By Mahdere Andine

Hundreds of Ethiopians gathered at Atrium Entertainment Center in Atlanta honored the superbly talented artiste Tamagne Beyne Friday night for his untiring struggle against injustice and respect for human rights in Ethiopia. The highly gifted artist was given a standing ovation while entering the hall accompanied by members of Mekdime-Atlanta, youth cultural ensemble from Debre-Hail St. Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

A plaque was also presented to Tamagne in recognition of his tireless effort as a civil right activist.

Tamagne who was invited for the occasion as a guest of honor, moved by the cultural show and the spirit of Ethiopiness manifested by the youth, spontaneously rose to his feet only to find himself over the stage addressing the gathering in between the show.

The exceptionally talented artist congratulates the kids for an outstanding cultural show that could be exemplary to others and called on parents to teach their children love and affection so that they would in turn love and cherish a person for being nothing else but a human being.

Tamagne, admittedly emotional at times, said the only factor that can bond us together is nothing but the sense and spirit of Ethiopianess. And he noted that we inherited this sense of Ethiopianess from our forefathers who might have done some errors here and there and it is the responsibility and obligation of the present generation to fill the gap and complete the task that our forefathers have left undone.

Members of Mekdime-Atlanta, a youth group, staged a remarkable cultural show featuring Oromugna, Tigrigna, Guragigna, Wollaytigna and Amhara dances. The youth have also performed a short drama where a prosecutor and a defendant presented their case before a traditionally fashioned court in which the final verdict depicted the rampant practice of injustices in Ethiopia.

The youth in their cultural song and dances demonstrated confidence, dedication and love for the various cultures in Ethiopia. And everyone in the audience was completely taken by surprise when the youth were dancing to the tune of Wollaytigna, which one parent remarked, “these kids act no less than professionals.”

Friday night in Atlanta, was all about the youth, all about Tamagne and all about Ethiopianess in which at the end of the magnificent show every spectator expressed “satisfaction.”