New Ethiopia

Afework Tekle, Ethiopia’s most highly acclaimed artist has summed up the Ethiopian Revolution in a breath-taking mural which he painted for the Heroes’ Centre at Debre Zeit. Entitled The ‘Victory of Ethiopia, through work: Productivity and Struggle.” this triptych (painting on three panels) is painted in six arts and covers an area of 16 square meters. It took Afework one year and seven months. working elven hours, a day including Sundays.

It should have taken three years,” he says, “But I had to complete it as soon as possible,” Ns soon as he had it finished and in place, he collapsed. It was almost a nervous breakdown. For fifteen days he suffered from depression and foot ache. The foot ache was due to the fact that he did most of the painting standing on a ladder.

A realistic work, “The victory of Ethiopia” does not need an aesthetically trained eve; it is comprehensible to all. The masses can enjoy and understand it. It is done in six sections, and is like six paintings arranged in a certain order; the inter-relationship of colors and composition is best appreciated by looking at is as one painting as you enter the door of the museum at the Heroes’ Centre.

The left-hand panel has two paintings which show the peasantry at work; the right-hand panel is three units showing, workers engaged in their daily activities; and the central panel depicts Ethiopia as at sum-total of the efforts shown in the low side-panels.

The central panel is entitled “Through Our United efforts we Shall Protect the Unity and Territorial Integrity of Ethiopia The lower half shows a symbolic map of Ethiopia with her sons and daughters making a ring (a fence) around it. On than side of the rime stand_ hand in hand. the worker. the woman soldier. the regular soldier. The military. The rather warrior and the peasant woman. They active: ly defend the Motherland. On this side of the ring arc shown a woman playing the beghena (Ethiopia Sharp), a writer and a painter. The harpist is playing international anthem of Revolutionary Ethiopia the actual notes of the anthem arc written on a sheet of paper at her feet; below that is another sheet with he notes of the International. The author has just written. in Amharic, the title of his work; “The prominence to the worker and the peasant. New, Revolutionary Ethiopia.” The painter, representing the visual arts; has, on his canvas, given Behind the ring, in defense of the Motherland, are standing the masses, representing ah the nationalities and all the professions.

And from the masses grows upwards the new Ethiopia, with flags waving to her left and right. She is young, beautiful, and dynamic. In her left hand- she holds the balance, symbolizing justice and equality: in her right she holds the laurel, symbolic of victory and of reward “to each according to his ability and productivity.” The expression on her young face shows a sense ofjoy and satisfaction in the product. of her citizens.

Being her are the mountains and valleys of Ethiopia and behind them is the rising sun with a tremendous amount of heavy, expressive clouds symbolizing all the trials and tribulations the Ethiopians have faced-and are facing-to attain the ultimate victory- in all fields of endeavor. Above the Young symbol of Ethiopia is a silhouette o1 the dove it of piece. Summing, up the whole of Arework’s mural: the new Ethiopia aspires for work. Peace and Happiness.

The left-hand panel is made up or two section, devoted to the peasantry. The upper painting shows Country side typical of the northern highlands. Recognizable are the Mountains. Lake Ashenghe., and the typical rugged countryside, The peasantry are engaged cooperative farming. In the far distance tractors are visible announcing, that the day is coming when Ethiopian farming will be mechanized. The top part shows a rainy “skyscape across which a Mig-23 is flying vigilantly protecting Ethiopia’s air scape. With its smoke it Forms the left-hand part of the top ring of the whole mural. The right-hand part of the top ring of the whole mural. The right-hand part of the top ring is supplied by the smoke of Mid-21 which is flying in the desert air of Assab (right-hand pane). The lower half of the whole triptych is the human fence which surrounds the symbolic map to Ethiopia in the lower part of the centerpiece.

The lower half of the left-hand panel shows landscape typical of middle and south Ethiopia. In the foreground, farmers of different nationalities are marching to work, carrying their traditional farming implements. Behind them, on the left. are coffee pickers; and on the right we see the countryside household engaged in its daily activities. And behind them lake are the southerners making a boat and fishing. The colorful skyscape it’s the background is typical of southern Ethiopia.

The right-hand panel of Afework Tekle’s triptych “The Victory of Ethiopia” is composed of three paintings devoted to the worker. The bottom painting shows the worker engaged in the various types of cottage industry spinging. weaving basket work, pottery, leather craft. also shown are the different types of Ethiopian house, the Tigrean. Garage, Showan , Harari, and Sidamo houses. The background is an array of beautiful Ethiopian trees. including the famous K osso.

The middle painting.. s itli is inspired by the Akaki Metal works, shows the interior or a heavy industry, through the gate: in the distance, factories are visible, symbolizing Ethiopia’s future heavy industrialization.

The top painting, dominated by the color yellow, gives a sensation of intense heat, and contrasts with the rich and varied climates of Ethiopia. It shows the port of Assab with its refinery and with workers loading and unloading ships. Our engineers and workers are determined to make the desert fertile and so render it productive,

Afework, seems to state with his brush.

Like all other Ethiopians, A rework has contributed his great mural-expect for the cost of materials-to the call or the Motherland.

What is the artist’s opinion of this mural?

It is one of my most important works since the outbreak of the Revolution. And, perhaps, if not more important, just as important a monumental work as the Africa