Director of Fendika Cultural Center, Dancer and Choreographer Melaku Belay was selected as a TED Fellow, joining a class of 20 change-makers from around the world to deliver a talk on the TED stage this past April in Vancouver. Melaku was selected for his work that has brought global attention to the dynamic cultural development of Ethiopia, including music, dance, and visual art.
Melaku reflected on becoming the first TED Fellow out of Ethiopia: “I am very honored to be among this amazing class of TED Fellows. TED is a prestigious global forum; it means a lot that they recognize my work and understand my dream to show the richness of Ethiopian culture to the world. Through TED, I will learn from change-makers from around the world, build more bridges between peoples and cultures, and promote societal healing through arts and creativity.”
Melaku’s talk and performance received a standing ovation, and sparked many conversations about Ethiopian dance, arts, society, languages, and culture throughout the 4-day conference. Melaku’s thoughts on TED: “I am proud to share my experience of Ethiopian culture and my work with Fendika Cultural Center. The world needs to hear from us, about Ethopia’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, about our creativity in music, dance, visual arts, and about how arts help us heal. I felt comfortable and at home at the conference. The organizers and participants were energetic, friendly, and curious. I felt that I was embraced by a big family of visionaries. Besides the talks, there were many discovery sessions and workshops for people to learn from each other, to exchange ideas.”
As a dancer and choreographer, Melaku found it very encouraging that dance was an important part of this prestigious conference. He was among three choreographers who presented and performed in person. Here in Ethiopia, we need to recognize dance’s potential in helping us understand ourselves, connect to our history, and imagine our future. The government and private sector need to support and nurture dance, music and art in Ethiopia, because they are important for the peace and unity of our society.
About Fendika Cultural Center: Under Melaku’s leadership since 2008, Fendika Cultural Center is the first music venue in Addis Ababa that pays regular salary to traditional musicians and dancers. It is a home to artists of many disciplines and cultural backgrounds, offering a weekly multidisciplinary program including music, dance, visual art, and poetry.