On Wednesday September, 30th, Sound The Horn Leaders and youth from The AMY Project attended an acting workshop put on by Soulpepper Theater at the Young Center. The workshop was facilitated by William Webster, where we learned a few acting techniques which we used during a reading of "Antigone", followed by an informal debate.

Once the workshop was complete, some participants had an impromptu photo shoot, before heading to watch "Anitgone" being shown at the Young Center.



Here is a group picture of the STH Leaders in attendance, and the girls from the AMY project. To learn more about the AMY project, click here.

A Sound The Horn Production: "The Gap"

For those of you who were unable to attend the screening of our short film, please find a link below. "The Gap" was written, directed, edited and starred the participants in the 2009 Selam Youth Leadership Program. This wouldn't have been possible without the support from our mentors, Weyni Mengesha, and Damion Royes and Mathew Plummer from "Shoot With This".


Click here to watch "The Gap"

And you thought we were finished!

On Sept. 12th, STH performed an amazing drumming set at Toronto's Ethiopia Day celebration to a crowd of hundreds! The reaction from the community was beautiful! There were also many talented Habesha youth singing, MCing, and dancing on stage... youth who will hopefully grace the Selam Youth Festival stage next year ;).

name shame

My name has always been a discussion. I have always been made aware of how “different” my name is from every other student in a classroom, party or any other type of social setting. I have always been asked to identity where I am from, meaning background and what significance my name holds. Being a young Eritrean Canadian I wanted nothing but to fit into society. I was always the new black student in the room and I guess it didn’t help matters when I had the most out of this world name on the attendance list. I never could embrace it because: one, I was an extremely shy student; and second kids can be very cruel. I guess this is the reason why I could relate to Sandra Cisneross character Esperanza in The House on Mango Street. Like myself, Eperanza does not appreciate her name and wishes to have something that is easier to pronounce. While reading Eperanza heartache, I couldn’t help but think of my own issues with my name. My name is something that easily could be identified with in my homeland of Eritrea and to any other Eritrean. To someone on the outside it was something to poke and pry about. I didn’t mind explaining it to others, nor do I mind now but it is the fact that I have to have the history and background information that is frustrating. As I have gotten older I have come to respect and appreciate my name and the roots behind it. Something I wasn’t made aware of back then is how beautiful, fortunate and blessed I am to have something that separates me from the rest. My name allows me to make discussion and saves me from having to produce topics on my own. My name allows me to carry my culture and traditions on paper and in every, and any, dialogue that I may face in my life. I wear it proud and I speak it louder. It is something that I was given, not cursed with. It is like anything else with a little bit of practice you realize it is nothing to shy away from, but instead be embraced. Like others I too have questioned my name and I would be lying if I said I was strong and thankful till this day. I still hesitate when my name is butchered, but I come at it with a new opportunity to spread the good news. My name is Yodit and it originates from Eritrea. No I do not know what it means, because I have yet come to find an accurate meaning. But I can tell you what it means to me today. Yodit is the beautiful letters that I have been spelling and explaining to others in my short life.

STH & Wayna Ending the 5th Annual Selam Youth Festival with a MJ Tribute

The Shape of the Concrete (Ethiopia)

When the sun comes up

it lightens my day

In the early morning fajr begins

and the Muslim start to pray

I’m back in the west now

missing the east like everyday

I was walking down the street

Not sure of what would come my way

And there I saw it

My mind made a trip

I began to reminisce

Now this

To me is bliss

Cause I really do miss. . .

Ethiopia

I forgot to show ya

My love for you

Only if I could come through

See the glorious smile on peoples face

Laugh and play like we always do

At the chifera place

Hear the beat of the drums, that one, two. . .

I jus saw my homeland

Shaped in the concrete

Memories of family, friends, and neighbors

I just busted a tear I can’t speak

As I watch videos of back home

I tremble and go weak

An experience of a life time

That one year, felt like a week

On my way backI filled my luggage

With every piece of rubbish

Only if I could bring back the soil

I passed Somalia, now I’m saying Salam Hoyo

Africa is where it’s at

No matter of fact

Cause that is jus’ that

And the news is jus’ whack

Cause they try to degrade and attack

A mix up in there facts

They never saw anything more beautiful than that

Ethiopia

Now I’ma jus show ya

Represent and hold ya

Feed you with my hand;

since they b trying to open you up

I’ma Close ya

Cause you must be treasured

Every piece of gold and intricate artifact

I’ma put them back

So I can stay in tact

So we can be in tact

Cause the impact

Of not having that

Is like a puzzle with missing pieces

It don’t fit

With my mothers homeland I’ma get wit

Keep every province together before it split

My love for you will never die

Proudly I say, “I am Ethiopian”

I ain’t shy

The shape in the concrete

Now, has me

Thinkin’ bout you day N nite.