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The Completion of TEZETA: The Ethiopian Armenians

A once-thriving Ethiopian-Armenian community had a huge impact on the jazz scene in Addis. Watch.

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The Completion of TEZETA: The Ethiopian Armenians

The Completion of TEZETA: The Ethiopian Armenians

The Completion of TEZETA: The Ethiopian Armenians

The Completion of TEZETA: The Ethiopian Armenians

The Completion of TEZETA: The Ethiopian Armenians

A once-thriving Ethiopian-Armenian community had a huge impact on the jazz scene in Addis. Watch.

A once-thriving Ethiopian-Armenian community had a huge impact on the jazz scene in Addis. Watch.

A once-thriving Ethiopian-Armenian community had a huge impact on the jazz scene in Addis. Watch.

A once-thriving Ethiopian-Armenian community had a huge impact on the jazz scene in Addis. Watch.

Aramazt Kalayjian
Aramazt Kalayjian
Aramazt Kalayjian
Aramazt Kalayjian
1 Campaign |
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
$8,257 USD 111 backers
22% of $37,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

NEW!!! WATCH OUR PERSONAL MESSAGE ABOVE,

VIEW SCENE SELECTIONS IN OUR GALLERY

AND RECEIVE COOL REWARDS WHEN YOU GIVE

TO OUR CAMPAIGN HERE! --->

 

THE CAUSE: We need your help!  We need to raise 37k

to complete our documentation of the Armenian

community of Ethiopia and their story.  This means

equipment rental, rights to archival footage and

photographs, travel expenses and media storage. We

want to do this film right and bring this remarkable

story to an international audience. With your help we

can do it!

 

 

THE STORY: Armenians and Ethiopians have shared a long

history, with music serving arguably as one of their

greatest contributions, as well as one of the driving

forces keeping their community together.  From 40

Armenian orphans adopted by Emperor Haile Selassie

to serve as the first imperial orchestra of Ethiopia, to

Alemayhu Eshete, the 'Elvis' of Ethiopia, Armenians

have left their imprint on the cultural and musical

landscape of Ethiopian society.  

 

Now, a small, relatively undocumented group

of Armenians in Ethiopia are striving to preserve their

historical and cultural legacy as they persevere in

continuing their community.

 

Below are stills from interviews in November and December.

We accomplished much but we have more to go!  

 

Stills from footage

 

TEZETA IS A SONG FORM FAMOUS IN ETHIOPIAN MUSIC.  

IN AMHARIC IT TRANSLATES TO “MY MEMORY,” BUT IT 

MEANS MUCH MORE. IT CONVEYS A SENSE 

OF NOSTALGIA THAT CAN BE LOST IN TRANSLATION.

 

SHORT SUMMARY

TEZETA [The Ethiopian Armenians]is a film about the tremendous impact of a small minority of people on the culture of a nation; the struggle to retain cultural identity and remain a viable community; and the role that music played in serving as a bridge between two cultures.



We started collecting footage six months ago in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During this time, we became acquainted with many Ethiopian Armenian community members whose families have lived in Ethiopia for several generations, as well as others touched by the Armenians’ profound legacy.  Particularly compelling is the mark Armenians have left on the musical landscape of Ethiopia, which is why we’ve chosen to focus on this aspect of the story.  



To date, we’ve conducted forty-five half-hour to hour-long interviews with Ethiopian Armenians, as well as Ethiopian musicians, historians, and clergymen.  Our interviews have been in French, Amharic, Armenian, & English.  We’ve filmed concerts, recitals, & church ceremonies.  We’ve photographed places and people relevant to the story.  

We’ve come a long way but we have a lot more to go! 



 

Stills from TEZETA [The Ethiopian Armenians]

WHAT WE NEED 

With your support, we can:

  • Complete interviews with remaining members of the Armenian community in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Translate and transcribe interviews from Amharic, French and Armenian to English subtitles and text

  • Travel to remote places Armenians have lived in Ethiopia that have cultural relevance to the story

  • Obtain additional media storage equipment and high quaility recording equipment for the best production

  • Purchase reproduction rights and collect more archival articles, photographs, and footage  from ETV, Library of Congress and National Archives as well as other private collections.

  • Begin with post-production including editing footage, color correction and sound mastering





WHAT YOU GET

To show our appreciation for our supporters, we’re offering a range of gifts including:

  • Postcards

  • T-Shirts

  • DVDs

  • Photographic prints

  • Executive Producer Credit  



 

TEZETA [The Ethiopian Armenians] postcard Postcard of Appreciation

An original TEZETA [The Ethiopian-Armenians] T-Shirt

T-Shirt of Thanks

TEZETA [The Ethiopian Armenians] DVDDVD of Indebtedness

Original photographic prints from our productionPhotographic PrintsPhotographic PrintsPhotographic print Photographic prints

THE IMPACT



We believe that this film has the potential to appeal to wide audiences through its exploration of music, as well as social themes, such as overcoming adversity, prevailing against bureaucratic challenges, pursuing dreams, revealing hidden truths, and the relationship between two unexpectedly connected cultures.  



In short, this story will highlight the legacy of a once flourishing and now diminishing minority community through the narrative of music.  

We believe that this story needs to be told.  



 

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP



To continue production on the film, we need your help.  Even if you cannot donate at this time, please consider:

  • Sharing our trailer with your family and friends via email, word-of-mouth, a phone call, any shout out is always appreciated

  • Posting our materials on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, Google+ or any other social-media platform and asking friends and family to take a look at our campaign 

  • Visiting our website at http://www.tezeta.tumblr.com and sharing it as well

  • Write comments here and let us know what you think or what you would like to see

 

  

To those who have supported our film already,

we are eternally grateful.  

To those who are new

to our project please consider giving to our project.

 

Thank you. 


Շնորհակալություն.

አመሰግናለሁ!

 

 

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Choose your Perk

Thank you!

$10 USD
You get a special thank you from us in our film credits! This amount can help pay for a taxi ride from Piazza to Bole.
Estimated Shipping
April 2014
22 claimed

Postcard of Appreciation

$25 USD
An original postcard signed by the director, delivered to you anywhere in the world.
Estimated Shipping
April 2014
17 claimed

T-Shirt of Thanks

$50 USD
All of the above + an original TEZETA [The Ethiopian Armenians] T-Shirt delivered to you anywhere in the world.
Estimated Shipping
April 2014
6 claimed

CD of Collaboration

$70 USD
A signed, limited-edition newly-released CD album titled MIXOLOGY by fourth-generation Ethiopian-Armenian artist, Vahé. This amount can help fund lighting equipment for three days in Addis Ababa. **this reward not included in other reward packages.
Estimated Shipping
April 2014
1 out of 10 of claimed

DVD of Indebtedness

$100 USD
All of the above + a DVD of TEZETA [The Ethiopian Armenians] delivered to you anywhere in the world.
Estimated Shipping
April 2014
20 claimed

Photograph of Fortuity

$200 USD
All of the above + an original photographic print of a chance occurrence or fortuitous moment in Ethiopia. This amount can help fund one day of equipment rental.
Estimated Shipping
April 2014
2 claimed

Gastronomy for Gratitude

$500 USD
All of the above rewards + a private dinner for two with the Director of the film.
Estimated Shipping
April 2014
3 claimed

Executive Producer Credit

$1,000 USD
It would be truly remarkable to receive a gift like this. If you should feel inclined to give at this level, we include all of the above rewards + would love to discuss with you the possibility of having your name appear credited as Executive Producer in our film. - This amount can help fund five days of equipment rental in Addis Ababa.
Estimated Shipping
April 2014
1 claimed
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