Aberra's career as a couture bridal and eveningwear designer happened by necessity. While planning her 1985 nuptials to film executive Neil Brown, Amsale scoured the stores to find a simple, refined wedding dress. She found little in the way of clean, sophisticated gowns, and discovered an untapped niche in the bridal market—elegant and understated dresses.

"Everything was so overdone and with too much ornamentation," says Amsale, who was sure that her taste in gowns was shared by many other brides-to-be. Amsale placed a classified advertisement for custom-made gowns for other brides-to-be who shared her taste in sophisticated, understated designs. And so, with a few responses, a sketchpad full of designs, and a small team of couture sewers, Amsale started her business out of her New York City loft apartment.

Since then, the name AMSALE (pronounced Ahm-sah'-leh) has become synonymous with the "forever modern" wedding dress. Her collections are designed for brides who desire a fashionable, sophisticated and timeless look. Amsale believes: "Twenty years after the wedding, I want a bride to be able to look at her pictures and be as happy with the way she looked as she was on her wedding day."

“In Ethiopia there were no fashion designers. I never knew that designing beautiful clothes was a profession to which one could aspire.”
Amsale Aberra

Amsale’s love of fashion began as a young girl growing up in Ethiopia. However, Amsale never considered becoming a designer: “In Ethiopia there were no fashion designers. I never knew that designing beautiful clothes was a profession to which one could aspire.”

Amsale convinced her parents to allow her to leave Ethiopia in order to study commercial art in New England. While in school a revolution broke out in her native country, which forced Amsale to stay in the United States to support herself and complete her undergraduate education at University of Massachusetts – Boston through a number of odd-jobs. With limited financial resources, Amsale admits “I would design and sew my own clothes because I couldn’t afford to buy new things. That’s when I first thought of becoming a fashion designer.”

Amsale left Boston, enrolled in New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology and began her career as a design assistant for Harve Bernard upon graduation. Two years later, Amsale launched her custom bridal-gown business.

Amsale's love of fashion began as a young girl growing up in Ethiopia. However, Amsale never considered becoming a designer: "In Ethiopia there were no fashion designers. I never knew that designing beautiful clothes was a profession to which one could aspire."

Amsale convinced her parents to allow her to leave Ethiopia in order to study commercial art in New England. While in school a revolution broke out in her native country, which forced Amsale to stay in the United States to support herself and complete her undergraduate education at University of Massachusetts - Boston through a number of odd-jobs. With limited financial resources, Amsale admits "I would design and sew my own clothes because I couldn't afford to buy new things. That's when I first thought of becoming a fashion designer."

Amsale left Boston, enrolled in New York's Fashion Institute of Technology and began her career as a design assistant for Harve Bernard upon graduation. Two years later, Amsale launched her custom bridal-gown business with her "forever modern" approach to sophisticated design.

Amsale's design philosophy has redefined the perception of the timeless wedding gown. Her innovative twists to time honored hallmarks of the traditional wedding gown—reintroducing "illusion design," modern updates of the traditional bustle, and tasteful color accents including the now-famous "blue sash" gown—have become so popular among prospective brides that they have been recognized as modern classics.

Amsale Aberra

She extends that viewpoint of individuality to her collection of chic and refined gowns for the bridal party, and in the Amsale Evening collection of couture evening wear—both lines a natural progression from the sophisticated and modern styles of her bridal collection. Amsale's ball gowns, cocktail dresses and evening suits have been featured on the fashion and party pages of all the top fashion magazines, and worn by celebrities and socialites including Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Selma Blair, Salma Hayek, Lucy Liu, Heather Graham, Kim Basinger, Deborah Norville, Vivica A. Fox, Vanessa Williams, Lisa Kudrow, Heidi Klum, Katherine Heigl and many others. Producers turn to Amsale when they need beautiful designs for films and television programs; her gowns have been featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show", "Grey's Anatomy" and "27 Dresses."

Amsale's Madison Avenue boutique, which opened in September 2001, has fulfilled Amsale's desire to present her designs in a setting that reflected her "forever modern" vision. The 5,000 square foot boutique is an urban space with a gallery-like atmosphere that provides a sleek, sophisticated canvas and the perfect backdrop for Amsale's elegant designs. The boutique offers a full range of designs from all of the brands within the Amsale Design Group, including Amsale, Amsale Bridesmaids, Christos and Kenneth Pool. The Kenneth Pool line is designed by Project Runway alum, Austin Scarlett, while Amsale Aberra is the Creative Director for the Amsale and Christos lines.

Amsale Aberra

TEXT SOURCES AND MORE INFORMATION

AMSALE OFFICIAL WEBSITE

HIS EXCELLENCY GIRMA WOLDE-GIORGIS, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA

Girma Wolde-Giorgis not too old to lead
old is gold

Girma Wolde-Giorgis born December 1924 in Addis Ababa (1917 as per the Ethiopian Calendar) is the President of Ethiopia. He was elected on October 8, 2001, as a relative unknown and a surprise choice, by a unanimous vote of the Ethiopian Parliament. The Ethiopian presidency is largely a symbolic office with little power. Presidents serve six-year terms. The president is independent of any political party in the country and would have no affiliation with any political party.

As reported by the BBC "UnKnown Elected Ethiopian President" "The elderly businessman-turned-politician has survived three successive regimes.

Under Emperor Haile Selassie, Lt. Girma served in various capacities at the Ethiopian Air Force and the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority in the former province of Ethiopia, Eritrea, until his retirement in 1953 E.C., when he became member of the parliament.

Also under the emperor, he joined parliament and became president of the lower chamber.

In this role, he established the first international parliamentary committee and developed a flair for international relations.

When the military regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam overthrew the emperor in 1974, Lieutenant Wolde Giorgis worked with the "dergue" regime in many different roles including as president of the Red Cross in Eritrea, which was then a province of Ethiopia.

When the military dictatorship was overthrown in 1991 by the present day ruling EPRDF party, Lieutenant Wolde Giorgis embarked on several private business ventures.

He is now a stakeholder in several banks and is an independent MP in a constituency in the western Shoa region.

President Museveni of Uganda, President Wolde-Giorgis of Ethiopia and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia

There was been a mixed reaction to the Lieutenant Wolde Giorgis becoming due to concerns over his age and comments that he looked too frail to assume the presidency.

BBC reported that political analysts considered Lieutenant Wolde Giorgis an "opportunist" for surviving and working under three totally opposing regimes in Ethiopia.

Most however remain apathetic, saying that the president does not really matter as his powers are largely ceremonial and so he could never bring about real change in the country.

Lieutenant Wolde Giorgis is from the majority Oromo ethnic group which make up more than 30% of Ethiopia's 63 million people.

The President of Ethiopia speaks Oromiffa, Amharic, Tigrigna, Italian, English and French.

He is married with five children.

MORE INFORMATION
Biography Girma Wolde Giorgis
Lieutenant Girma Wolde-Giorgis Elected President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

GIGI

Ejigayehu Shibabaw a.k.a. Gigi

Gigi was born in 1974 in Chagni, a small rural town in Ethiopia. The fifth born in a family of ten children, Gigi grew up in a musically filled household. "I grew up singing in the Ethiopian Church, which is actually not allowed for women, but there was a priest at my home who taught me how to sing the songs. And I listen to a lot of West African music, South African music, hip hop, and funk, so you feel all that in the melodies. Even if it’s in Amharic, people can appreciate this music."

Gigi has dedicated her life to her music. Her early determination to become a singer put her at odds with her father.

"My father is a businessman, and is very hostile to the fact that I am a singer. I had to run away from home to follow my vocation. He believes that it is shameful to perform in public. Even if I became a big star, he wouldn’t change his mind."

— Gigi

Gigi's ambition never wavered as she later moved to Nairobi, Kenya where she started a trio. Having lived in Nairobi for a couple of years, Gigi returned to Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, where she quickly established herself as a singer and songwriter. Cast in a French theater production of the story of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, Gigi toured East and South Africa, and eventually France, where she was invited to perform at a Paris world music festival. Seeing the world stage as her true home, Gigi relocated to San Francisco at age 24. Her big break came when her music, released for the local Ethiopian community, caught the attention of Chris Blackwell, Palm Pictures founder.

"There are five different vocal modes in the Ethiopian style. You can write millions of songs in one of those modes. It is in the way you phrase; it can sound like a modern song. And it makes the words sound differently. You can use the Bati mode, for instance, in so many styles. But you know when somebody is singing a happy song, they are singing about life. You communicate the sound. Even if you don’t understand the lyrics of a song you understand the feeling; it is universal."

-Gigi

Gigi's latest album "Gold and Wax"

Her renowned album "GiGi" is musically delightful, whether or not you pay attention to the songs messages. Simply magnificent!

Her 2001 album Gigi brought her widespread attention. Together with her husband and music producer, Bill Laswell, Gigi continues to release albums that take you back to her home country, combining her impressive range, her infinitely rich musical heritage and western rhythms - releasing mesmerizing tunes.

WATCH AND LISTEN TO GIGI Click here Utopia

MORE INFORMATION
Gigi MySpace http://www.myspace.com/gigishibabaw

AFRICAN CUSHITE CAT WALK QUEENS

IMAN

Iman Abdulmajid was born in 1955 Mogadishu Somalia. Iman a daughter of a Somalia diplomat was born in Somalia and grew up speaking five languages. Her parents moved to Kenya where they currently still reside. Whilst in Kenya Iman studied Political Science at Nairobi University. It was at this time when she was discovered and recruited by legendary photographer Peter Beard.

Iman began her career in 1975 as a model. Her first modeling assignment was for Vogue in 1976 and became an instant success. During her 14 years as a model she worked with top photographer and modeled for top designers including Versace, Calvin Klein and YvesStLaurent. Iman is currently involved in several philanthropic causes and is the spokesperson for Keep A Child Alive, which provides drugs to HIV/AIDS children in Africa. She also has a cosmetic line Iman Cosmetics that produces a wide range of make up products.

A mother of two, Iman is currently married to David Bowie with whom she has a daughter Alexandria Zahra. Iman’s eldest daughter is Zulekha Haywood from a previous marriage to basket ball player Spencer Haywood.

YASMIN WARSAME

"I believe that "Black beauty" is underrated and isn't appreciated, so that's what I want to represent in this modeling industry. I want to inspire young girls and women all around the world to follow there dreams, especially women of color. I am blessed to have a beautiful ... son name Hamzah who is the love of my life and my source of inspiration."

-Yasmin Warsame

Somali born Yasmin Warsame was in her early 20’s and five months pregnant with her son when she had her first pictures shot for a catalogue in Toronto, where she had immigrated. 6 foot tall, slim and full of promise, Warsame headed to Paris in 2002, and she encountered success on the runway ever since.

LIYA KEBEDE

This international beauty Liya Kebede was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. While in school at the French Lycee, a film director spotted the beautiful Liya and introduced her to a French modeling agent. After completing her studies, she moved to France to pursue work through a local Parisian agency. Liya inevitably relocated to the fashion capital of New York City, where she currently resides.

Liya established The Liya Kebede Foundation whose mission is to reduce maternal newborn and child mortality and to improve the health and well being of mothers and children around the world. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General appointed Liya as WHO’s Goodwill Ambassador for maternal, newborn and child health.

Liya is married to Kassy Kebede, a managing partner at an investment company. "I go to him for everything! Career, the foundation, anything. He's the most wonderful supporter. He's just brilliant. He's my right hand." They have 2 children.

"I definitely would never discourage girls that want to start modeling. Nothing is impossible. You should have fun, be responsible. Know that it's work at the end of the day. Maybe it feels like a lot of fun at times, but really, it's a career. It's something that hopefully you can have for a long time and count on. I think that if it works for you, it's a wonderful business."

MORE INFORMATION ON LIYA KABEDE AND HER FOUNDATION

http://www.liyakebede.com

http://www.liyakebede.com/foundation/

NUER

Numbering approximately one million, the Nuer are the second largest group (second to the Dinka) in south Sudan. The Nuer live mostly in Southern Sudan, in the east Upper Nile Province around the Nile River, the Bahr el Ghazal and Sobat Rivers, and extending up the Sobat across the Ethiopian border. Oral traditions indicate that the Nuer moved east of the Nile River over the past 200 years.The Nuer are tall and very dark people who are reported to be related to the Dinka, as their cultures are very similar. The Nuer call themselves Naath, meaning "human beings." The Nuer land temperatures year round is between about 27-45C. Because there is no industry in southern Sudan and no cars, the air is clean and clear, and smells sweet.

Drinking fresh milk straight from the source

A people whose material culture is as simple as that of the Nuer are highly dependent on their environment. The Nuer are cattle herders, whose complete way of life revolves around their livestock. Cattle provide companionship, food, social and economic security, and a cultural identity. The Nuer refer to their cattle according to the coloring and spotting patterns of their coats. There are twelve separate words for the unique pattern groupings commonly referred to. Cattle are owned by the family, herded by men and milked by women, but under the control of the head of the household. Most conflicts involve cattle. Fines for offenses are assessed in cattle. Cattle are also used for payment of debts and as bride prices (dowry) in marriage. Nuer will risk their life to defend them or to raid and pillage his neighbor’s cattle. Prestige and wealth is measured by the quantity and quality of the cattle a man owns. Men and women take the names of their favorite cattle and prefer to be greeted by their cattle names. While they do engage in agricultural pursuits, as grains and vegetables supplement their diet, the care of cattle is the only labor they enjoy. It is said that conversation on virtually any subject will inevitably involve a discussion of cattle.

'A tassle-horned song bull'

Young bulls, particularly those with well patterned coats, are often selected at an early age to be 'song bulls'. They are usually castrated (so they are really 'song bullocks'), and their horns are pared away just above the base so that the left one grows forwards, and the right one grows backwards. When they get older, a tassle is hung through holes in the tips of its horns for decoration. Song bulls are highly valued and very well treated. Their owners groom them, sing songs to them, and develop a close and special relationship with them. 'Horn surgery', as the shaping of cow horns is known, is recorded in the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt, so has obviously been practiced along the Nile for thousands of years.

Nile perch is also an essential part of their diet, especially during the dry spells. None of the food commodities are produced for market purposes. Cattle are not primarily raised for meat, but for their blood and milk. Meat is eaten at important celebrations when an animal is sacrificed. There is one rainy season each year, between May and September, during which time people live in permanent villages. For the rest of the year, most members of the family move with the animals following the new grass, which grows on the receding water meadows. The need to find water and grazing for their animals governs life for the Nuer. Cattle need to be watered every 1-2 days, sheep and goats every 1-4 days.

Fishing

Young Nuer Girl grinding sorghum for food

The Nuer are organized into sub-divisions of clan lineages descended through the male line from a single ancestor. The lineages are a major structural factor for political order. These lineages are significant in the control and distribution of resources, and tend to coalesce with the territorial sections. Marriages must be outside one's own clan, and are made legal by the payment of cattle by the man's clan to the woman's clan, shared among various persons in the clan. The territorial groupings and lineage groupings are more closely aligned for some purposes than for others.

There is no overall political authority in the tribal structure. Political activity involves various grouping or separation of the many territorial and clan sections. Nuer society is patrilineal; all rights, privileges, obligations and relationships are regulated through kinsmen.

Nuer Children

Urine is sterile and antiseptic. In a country with no easily accessible sterile water, and little firewood to use for boiling water, cow urine is used for washing and is sometimes mixed with milk for drinking.

The Nuer living pattern changes according to the seasons of the year. The Nuer determine their calendar based on current activity and weather conditions. The fishing season begins in December and lasts until the season of rain (spring) begins. Next comes the plantation season (summer), followed by the season of winds (autumn). As the rivers flood, the people have to move farther back from the river onto higher ground, where the women cultivate millet and maize while the men herd the cattle nearby. In the dry season, the younger men take the cattle herds closer to the receding rivers. The Nuer practice astronomy by watching the stars, and have their own names for various stars and constellations. The evening star, for example, is called “Lipai chiing.” To the Nuer, it looks like a girl in a village waiting for the moon to rise, and the name means “waiting in the village for the moon.”

Roofing a barn

Plastering a barn

Nuer woman plastering a hut

Nuer build only temporary houses or shelters. Houses in wet-season settlements have circular mud walls over stick frames with thatched roofs. As grain is harvested, it is dried on temporary scaffolds. In dry-season camps, men sleep with the cattle in shelters made from local grasses. Women may remain in or near the wet season areas when the men follow the receding waters toward the lower areas. Extended family groups live around communal cattle camps.

Marriage dance

Marriage is one of the most important Nuer traditions, and is arranged by the families of the bride and groom. Divorce among the Nuer is not unheard of; it is usually caused by a lack of children. If a woman does not produce children, a man can demand the return of the cattle he paid for the marriage and can send the woman back to her own village. Marriage takes place in stages, however. A marriage is not finalized until the bride has given birth to at least two children. When a third child is born, the marriage is considered "tied." At this point, the wife and the children become full members of the husband's clan. Women desire to have six children. A man may have multiple wives, who do not necessarily live close to each other. But they will all live in the area of the husband's clan.

Nuer Leopard skin chief

The Nuer are an excitable people, and individuals are very independent and prone to take offense. A casual slight may lead to a quarrel or fight. When violence or the threat of violence erupts, age-mates or family leaders are called on to cool things off. In dire circumstances, a special group called the leopard-skin chiefs are invoked. These special individuals have no formal political authority, but are honored for their moral and spiritual authority. The chiefs may even offer sanctuary to murderers. They can then moderate negotiations for compensation, the only alternative to violent clan feuds.

Tribal markings using razor incisions

The Nuer, like the Dinka, wear little or no clothing, especially the men. Women will more commonly wear a brief skirt of cloth or skin. Women wear wire and bead necklaces and headdresses. Young men are initiated by circumcision and six cuts across the forehead. A man is named by the coloring of his ritual bull, given him at initiation. He composes songs of affection and praise to that bull.

Animal sacrifice

A woman praising God after the sacrifice

Cattle play an important part in Nuer religion and rituals. Cows are dedicated to the ghosts of the owner's lineages and any personal spirits that may have possessed them at any time. The Nuer believe they establish contact with these ancestor ghosts and spirits by rubbing ashes along the backs of oxen or cows dedicated to them, through the sacrifice of cattle. No important Nuer ceremony of any kind is complete without such a sacrifice.

The Nuer have a traditional religious world view usually called "animistic," but they worship a supreme being called 'Kowth,' who has various manifestations, with which some claim to have personal relationships. The Nuer pray for health and well-being, offering sacrifices to Kowth so he will answer their petitions. There is no organized religious hierarchy or system, but many individuals serve as diviners and healers.

Nuer Worship center

They do not believe in a place of afterlife for the spirit, and their religious concepts deal with concerns of this life. They do believe the spirits of the dead can affect their current life. The more recently deceased, the more influence they have. The Nuer honor and appease the spirits of their ancestors. Cattle are sacrificed to God and the spirits.

School boys with missionary teacher

There have been attempts to evangelize and convert the Nuer to Christianity. There are a number of churches in southern Sudan. The Nuer New Testament was completed in 1968, and the Old Testament is in progress. However, a majority of the Nuer remain animist, and only nominal Christians.

INTERESTING NUER TRIVIA

The light is fading, the dung fires have been lit, and the cows will soon return from their day's grazing.

• In the morning, all the cow dung is collected and dried; in the evening, the dried dung is lit to make smoky fires. The smoke drives away biting insects and allows the cattle to get some rest. The ash from the fires also repels insects; cows can be seen flicking it over themselves, dogs sleep in it, and people, particularly children, powder themselves with it. The smoke and smell of cow dung fires is a characteristic part of life in southern Sudan.

• Cattle are given much greater care and attention and will live beyond 15 years if war or famine do not interfere. There is a great bond between people and cattle, and young men in particular will spend much time caring for their favorites, including singing to them.

MORE INFORMATION
Listen to Nuer Music by Nuer Singer Koang Duoth
Watch an intriguing 15 minute film on the Nuer

Information and Photos Indiana University
Nuer profile By Strategy Leader
The Dinka and Nuer Agro Pastoralists of Southern Sudan
Nuer Sudan 101
Nuer Time and Space
The Nuer: A Description of the Modes of Livelihood and Political Institutions of a Nilotic People E. E. Evans Pritchard