Fendika Cultural Center is a cultural hub and vibrant creative hotspot in the heart of Kassanches. Owned and run by dancer and choreographer Melaku Belay, it is a melting pot of traditional and contemporary cultural expression, where artists of all generations experiment with new forms and reinvigorate old forms in all artistic disciplines, from music and poetry to visual arts and performance. It is a much beloved popular and unique catalyst for Ethiopian culture.
The Prince Claus Awards honour outstanding achievements in the field of culture and development. The awards are presented annually to individuals, groups and organisations whose cultural actions have a positive impact on the development of their societies. In keeping with the Prince Claus Fund’s guiding principles, the awards highlight significant contributions in regions where resources or opportunities for cultural expression, creative production and preservation of cultural heritage are limited.
Fendika is awarded for “its positive impact as a catalyst inspiring and supporting cultural expressions in Ethiopia.”
Originally Fendika was an ‘Azmari Bet’ a place where people gather to listen to ballads by Ethiopia’s poet-singer-musicians (azmari) playing unique local instruments and improvising verses and stories that are often humorous or satirical. Fendika is now the only local music space left in the area. Melaku Belay, as a teenager did odd jobs at Fendika and slept under the bar for seven years while training to become a dancer, choreographer and musician. He gradually gained international recognition for his art, began to manage the space in 2008, and ultimately crowdfunded to purchase a 100-year lease on the property to ensure its continuance.
