馃嚜馃嚬EthiopiaEast Africa
Lij Temesgen Melese blends Ethiopian traditional dance with contemporary music for global audiences
via The Reporter Ethiopia11 min read
Lij Temesgen Melese, with nearly three decades of experience, is working to preserve and adapt Ethiopian cultural dance for contemporary audiences through his project, Ethiopian Traditional Dance Music ETDM. His approach combines traditional rhythms and choreography with electronic dance music, aiming to make Ethiopian dance accessible globally while maintaining its cultural integrity. Temesgen, who holds a master鈥檚 degree from Howard University, has performed internationally and contributed to cultural education, with his work even being incorporated into a Grade 2 national textbook. His artistic journey began in Addis Ababa, leading him to formal training at the Children and Youth Theatre Club and later the Hager Fikir Theatre. He established the Ye-Temesgen Lijoch Ethiopian Cultural Dance Group, which has performed extensively and trained many young dancers. Temesgen's latest album, "ETDM Beats," features 13 tracks blending traditional Ethiopian forms with contemporary production, incorporating elements from 17 cultural traditions. He aims to position traditional dance and music within a broader global framework and create opportunities for young performers, despite challenges such as limited institutional support and the absence of a comprehensive cultural policy. His long-term goal is to establish an international arts university to foster future generations of artists rooted in Ethiopian identity.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
Must ReadThe Council of the European Union has expanded its sanctions against Sudan, banning the import of Sudanese gold and restricting the export of key mining chemicals like mercury and cyanide. These measures aim to cut off revenue streams financing the country's civil war, which erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Gold has become a major funding source for the conflict, and limiting its trade, along with access to mining chemicals, is intended to reduce financial resources for those driving the violence. The sanctions include exemptions for humanitarian operations, public health emergencies, or disaster response. This action follows the EU's establishment of a sanctions framework for Sudan in October 2023, which has been expanded several times, most recently in January 2026. The conflict has displaced over 14 million people and led to widespread violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reiterated the bloc's call for an immediate ceasefire and warned against external actors fueling the conflict, stating the EU would use all available tools, including additional sanctions, to pressure those sustaining the war.
Must ReadTewolde Gebremariam, former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, has been appointed chief executive of Pakistan International Airlines PIA. This appointment follows PIA's recent privatization, with ownership transferred from the Pakistani government to a consortium led by the Arif Habib Group, a local business conglomerate. Gebremariam's career at Ethiopian Airlines spanned nearly four decades, during which he served as CEO for 11 years, overseeing significant growth including quadrupling annual revenue to USD 4.5 billion and expanding the fleet to over 130 aircraft. He retired from Ethiopian Airlines in March 2022 due to personal health reasons. At PIA, Gebremariam is tasked with overseeing growth to a fleet of 65 aircraft and a return to profitability, as the airline has faced major losses, mismanagement, and regulatory issues, including a fatal crash in May 2020 and revelations of pilots with fake licenses.
Must ReadThe National Bank of Ethiopia NBE has removed the credit growth cap for commercial banks, nearly three years after its introduction in August 2023. This decision follows a Monetary Policy Committee meeting, where regulators noted a successful transition to an interest-based policy framework. The cap, initially set at 14 percent to curb inflation, was later adjusted to 18 percent in December 2024 and 24 percent in September 2025. Although inflation has eased due to economic reforms and forex market liberalization from mid-2024, the NBE anticipates continued double-digit headline inflation for the next six months, partly due to the Middle East conflict. In response, the NBE is increasing its policy rate by one percentage point to 16 percent as a counter-tightening measure. Additionally, the central bank is reducing the forex surrender requirement for goods exports from 50 percent to 30 percent to boost export competitiveness and market confidence. The NBE's forex commission rate has also been lowered by one percentage point to 1.5 percent.