invitation is by theresa a. jenkins
Sunday, October 11, 2009, saw a couple of hundred people come out to celebrate GGRF and enjoy the exhibit at the Friendship Heights Village Center in Chevy Chase, Md. Vendors began setting up about 9:30 and by 11:00 a.m. people were wandering in to peruse the art and check out the vendors' goods. Many enjoyed the experience of the Ethiopian coffee ceremony and munched on the great food provided by Friendship Gourmet Market and several of the participating artists. Thanks to Beth Cartland for the fabulous table decorations!
About noon, Mistress of Ceremonies Ashley Griffith welcomed everyone and introduced Janet Stanley, Librarian at the Smithsonian's Museum of African Art, who said a few words on behalf of GGRF. Kebe Tesfaye then introduced the children's performance group Addis Flower and led them in a song about America, sung in both Amharic and English, and two traditional Ethiopian dances. Co-director and keyboard accompanist Soloman Bedasso and a friend also danced with the children. The audience was entirely enchanted by the whole performance and rocked out with them. An added note of fun: the girls pointed out that they had beaded their hair with red, white and blue beads and some had painted their fingernails red, white, and blue, in honor of the occasion.
Following the joyous movement and sound of the children, D.C. poet Dehejia Maat brought a serene and spiritual element to the day with her premiere of a poem "For the Girls" and another called "Where I Come From." Ethiopian songbird Munit Mesfin, "plus two," perfectly wrapped up the program with three songs written by her, including a new crowd favorite, Noro, Noro.
After a little more munching, looking and chatting, the event wrapped up about 1:30. From what we heard and experienced, a great time was had by all!
invitation is by theresa a. jenkins
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