Posts Tagged ‘Ethiopians’
Ethiopians celebrate Meskel in Oakland
Ethiopians from the Bay Area gathered at Medhani Alem Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Oakland on Sunday to celebrate Meskel, a holiday that commemorates the finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena.
Read MoreOakland’s Ethiopians divided over Prime Minister’s legacy
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi died August 20, at the age of 57, of an undisclosed illness. The Bay Area will host two memorial services on Sunday – in Oakland at the Jack London Aquatic Center, and in San Jose at the Masonic Temple.
Read MoreEast Africans share community values, plates of food
Oakland has become a popular destination for the estimated 20,000 Ethiopian and Eritreans living in the Bay Area, according to the Ethiopian Community Center in Oakland. The East Africans have been steadily migrating to the Bay Area since the late 1980s and early 1990s, seeking refuge from the brutal military dictatorship of then Ethiopian leader Mengistu Haile Mariam. But now, the community is flocking to the area on a more positive note. Drawn to the city for its temperate climate, reminiscent of East Africa, and its food-centric culture, many Ethiopian and Eritrians have settled in North Oakland—bringing the flavor and color of their customs and cuisine with them.
Read MoreRich African food helps Ethiopians mark Enkutatash
Many of Oakland’s Ethiopian immigrants and their families and friends joined the Berkeley festivities Sunday for Enkutatash, an Ethiopian celebration of the new year.
Read MoreA fragrant shop helps Ethiopians far from home
by ISABEL ESTERMAN Inside Oakland’s Albo African Gift shop, at the corner of Alcatraz and Telegraph, a deep herbal aroma wafts from a row of colorful bottles labeled ‘frankincense.’ Ethiopian Singer Hamelmal Abate’s mournful vibrato pours out of the stereo, crooning over an incongruously lively beat, while the store’s owner, Genet Asrat, sits behind the…
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