How Ethiopians in the U.S Cling to their Heritage

It is not always easy or possible to maintain one's cultural heritage in a new country. Sometimes ethnic communities come together in a more organized way to collectively take on the role of making sure that their traditions and language are passed on to the next generation. In the U.S, summer cultural camps take place for this purpose.In a BBC article by Damian Zane we learn about the summer camps to help Ethiopian children keep their cultural heritage. Dances are performed during this camp.

Hermela Kebede, who runs Washington's Ethiopian Community Center explains, "They still have to keep their heritage - that's who they are, and it will make them proud”. About 35 children attend this camp in Washington DC. The article says, "Estimates vary, but there are thought to be more than 200,000 Ethiopians in the Washington metropolitan area, by far the city's largest and most visible African diaspora group...Most Ethiopian immigrants arrived in America in the 1990s after the Eritrean-Ethiopian war."The article has brief interviews with some of the kids about their dual identity. One of the camp counselors says she immigrated to the U.S when she was 9. Her parents especially through native foods helped her keep the connection with her homeland. She concludes, "So culture helps me identify with who I am as an Ethiopian-American and stand out from the crowd." Please see the link below for the full article.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28643349

How much are we willing to risk?

                                        
How much are we willing to risk in search for greener pastures? The documentary Kingsley's Crossing tells the compelling story of a 23 year old who left Cameroon in 2004 with the hope of finding a better life for himself and his family. Before leaving Cameroon he worked as a lifeguard in one of Cameroon's upscale hotels and earned about 50 euros a month. His view is, “Most families in my country want their children to go to Europe.” He says, in Europe African migrants can find a better life for themselves that will also help them provide for their families back home.

Kobre Channel's blog summarized this documentary aptly. "Kingsley left Cameroon on what he calls “his mission.” What followed was an excruciating six-month journey across half of Africa. Kingsley’s Crossing is the story of one man’s willingness to abandon everything – his family, his country, and his friends – in the hopes of finding a better life abroad...This tale of one person’s dream to escape from Africa to provide a better life for his family by working in Europe shows the aspirations of thousands condensed into one impactful story." Kinsley and the photo journalists nearly lost their lives in making this documentary. Their small boat began sinking and fortunately was rescued. This fact speaks of the risk of the journey and the courage of the young man.  http://kobreguide.com/kingsleys_crossing/#sthash.FdumH3tz.dpuf

Intercultural Enrichment

Faith shapes the way we think and live. Faith has different expressions from culture to culture. Last year I attended a lecture at NDNU by Fr. Eduardo Fernandez, SJ on Hispanic spirituality in the U.S. He listed some important characteristics that this spirituality --diverse, communal, festive, relational and transcendent. He explained that they are a people who are close to God and to each other. This colors their faith expressions and celebrations. The Marian feast days like Our Lady of Guadalupe are colorful and festive. They involve the whole community. People travel on pilgrimages together.

This sense of communion and celebration is enriching. Here is a link to a blog post in which Fr. Eduardo dialogues with Br. Jeremy Sabugo, SSCC, a Filipino American from Hawaii about his first experience of Las Posadas and the celebration of our Lady of Guadalupe. They both see the Spanish influence on their cultural expressions of faith. http://www.ushispanicministry.com/archives/3782