Expressions from the Cradle of Humanity
Ethiopia is not simply the resting place of the world’s oldest human fossil; its rich cultural heritage places it at the center of humanity’s social evolution. Ethiopia’s unique history and pivotal role at the forefront of the emergence of all 3 Ibrahimic faiths makes it a bastion of rich cultural heritage whose place is solidified the world over. It is the only African country to remain untouched by western colonialist rule and so its evolution is set apart from its African counterparts as the only nation to retain its own indigenous writing and numerical system.
How can we say that we truly have preserved and studied the humanities if we neglect to bolster, protect and support the advancement of the humanities that emerge out of the “Cradle of Humanity” ? I contend that it cannot be done without doing a disservice to the field.
Unfortunately, over the decades there has been a disconnect between the traditional practices, beliefs and mechanisms of promoting indigenous Ethiopian institutions, and the practices, beliefs and mechanisms of the development arms that operate in Ethiopia. This disconnect has resulted in a cultural displacement that has left indigenous institutions without a viable pathway to development. The Ethiopian Arts and Humanities Fund seeks to remedy that problem by empowering indigenous institutions with the funding and technological advancements necessary to present traditional Ethiopian art and culture on the world stage in its most authentic form.
—
Commissioner Yodit N. Gedamu
Founder