Background

  I was born in Ethiopia the land of historical and cultural significance.  Growing up in Ethiopia offered me a fun, caring and collective social environment. Looking back, I recall and treasure that time like a beautiful art. This inspires my work. Among my top favourite is the coffee ceremony time. Many girls in families are expected to make good coffee and serve to their family, guests and neighbours. 

The art of the coffee making in traditional way is a unique experience, the room is filled with aromatic smoke of the coffee and frankincense incense and there is most certainly an expectation of calm mannerism. One of my challenge with making coffee stems from being left handed as it was not fully accepted almost to doing anything with my left hand. I used to be teased and cloth wrapped on my hand as a training to do work and eat with my right hand. I vividly remember my struggle to pour a coffee with my right hand.

The ceremony takes place from setting up the scene with grass, cinies (small cups), Jebena(clay coffee pot), roasting pan, ready red hot charcoal to slow roast the green coffee beans. The roasted coffee is then ground using traditional pestle and mortar (mukecha and zenezena) and comes to be boiled before being enjoyed by everyone waiting eagerly while deep in conversation.

Rekek G Michael

Echoed Art curator