As well as Ethiopians based in Addis building the groundwork, diasporans have mobilised during key holiday periods, too, such as Boston-based marketeer and promoter Jonathan Bekele, who runs World Afrika, an event which focuses on African music across the States. Bekele has thrown parties and events with artists such as Burna Boy, Odumodublvck and Uncle Waffles. World Afrika, like many second-generation immigrants, goes back home to Addis during the Christmas period; many Ethiopians go back to visit their families ahead of the Ethiopian Orthodox New Year in early January.

A conversation with Rudy Joseph on Black men identity, love, transmission…
Rudy Joseph (Poetic Lover) : “I was taught that a man doesn’t talk about his emotions”… Yet he spent his career singing them. In 1997,