Issue
8 - Imperfect Journey, Imperfect Cinema “A fast, ‘zinging’ shot scares the baboon!”
Corresponding Author(s) : Tekletsadik Belachew
Africa Development,
Vol. 42 No. 4 (2017): Africa Development: Special Issue on: ‘Emergence’ on Screen and on Stage
Abstract
This article focusses on key themes in Haile Gerima’s Imperfect Journey, which, despite being one of the most important African documentaries, is often neglected by film critics and historians.1 Abba Gerima, the traditional playwright, dramatist, historian, and epic-poet, is discussed through selectively translated passages from two historical masterpieces that he originally wrote in Amharic and English translations. Abba Gerima’s and Haile Gerima’s historical and artistic texts are critically examined across history, aesthetics and the three mega themes of Imperfect Journey in order to understand how Abba Gerima’s vision is carried forward in the cinematic works of Haile Gerima.
Keywords
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- Alemayehu, Haddis, 2005, by Sisay Ayenew. Bloomington: Authorhouse.
- Adugna, Minale, 2001, Women and Warfare in Ethiopia. A Case Study of Their Role During the Campaign of Adwa, 1995/6, and the Italo-Ethiopian War, 1935-41. Gender Issues Research Report Series, 2001, No. 13, Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa.
- Belachew, Tekletsadik, 2012, “Representation of the Self: Theological Reflections on Haile Gerima’s Cinematic Storytelling,” Master’s thesis, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
- Belachew, Tekletsadik, 2013, “Close-Up: The Genius of an African Storyteller: A Selectively Annotated Bibliography of Work on and by Haile Gerima.” Black Camera 4, no. 2: 144-162.
- Belachew, Tekletsadik, 2018, “The Dead Speaking to the Living: Religio-Cultural Symbolisms in the Amharic Films of Haile Gerim,” 67 – 91. In Cine-Ethiopia:The History and Politics of Film in the Horn of Africa, Michigan State University Press.
- Belete, Getachew, 2000, Elohi ena Haleluya: YeEthiopia Kale Hiwot Bete-Kirstiane Tarik. (Agonies and Halleluiahs The Story of the Kale Hiwot Church in Ethiopia. Vol. 3, 1974-2000 E.C. (Addis Ababa: The Ethiopian Kale Hiwot Church Literature Department. Bekerie, Ayele, 1997, Ethiopic, An African Writing System: Its History and Principles. Lawrenceville, NJ: Red Sea Press.
- Bekerie, Ayele, 2013, “The 1896 Battle of Adwa and the Forging of Ethiopian Nation”. In Themes in Modern African History and Culture, 177-192, Edited by Lars Berge and Irma Taddia, Padova, Italy: Libreriauniveristaria.
- Berry, LaVerle B., 2005, “Gärima Taffärä” In Encyclopaedia Aethiopica, edited by Siegbert Uhlig, Vol 2 D-Ha, Harassowitz Verlag: Wiesbaden.
- Brown Pamela S., and Yirgu, Fassi, ed., 1996, One House: The Battle of Adwa 1896 – 100 Years, Chicago, Nyala Publishing.
- Chineweizu, 1988, Voices from Twentieth – Century Africa. London: Faber and Faber. Dembrow, Michael, Imperfect Journey, CFAF 14, “Notes and Resources,” http://spot.pcc.edu/~mdembrow/imperfectjourney.htm.
- Fanon, Frantz, 1952, Black Skin, White Masks, trans. from French by Richard Philcox, New York: Grover Press.
- Fanon, Frantz, 1963, The Wretched of the Earth, trans. from French by Constance Farrington, New York: Grove Press.
- Fikre, Tollosa, 1995, “Realism in Haddis Alemayehu,” In Silence is not Golden: A Critical Anthology of Ethiopian Literature, 123-134. Edited by Taddesse Adera & Ali Jimale Ahmed, Lawrenceville, NJ: The Red Sea Press Inc.
- Fueter, Paul D., 1956 “Theological Education in Africa,” The International Review of Missions (pp. 377-395).
- Gerima, Haile, “A Moment With ... Haile Gerima.” Research Channel / University of Maryland at College Park Television (UMTV). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ZmNclDqFw. Interview with Lee Thornton.
- Gerima, Haile, 1989 “Triangular Cinema, Breaking Toys, and Dinknesh vs. Lucy.” In Questions of Third Cinema, edited by Jim Pines and Paul Willemen, 65–89. London: BFI Publishing.
- Gerima, Haile, 1999, “New film ‘Adwa’ by director Haile Gerima.” An interview with Jacki Lyden, “All Things Considered” Weekend Edition (NPR), 11/21/1999.
- Gerima, Haile, 2009, “Ethiopians Should Find thier [sic] Own Medicine,” Addis Journal: A Weblog on Arts & Culture, Life & Society. March 2, http://arefe.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/ethiopians-should-find-thier-own-medicinehaile/Gerima, Haile, 2009, “Who is Haile Gerima?” Focus Magazine 1:10 (January- February) 10-13.
- Gerima, Haile, 2013, “Close-Up: Director’s Note,” Black Camera, 2 An International Film Journal, Vol. 4 No. 2 (Spring 2013), 47–48.
- Getahun, Solomon, 2005, History of the City of Gondar, Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press.
- Girma, Fisseha, 1996, “Ethiopian Paintings on Adwa” In Adwa: Victory Centenary Conference, 26 February – 2 March, edited by Abdussamad H. Ahmad and Richard Pankhurst. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University, Institute of Ethiopian Studies, 691-698.
- Gnogno, Paulos, 1980, YeEtyopia Ena YeItalia Torenet, (The War Between Ethiopia and Italy), Addis Ababa: Bole Printing Press, E.C. In Amharic.
- Haile, Getachew, 1995, “Highlighting Ethiopian Traditional Literature.” In Silence is not Golden: A Critical Anthology of Ethiopian Literature. 39-58, Edited by Taddesse Adera & Ali Jimale Ahmed. Lawrenceville, NJ: The Red Sea Press Inc.
- Howard, Steve, 1985, “A Cinema of Transformation: The Films of Haile Gerima.” Cineaste 14 (1985): 28, 29, 39.
- Hutchinson, Sharon, and Bruce Wiegard., 1989 “Gerima’s Imperfect Journey: No End in Sight.” American Anthropologists, n.s. 100, no. 1 (1989): 169–71.
- Imbakom Kalewold (Alaka). Traditional Ethiopian Church Education. Translated by Mengistu Lema. New York: Teachers College Press, 1970.
- Jackson, John L., Jr., 2010, “Decolonizing the Filmic Mind: An Interview with Haile Gerima.” Callaloo 33, no. 1 (2010): 25–36.
- Jonas, Raymond, 2011 The Battle of Adwa: African Victory in the Age of Empire. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.
- Kebede, Ashenafi, 1995, Roots of Black Music: The Vocal, Instrumental & Dance Heritage of Africa and Black America. Trenton, N.J. Africa World Press.
- Lewis, Sarah E. and Dagmawi Woubshet moderated by GerShun Avilez, 2013 “Love Visual: A Conversation with Haile Gerima.” Callaloo 36.3 (2013): 636-657.
- Mennasemay, Maimire., 2005 “Ethiopian History and Critical Theory: The Case of Adwa,” In The Battle of Adwa: Reflections on Ethiopia’s Historic Victory against European Colonialism. New York: Algora Publishing.
- Milkias, Paulos and Getachew Mekuria, ed., 2005, The Battle of Adwa. New York: Algora Publishing.
- Pearce, Jeff, 2014, Prevail: The Inspiring Story of Ethiopia’s Victory over Mussolini’s Invasion: 1935 – 1941, Skyhorse Publishing.
- Pfaff, Françoise, 2004, “From Africa to the Americas: Interviews with Haile Gerima (1976–2001).” In Focus on African Films. 203–220, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
- Rodney, Walter., 2008, “Education in Africa and Contemporary Tanzania,” In Education and Black Struggle: Notes from the Colonized World, edited by The Institute of the Black World. 82-99. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Educational Review.
- Tamis-Nasello, Anne Marie, 2008, “Italian Colonial Cinema: Nationalism and Notions of Alterity” Ph.D. diss., New York University.
- Tafere, Gerima, 1969, Abba Tateq Kassa Yequaraw Anbessa: Dagmawi Tewodros Niguse Negest ZeEthiopia, (Abba Tateq the Lion of Quwara: Tewodros II, King of Kings), Addis Ababa: Finfine Printing & Publishing, in Amharic.
- Tafere, Gerima, (of Gondar), 1956, Gondare ba Gashaw, (The Gondare with His Shield), Addis Ababa: Tesfa Gebre Selassie Publisher, in Amharic.
- Tafere, Gerima, 1971, Yamakara dawal : Kamesewa aska Matamma (Bell of Torment or Harbinger of Adversity from Massawa to Matamma), Asmara: KokebeTsibah Printing Press.
- Tekle, Afewerk, 2009, “The State of Art in Ethiopia,” Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5509 Thomas, Greg, 2010, “Haile Gerima’s Pan-African ‘Message to the Grassroots’: Hearing Malcolm X in Amharic– or Harvest: 3,000 Years,” In Film in African Literature Today. 55-72, Ibadan, Nigeria: HEBN Publishers.
- Tekle, Afewerk. “The State of Art in Ethiopia.” Library of Congress. 2009. http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5509
- Turner, Diane D., and Muata Kamdibe. “Haile Gerima: In Search of an Africana Cinema.” Journal of Black Studies 38, no. 6 (July 2008): 968–991.
- Woldeyes, Yirga Gelaw, 2017, Native Colonialism: Education and the Economy of Violence Against Traditions in Ethiopia, The Red Sea Press.
- Yemane, Elias, 2004, Amharic and Ethiopic Onomastics: A Classic Ethiopian Legacy, Concept and Ingenuity. Lewiston: The Edwin Mellen Press.
- Zewde, Bahru, 2002, Pioneers of Change in Ethiopia: The Reformist Intellectuals of the Early Twentieth Century Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Press.
- Zewde, Bahru, 2008, “The Concept of Japanization in the Intellectual History of Modern Ethiopia” In Society, State and History, Selected Essays. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Pressm.
References
Alemayehu, Haddis, 2005, by Sisay Ayenew. Bloomington: Authorhouse.
Adugna, Minale, 2001, Women and Warfare in Ethiopia. A Case Study of Their Role During the Campaign of Adwa, 1995/6, and the Italo-Ethiopian War, 1935-41. Gender Issues Research Report Series, 2001, No. 13, Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Belachew, Tekletsadik, 2012, “Representation of the Self: Theological Reflections on Haile Gerima’s Cinematic Storytelling,” Master’s thesis, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Belachew, Tekletsadik, 2013, “Close-Up: The Genius of an African Storyteller: A Selectively Annotated Bibliography of Work on and by Haile Gerima.” Black Camera 4, no. 2: 144-162.
Belachew, Tekletsadik, 2018, “The Dead Speaking to the Living: Religio-Cultural Symbolisms in the Amharic Films of Haile Gerim,” 67 – 91. In Cine-Ethiopia:The History and Politics of Film in the Horn of Africa, Michigan State University Press.
Belete, Getachew, 2000, Elohi ena Haleluya: YeEthiopia Kale Hiwot Bete-Kirstiane Tarik. (Agonies and Halleluiahs The Story of the Kale Hiwot Church in Ethiopia. Vol. 3, 1974-2000 E.C. (Addis Ababa: The Ethiopian Kale Hiwot Church Literature Department. Bekerie, Ayele, 1997, Ethiopic, An African Writing System: Its History and Principles. Lawrenceville, NJ: Red Sea Press.
Bekerie, Ayele, 2013, “The 1896 Battle of Adwa and the Forging of Ethiopian Nation”. In Themes in Modern African History and Culture, 177-192, Edited by Lars Berge and Irma Taddia, Padova, Italy: Libreriauniveristaria.
Berry, LaVerle B., 2005, “Gärima Taffärä” In Encyclopaedia Aethiopica, edited by Siegbert Uhlig, Vol 2 D-Ha, Harassowitz Verlag: Wiesbaden.
Brown Pamela S., and Yirgu, Fassi, ed., 1996, One House: The Battle of Adwa 1896 – 100 Years, Chicago, Nyala Publishing.
Chineweizu, 1988, Voices from Twentieth – Century Africa. London: Faber and Faber. Dembrow, Michael, Imperfect Journey, CFAF 14, “Notes and Resources,” http://spot.pcc.edu/~mdembrow/imperfectjourney.htm.
Fanon, Frantz, 1952, Black Skin, White Masks, trans. from French by Richard Philcox, New York: Grover Press.
Fanon, Frantz, 1963, The Wretched of the Earth, trans. from French by Constance Farrington, New York: Grove Press.
Fikre, Tollosa, 1995, “Realism in Haddis Alemayehu,” In Silence is not Golden: A Critical Anthology of Ethiopian Literature, 123-134. Edited by Taddesse Adera & Ali Jimale Ahmed, Lawrenceville, NJ: The Red Sea Press Inc.
Fueter, Paul D., 1956 “Theological Education in Africa,” The International Review of Missions (pp. 377-395).
Gerima, Haile, “A Moment With ... Haile Gerima.” Research Channel / University of Maryland at College Park Television (UMTV). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ZmNclDqFw. Interview with Lee Thornton.
Gerima, Haile, 1989 “Triangular Cinema, Breaking Toys, and Dinknesh vs. Lucy.” In Questions of Third Cinema, edited by Jim Pines and Paul Willemen, 65–89. London: BFI Publishing.
Gerima, Haile, 1999, “New film ‘Adwa’ by director Haile Gerima.” An interview with Jacki Lyden, “All Things Considered” Weekend Edition (NPR), 11/21/1999.
Gerima, Haile, 2009, “Ethiopians Should Find thier [sic] Own Medicine,” Addis Journal: A Weblog on Arts & Culture, Life & Society. March 2, http://arefe.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/ethiopians-should-find-thier-own-medicinehaile/Gerima, Haile, 2009, “Who is Haile Gerima?” Focus Magazine 1:10 (January- February) 10-13.
Gerima, Haile, 2013, “Close-Up: Director’s Note,” Black Camera, 2 An International Film Journal, Vol. 4 No. 2 (Spring 2013), 47–48.
Getahun, Solomon, 2005, History of the City of Gondar, Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press.
Girma, Fisseha, 1996, “Ethiopian Paintings on Adwa” In Adwa: Victory Centenary Conference, 26 February – 2 March, edited by Abdussamad H. Ahmad and Richard Pankhurst. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University, Institute of Ethiopian Studies, 691-698.
Gnogno, Paulos, 1980, YeEtyopia Ena YeItalia Torenet, (The War Between Ethiopia and Italy), Addis Ababa: Bole Printing Press, E.C. In Amharic.
Haile, Getachew, 1995, “Highlighting Ethiopian Traditional Literature.” In Silence is not Golden: A Critical Anthology of Ethiopian Literature. 39-58, Edited by Taddesse Adera & Ali Jimale Ahmed. Lawrenceville, NJ: The Red Sea Press Inc.
Howard, Steve, 1985, “A Cinema of Transformation: The Films of Haile Gerima.” Cineaste 14 (1985): 28, 29, 39.
Hutchinson, Sharon, and Bruce Wiegard., 1989 “Gerima’s Imperfect Journey: No End in Sight.” American Anthropologists, n.s. 100, no. 1 (1989): 169–71.
Imbakom Kalewold (Alaka). Traditional Ethiopian Church Education. Translated by Mengistu Lema. New York: Teachers College Press, 1970.
Jackson, John L., Jr., 2010, “Decolonizing the Filmic Mind: An Interview with Haile Gerima.” Callaloo 33, no. 1 (2010): 25–36.
Jonas, Raymond, 2011 The Battle of Adwa: African Victory in the Age of Empire. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.
Kebede, Ashenafi, 1995, Roots of Black Music: The Vocal, Instrumental & Dance Heritage of Africa and Black America. Trenton, N.J. Africa World Press.
Lewis, Sarah E. and Dagmawi Woubshet moderated by GerShun Avilez, 2013 “Love Visual: A Conversation with Haile Gerima.” Callaloo 36.3 (2013): 636-657.
Mennasemay, Maimire., 2005 “Ethiopian History and Critical Theory: The Case of Adwa,” In The Battle of Adwa: Reflections on Ethiopia’s Historic Victory against European Colonialism. New York: Algora Publishing.
Milkias, Paulos and Getachew Mekuria, ed., 2005, The Battle of Adwa. New York: Algora Publishing.
Pearce, Jeff, 2014, Prevail: The Inspiring Story of Ethiopia’s Victory over Mussolini’s Invasion: 1935 – 1941, Skyhorse Publishing.
Pfaff, Françoise, 2004, “From Africa to the Americas: Interviews with Haile Gerima (1976–2001).” In Focus on African Films. 203–220, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Rodney, Walter., 2008, “Education in Africa and Contemporary Tanzania,” In Education and Black Struggle: Notes from the Colonized World, edited by The Institute of the Black World. 82-99. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Educational Review.
Tamis-Nasello, Anne Marie, 2008, “Italian Colonial Cinema: Nationalism and Notions of Alterity” Ph.D. diss., New York University.
Tafere, Gerima, 1969, Abba Tateq Kassa Yequaraw Anbessa: Dagmawi Tewodros Niguse Negest ZeEthiopia, (Abba Tateq the Lion of Quwara: Tewodros II, King of Kings), Addis Ababa: Finfine Printing & Publishing, in Amharic.
Tafere, Gerima, (of Gondar), 1956, Gondare ba Gashaw, (The Gondare with His Shield), Addis Ababa: Tesfa Gebre Selassie Publisher, in Amharic.
Tafere, Gerima, 1971, Yamakara dawal : Kamesewa aska Matamma (Bell of Torment or Harbinger of Adversity from Massawa to Matamma), Asmara: KokebeTsibah Printing Press.
Tekle, Afewerk, 2009, “The State of Art in Ethiopia,” Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5509 Thomas, Greg, 2010, “Haile Gerima’s Pan-African ‘Message to the Grassroots’: Hearing Malcolm X in Amharic– or Harvest: 3,000 Years,” In Film in African Literature Today. 55-72, Ibadan, Nigeria: HEBN Publishers.
Tekle, Afewerk. “The State of Art in Ethiopia.” Library of Congress. 2009. http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5509
Turner, Diane D., and Muata Kamdibe. “Haile Gerima: In Search of an Africana Cinema.” Journal of Black Studies 38, no. 6 (July 2008): 968–991.
Woldeyes, Yirga Gelaw, 2017, Native Colonialism: Education and the Economy of Violence Against Traditions in Ethiopia, The Red Sea Press.
Yemane, Elias, 2004, Amharic and Ethiopic Onomastics: A Classic Ethiopian Legacy, Concept and Ingenuity. Lewiston: The Edwin Mellen Press.
Zewde, Bahru, 2002, Pioneers of Change in Ethiopia: The Reformist Intellectuals of the Early Twentieth Century Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Press.
Zewde, Bahru, 2008, “The Concept of Japanization in the Intellectual History of Modern Ethiopia” In Society, State and History, Selected Essays. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Pressm.