Linkup March 2019
Linkup March 2019
Linkup March 2019
17
Closeup:
An interview with
the rising star DJ
Armageddon, the
one striving to plant
African Electronic
music to the Ethiopian
music scene
EatUp: Shifta
A place where a curious mind
gets its sure hit, with healthy
and affordable dining
Page 14
What’sUp:
A review of Gast
Entertainment- the new
pioneering, unusual
entertainment hub at an
unusual place
Page 21
04 05 08
Editor’s Letter
Headsup Thumbsup
March Events
Calendar
09 14
12
Followup
Event Review
Design Week
Eatup
Addis Ababa
Restaurant Review
Catchup Shifta
International Event
Afrochella Festival
17 21
Closeup
Interview With
DJ Armageddon 24 Reelup
Cinema Review
What’sup
Gast Entertainmall
Mall
Here is March, already! The year is truly living up to its promise to the event organizing industry. As short as 2
months seem we have seen a lot. We have already seen Collie Budzz and ROPHNAN on stage, we’ve just had Taste
of Addis, we’ve seen the Zodiac Series launch and bloom, we’ve had Zoya Electronic Music series gaining a wide
acclaim, we had the AU conference, we had the week-long Design Week Addis Ababa, and so many more, and it has
only been 2 months since the year started.
With thousands of aspiring young people joining the event organizing industry, and technology leading the way
we are observing a new wave of energy and imagination. Right down the road, we are having the first ever major
cell-phone photography exhibition, an event that wouldn’t have been imagined just a few months ago. LinkUp
Addis would like to thank all individuals, companies and organizations who take event organizers’ aspirations
seriously to support them in multiple ways.
Eyob Workineh
Editor-in-Chief
Marketing Director:
Eyasu Abdella
eyasu@linkupaddis.com
Creative Director:
Benny Yoseph
benny@linkupaddis.com
1 2 3 4
• Opening of “Women of the world”, a photo
exhibition by Sarah Hocquet
Alliance Francaise, 06:30pm
• Tribes N Vibes
Esco Bar & Restaurant, 09:00pm
5 6 7 8
• Zoya party 0.3 ( electronic music) • UN 2019 Women First 5k Run • Finnovation Ethiopia
Greek Club, 10:00pm Registration fee: 200 birr Radisson Blu Hotel, 08:00pm
Registration: Great Ethiopian Run office
Bole, 07:30am • The Talked about Game Night ‘Quizzards
Ramada Addis Hotel, 08:30pm
9 10 11 12
• Cellphone Photography Exhibition '01 • Cellphone Photography Exhibition '01
Vamdas Entertainment, 09:00am Vamdas Entertainment, 09:00am
13 14 15 16
Linkup Addis Ababa March, 2019 I 5
17-31 MARCH2019
• Cellphone Photography Exhibition '01 • Film screening “Timbuktu” • Screening film “La prochaine fois, • “Books & Bubbles"
Vamdas Entertainment, 09:00am Alliance Francaise, 06:30pm je viserai le coeur” (Eng subs) Alliance Francaise, 07:00pm
Alliance Francaise, 06:30pm
• The Talked about Game Night ‘Quizzards
Ramada Addis Hotel, 08:30pm
17 18 19 20
• Buildexpo Ethiopia (Buildexpo Africa) • Buildexpo Ethiopia (Buildexpo Africa) • Buildexpo Ethiopia (Buildexpo Africa)
Millennium Hall, 09:30am Millennium Hall, 09:30am Millennium Hall, 09:30am
21 22 23 24
• The Talked about Game Night ‘Quizzards • Sonic BBQ#2: a digital live conversation
Ramada Addis Hotel, 08:30pm between bodies, drums and a BBQ
Alliance Ethio Francaise, 08:00pm
25 26 27 28
29 30 31
6 I Linkup Addis Ababa March, 2019
Thumbsup
Eyasu A. Ashenafi
Kidus Assefa
Industrial Design & Interiors, Fashion drinks & live DJ music giving it a certain
& Textiles, Art & Multimedia, Visual ambiance & festive atmosphere, plus the
Communication, Food & Gastronomy, and increased exposure & awareness created
Architecture & Urban Planning. Although among the general public - proving its
food & gastronomy wasn’t an area given growing presence and influence in the
much attention to in this year’s edition, design & creations realm of the city - it can
technology certainly did captivate the certainly be said that Design Week Addis
public. With an array of technological Ababa is here to stay for years to come.
"
Alemayehu Bekele
Photo : Twitter_@designweek_aa
Photo: www..lomography.com
A bdul Karim Abdullah and Kenny rich arts of the African continent to new
Agyapong have a knack for throwing audiences. However, bringing Africa to
parties. In college, it was their hobby; America wasn’t quite in the cards.
“We want to
encourage other
people that have
the then Sigma fraternity The initial idea was to such talents to be
brothers charged $1 per head hold Afrochella at New York’s able to come back
or offered free Moet bottles
“There’s a big Randall’s Island. Still, according and create spaces
to get people through their light on Africa… to Abdullah, the permitting and like us.”
dorm room doors. After Our fashion, our production cost alone were
college, it became their part- food and music.” too overwhelming. With their
time hustle: hosting events access to resources in Ghana
around New York City’s — media and governmental
boroughs and bringing people together support — Abdullah and Agyapong
through music. Eventually, their vision decided to put on the festival there instead.
outgrew party throwing and evolved into They would be able to execute the festival
the cultural experience now known as at a fraction of the initial cost — plus start
Ghana’s Afrochella Festival. bringing visitors worldwide to Ghana.
In 2017, Afrochella came to life for the
Abdullah and Agyapong dreamt up first time. The one-day festival took place in
Afrochella when they were living in the Ghana’s capital of Accra at the prestigious
Bronx. Both of Ghanaian descent, the duo Polo Courts and hosted a crowd of 4,500.
noticed a lack of representation of African “We wanted a space where we could
arts and culture at the major U.S. festivals celebrate our own culture,” Abdullah says,
and events. They spent time living in “and teach [it] from a native’s perspective
Ghana at different points in their lives; through arts, music, culture and food.”
Abdullah lived there for seven years as From the late Ebony Reigns to Kwesi
a child and Agyapong moved there five Arthur, King Promise and B4bonah,
years ago as an adult. For the business Afrochella’s first year boasted top
partners, it was important to expose the musicians and rising acts from across
Photo: Twitter_@Afrochella_GH
"
people from the diaspora that are doing
amazing things through their respective beyond.
countries and fields.”
This year in particular is crucial for
Afrochella. 2019, dubbed The Year of the
Return by Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-
Addo, marks the 400th year since the first
slave ship left West Africa. The Ghanaian
Afrochella
2018
Shifta
Ephratha Kibru
Armagheddion
Selam Tarekegn
I’m 26, I grew up all over Africa. I have too What is your style as an artist?
many interests and not enough time.
I’m an Afro Electronic DJ. I play everything “I genuinely also
How do you define your profession/ from Afro House and Afro Techno to old think this sound is
career? African music from all over the continent. the most interesting
I love the product of African soundscapes, thing happening in
I’m a DJ so my job is to make people dance. vocals, melodies and percussion against Electronic music
If I can show people a new sound and new the backdrop of House and Techno beats right now. ”
music then thats a bonus. Its simple and I’m and rhythms.
incredibly lucky to have a chance to do it.
You’ve been credited with pioneering and
What motivates you as an artist? spearheading the afro house sound in
Ethiopia. Was this on purpose?
I’m constantly pushing myself to be
better, technically and creatively. To push Absolutely, yes. I felt kind of a shallow joy at
boundaries and continue to influence playing Eurocentric Electronic music, and
change. I don’t compare myself with other felt it was my responsibility because of this
people as I only compete with myself. platform that I have been given to explore
and showcase sounds and artists from the
Who do you look up to? continent and the global south who don’t
get enough airtime. I’m on a mission to
In Ethiopia, Ethiopian Records and decolonize dance music as the rest of the
Mikael Seifu are giants. They have world has so much more to offer. Also its
managed to craft an entire genre from just strange to me as an African, to go out
nothing, just absolute genius. Regionally, in Africa and hear everything but African
I’m also closely following what they are music. I genuinely also think this sound is
Photo by Aron Simeneh
You are one of the most acclaimed Do you think this is the right time for
nightlife performers in town. How do artists like you to shine? Why?
you observe the difference between
performing in nightclubs and at other Ethiopia is opening up, and you have to “You can never
events you perform in? credit artists like Rophnan and Chelina achieve anything
for making new sounds palatable and without someone
Hahaha thank you! I’m not the biggest fan accessible for a local market. You can else going before
of performing at nightclubs anymore to never achieve anything without someone you and making an
be honest with you. I’ve come to realize its else going before you and making an impression”
a very predictable and one dimensional impression, so I’m grateful for all the
approach that people want with music in groundwork thats been done and I’m also
those settings, and let me be clear, there very much looking forward to hearing the
is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I next generation of musicians and artists.
just have no interest in playing music that
everyone already knows and people have Do you have any ongoing projects?
heard millions of times.
I have a couple of things in the pipeline, but
What are the challenges for a performing for whats out now - there is my monthly
artist/DJ to function? party at Escobar, Tribes n Vibes. As well as
Nomad events. Both of these are centered
Staying relevant, fresh and at the same time around Afro House and Afro Techno. I also
providing something that people can relate hope to have my debut EP out by the end of
to. this year.
What is Armaghedion's ultimate career How can your fans follow you and keep up
ambition? with you?
I want to leave an imprint on the music You can follow me on instagram for events
scene here. I would love if mature and giddy.jpg and mixcloud if you want to hear
complex African Electronic music was my sound. https://www.mixcloud.com/
more ubiquitous. That I could go out on any armaghedion/
given night and hear something fresh and
new; to hear the generation after me come Do you have any final messages?
into their own and push the boundaries
even further. I just want to call on all Ethiopian creatives
to collaborate more, we’re only as strong as
We know you perform a lot at several our support systems. By working together,
nightlife events. Which ones stand out for pushing each other, inspiring each other,
you? critiquing each other we improve the
quality of not only ourselves but all the arts
My favorite events that I have played in Ethiopia.
have been the Nomad events. Every
"
change.
Gast Mall
Surafel Solomon
"
entertainment.
Photo by: Abenezer Geleta (Ras Studio)
Kidus Tamiru
Cinema
Weto Ader
Directed By: Anteneh Haile
Runtime: 96 min
Starring: Tariku Birhanu, Mahlet Haile
Weto Ader is a comedy film about Addis, a struggling actor who ends up with a
police uniform and all the mischief that follows as he impersonates a cop. This film
is Let's Be Cops meets The Disaster Artist without the charm or humor of either. At
least on The Disaster Artist, the main character sticks to his goal of making it as an
artist, which this film abandons entirely halfway through. In Let's Be Cops, the main
characters engage in mostly harmless, benevolent pranks throughout, whereas on
this film, the character turns villainous pretty quickly. And that's the main issue with
this film. I've seen so many Ethiopian films with unlikable protagonists, but this one
definitely takes the cake. The character is so unlikable and unrelatable (he actually
directly causes the death and rape of a few characters, all the while cracking jokes)
that nobody in the cinema even chuckled. You won't like Addis from the start and
you'll like him a good deal less as the story progresses. Don't waste your time and
money on this.
3/10
Yisehaq
Directed By: Abraham Fantish Gudayehu
Runtime: 120 min
Starring: Michael Million, Meron Engida, Nardos Birhanu
Yisehaq is a family drama about a man who gets reunited with his long lost daughter
and moves in to her house with her mom and stepdad. This movie is a family drama
to the full extent of that genre. It's literally about the drama of a family told in a slow,
serious, and at times, tear jerking, manner. None of that mean it's a terrible film. If
you're a fan of these types of movies, you'd probably really enjoy it. But if you're
expecting comedy, a fast paced or light hearted movie, you'll definitely hate this. On a
technical note, this movie is so-so. The sound is audible, the cinematography visible
and the acting bearable. The acting does get obnoxious at times, especially the lead
who’s character also misses the mark. It's clear the writers intended the character to
come off as a cool and wise young dad, but he mostly seems stupid and irresponsible.
Overall, it's an endearing and memorable film but only if you're in the mood for this
genre.
6.5/10
The Lego movie 2 is an animation movie set five years after the events of the first one
and follows Emmet, wyldstyle and their wacky friends as they try to protect their
land from new, seemingly invincible invaders. By now, we know what to expect
from Christopher Miller and Phil Lord (the writers) and their brand of irreverent
humor and unique storylines. But this sequel, the fourth one in the Lego universe,
although funny at times, doesn't pack the punch of the first one. The first film was
great because it was so unexpected; the jokes, the pop culture references, the ending
were all great to watch. But this just feels like an obligatory sequel with no major
contributions to the franchise. And plot wise, it's quite muddled and doesn't even
have a villain. It has its emotional moments but nowhere near as good as the other
films in the Legoverse. Or maybe I just expected a lot more from the writers that gave
us Spider Man: Into the Spider-verse.
6/10
Alita: Battle Angel is a science fiction film about a young android girl with amnesia
and her journey to discover her past in a dystopian wasteland. This film, directed
by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Spy Kids) and produced by James Cameron (Avatar,
Terminator), turns out exactly as you'd expect from those filmmakers. It's fast
paced and gritty with beautiful visuals. On the down side, like most of their films,
it's not strong on plot. It's predictable from the start. But the pros far outweigh the
shortcomings. It's spectacular and frequent fight sequences and great cast, especially
the lead Rosa Salazar, are sure to keep you entertained throughout. The main
character's pure innocence is a great contrast to the gritty, dystopian setting. But
another issue I had with the movie is, like most blockbusters these days; it seems
more concerned w that they seem to be setting up a franchise at the expense of
making a great standalone film. But considering the lack of more interesting movies
these days, this is worth checking out. genre.
7.5/10