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Mfundishi
Sanaa Afewerk
Tekle
by
Ankhshashak Heru-Khuty
Ankhmeniition
On my
holiday from the New York City Board of
Education, I traveled to Africa with a
group of African educators called The
Africa Group. Every February, the group
travels to some unique destination in
Africa. This unique group of educators
seeks to bring back first hand
information, about Africa, to share with
their students. This February 2000 the
group traveled to Ethiopia and I was among
the fortunate. The group was fortunate to
visit a renowned artist.
Visionary,
spiritual, talented, humanitarian,
naturalist, Afrocentrist; these are the
words that so inadequately respond to the
personality of Afewerk Tekle. Tekle, whom
I call Mfundishi Sanaa, a Kiswahili term
meaning, a master of arts is an
internationally known artist? Mfundishi
Sanaa Tekle was born in 1932 in the North
Shoa town of Ankober, Ethiopia.
He
studied Painting, Sculpture, and
Architecture at London University and the
Accademia di Michelangelo in Florence,
Italy. Later he would join the Slade
Faculty of Fine Arts University of London.
Tekle's work has been exhibited in the
United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, and
Russia.I first saw Mfundishi Sanaa Tekle's
work in the form of scarves on the
airplane leaving from New York going to
Addis Ababa. I had never seen such
beautiful silk scarves. I was moved by use
of color, and his style. The scarf was
printed with scenes from the meeting of
the Queen of Sheba and King
Solomon.
My mother
Nana Ama Serwah Nyarko, the tour leader
informed us that we would have a chance to
visit his gallery before we left Ethiopia.
I was looking forward to that. Upon
arriving at Villa Alpha, on the last day
of our trip, we immediately realized that
the two hours that we allotted for the
tour and meeting was not enough. Mfundishi
Sanaa Tekle began to show us Villa Alpha
and explain the history of the building.
 He
said that Italian soldiers during the
Italian occupation of Ethiopia occupied
Villa Alpha. The Italians destroyed most
of the paintings that were in the
building. They also demolished parts of
the home itself. The artist is now in the
process of rebuilding his home. A quote
from Mfundishi Sanaa Tekle: "When I was
young I wanted to see a painter's house,
where he worked, where he lived.
Unfortunately at the age of sixteen I went
to see a priest painting in a church, in
one of the churches, and when I asked
where he was living. He was living, as was
the tradition -- because he was dedicated
to the church -- in a grave house. And
this always rang a bell in my mind as a
young art academic student when I visited
the homes and the places where the great
artists in Europe, Raphael, Leonardo or
contemporary artists like Picasso and all
these, I always wished I could live
something like that.
So that
will be hopefully my legacy, as a
realistic thing, with an endowment, so
that the Ethiopian, the African will live,
see and be even more creative." As we
moved inside the building the Artist
showed us his most famous work Mother
Ethiopia 1963. The work is valued at 10
million USD. Mfundishi Sanaa Tekle stress
that the work was not to be sold but to
beleft to Ethiopia. He went on to explain
the many awards that he received for his
artistic accomplishments which include:
Order of Arts & Letters, France;
Toastmasters International Hall of
Fame;
Distinguished
Toastmaster, Toastmasters International;
Life Fellow, International Biographical
Center, England; Life Fellow & The
Golden Academy Award for Lifetime
Achievement, American Biographical
Research Institute; Title of His Highest
Prince of the Holy Sea, The Vatican;
Honorary Citizenship, Orange County, CA;
National Order of Senegal; Officer of the
Star of Ethiopia, Order of Merit Egypt and
Commander of the Order of Menelik II.
After receiving the Knight Commander of
the Order of St. Sylvester of the Vatican
Mfundishi Sanaa Tekle was asked to produce
a painting of him wearing the black
costume of the Italian Knight Commander
with his honors and orders.
Ankhshashak
Heru-Khuty Ankhmeni is a Photographer.
He photographed the pictures for this
article. Ankhmeni is a Staff
Developer/Math Coach with the New York
City Department of Education. He has
trained math teachers for the past 5 years
with the NYC Dept of Ed. He is a member of
The Africa Group World Travellers and has
founded Moja World Travellers a Special
Tours division of The Africa Group. Mr.
Ankhmeni is a board member of Global
Alliance for Education, Health and Human
Services, Inc. a non-profit organization
that supports development in
Africa.
Jonathan
Wosu, Photographer
"I
believe that my photography reflects the
humility I have for the medium, and my
appreciation of the power it has to dilute
the fear that ignorance generates. If as
much as one of my pictures contributes to
attenuating this fear, I will consider my
efforts successful. If two ... then I will
consider myself blessed." Jonathan Wosu.
The 1999 Congress Edition cover, photo
(above) by Mr. Wosu, was a standout. The
West African drummer sending his message
of 'Akwaaba ' proudly announced the 1st
ATA-WTO World Congress in Accra, Ghana.
You'll see more photos by Jonathan Wosu in
this edition, and web site. His company
provides many attractive and useful
photo-related specialties and services.
Contact: Bijon Promotions, PO Box 91,
Piscataway NJ 08855, tel. 732-463-1505,
fax 732-463-1505
Robert
Eilets, Photographer
Among some tribes of the Diaspora,
tribesman avoid being photographed, as it
is believed that ones' soul will be
forever lost on the earthly plain. When
one views photographer, Robert Eilet's
work, one can certainly appreciate the
basis of this belief for he has surely
captured the spiritual essence of his
subjects. The wisdom of the elders, the
devout faith of men, the innocence of the
little babies swaddled to their mother's
backs as well as the quiet dignity and
beauty of the women are all evidenced in
this exceptional photo exhibit that
chronicles. R. E. Eilet's travels
throughout Kenya, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia,
Egypt, Mali, Beijing- China, India South
Africa , and Brazil. His attention to
color, light and composition mirror that
of an accomplished artist placing his work
among the most noteworthy of today's
contemporary photojournalist Undeniably a
photo legacy that will be enjoyed for
years to come. See
Eilets' Holy Route
Photos
on this site, plus the following
links:
http://community.webtv.net/ROBTEILE/WORLDLYIMAGES0
http://community.webtv.net/ROBTEILE/ReflectionsOf
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