lately in the matrix

(Quick poll below: Share your opinion ☺️👇🏾💃🏾)

Usually I would start one of my longer cultural reviews with:

“inspiring & unforgettable cultural intiatives or content this season, from music to books, poems, plays, exhibtions, TV series, films, photos and food on my favourite season… (or anything close to my heart 🙂 )”

In a bid to drench my website with inspiring art and culture content that fills my heart (more than shiro) and to fuel ideas and create a space for growth.

Though to remain hopeful and inspired in the midst of the worlds madness and my grief and permanent missing of my sweet mearitey is all but easy. To share art or content that inspires and uplifts while not acknowledging this would be a challenge. Even a facade.

But to do so, in spite of all of this is what I’ll try.

Inspiring
beautiful
or brutal.
There’s always enough laughter, lightness and sarcasm to go around….

Belu
elkum?

here goes…

inspiring & unforgettable cultural intiatives or content this season & year, from music to books, poems, plays, exhibtions, TV series, films, photos and food.. or anything close to my heart 🙂

Palestine protest pics

Over the two years

I’ve not been to too many protests but despite the tragedy and hopelessness, everytime I went the energy was always so positive and defiant

London, Oct 2025:

noted

Geneva, Oct 2023:

Side note: soft power

I’ve been thinking a lot about soft power lately and its subtle and sometimes gentle impact on society. How starting from a young age we’re all -through one shape or form- susceptible to it daily. Just how powerful is soft power? What is its impact on society? And what role does it play in influencing or managing our opinions? These are recurring thoughts and I’ll definetely be researching this.

Zohran Mamdani’s campaign

I loved absolutely loved his branding and campaign during the summer. From the videos to the script, the Bollywood influenced graphics and the fantasic colours.

More on his branding here.

Making peanut butter (first attempt)

Inspired by my blog piece (Most memorable bites: the sandwich edition), I wrote a particular article on some memories through sandwich bites.

I made two different batches and learnt from them both.

After the 5-7 days the second batch with tea (kemem shahe) already started to mold. I’ll keep testing to see, why, how I can create the same texture as batch 1 (right side) with the cinanmon tea flavours and how I can avoid it from expiring so soon. I’ll update the recipe.

Some films and documentaries:

Soundtrack to a Coup d’éta

Deeply inspired by this documentary. Informative, leaving you seething at the injustice and theft. And yet Patrice Lumumba’s youthful smile remained. Sad that one of my favourites – Louis Armstrong- was tricked into the role he sadly played in Congo. Although once he understood, he spoke out.
The documentary’s typography and font was playful and appeared in tandem with the chaos that was looming.

I’m stll here (2024)

A tragic film based on the memoir by Marcelo Rubens and tells the true story of his mother. An activist whose husband disappeared during Brazil’s military dictatorship. Much of the film portrayed the immediate aftermath of his disappearance and it’s impact on his family.

Balomania

Danish/Spanish filmmaker Sissel Dargis’ fantastic documentary on the world of the Baloeiros and their pure love for flying baloons. Illegal or not, the Baloeiros’ commitment to doing what they love was a joy to watch. Exciting and magnitic, this is not just a passion but a way of life for the Baloeiros.

Like surfing or skating culture, this culture is unique and raw, protected by the community. Their beloved baloons, decorated in patterned art, portraits of the virgin Mary and lightned by candles, with a defiant hope circulating the skies.

Volveréis

Jonas Trueba’s Volveréis or (The Other Way Round), was a superb film. An unconventional decoupling story, with a couple announcing their breakup to their loved ones, throwing a party to celebrate. Immensed in dry humour, as we saw both protagonists processing their reality with every conversation and every invite to a loved one. It was just as entertaining to watch their loved ones reaction as it was to watch both of their processing.

My Favourite Cake
A beautiful film about the love of an older man and woman that made me want to see more of this genre from an older lense. The main protagonist was free and inviting, encouraging her counterpart to let loose. I admired her freedom and love of life, that mesmerised her friend who was in awe.

Back to running

naturally endurance 🙂

Taking this into the new year…

All Points East Festival

A magical day & evening with Sault, Cleo Sol, Chronixx and the surprise guest… Mos Def

stunning

more videos on that magical day & evening

Notting Hill Carnival

And we go again.

Always fun vibing in Ladbroke Grove,
with love & soka xx.

🙂

soka, reggae, whining & of course a patty and my whistle

then we all watched the Liverpool vs Newcastle game on Shush’s projector. Great tension and suspense, just before Alex Isak signed 🙂

I really hope hawina is just a slow burner 🙂

Football

It’s been a joy to get back to following what’s been going on in footie/premier league, taking me back to the 90s & early 2000s.

I started to follow more closely after what happened to the drama of Gary Linekar leaving Match of the day. Listening to his podcast, The Rest is Football then got me into several others including Gary Neville’s Stick to Football – with good interviews and discussions including Ashley Cole, reminding me why he was one of my favourites- and Rio Ferdinand’s interviews. Mikael John Obi’s podcast has also had great discussions and I love how he supported Mo Salah after the recent intense backlash and how much of an advocate he is for AFCON.

More on AFCON soon.

Dropped by Geneva

nice going back for the weekend being by the mountains and seeing fam.

lol

more on Geneva soon.

Fam weddings ❤️

I’m uncomfortable sharing any pics of my fam in Asmera, (Nai Adina neger 😉)
so unfortunately for my little cousin’s wedding, I’ll just share the pic of the cow at our house who played a big role in the festivities… 😊

Cousin’s wedo ❤️

p.s. I’ll hopefully share more pics next year 🙂

London fam❤️:

Adey Kebedish ❤️❤️

mighty suwa and a Brazillan cake

❤️

Music:

It’s been good to get back to music and my vinyls at the end of this year, I’ve missed it.

D’Angelo

Still processing the loss of D’Angelo – absolutely devastating.
And to pancreatic cancer, which really hurt.

Magical voice and talent. A beautiful soul, your music is heavenly and will live on, as will you.
Eternal peace and blessings 🙏🏾🕊🕊

Some of his magic include: One Mo’Gin, Africa, Brown Sugar, Crusin’, Really Love, When We Get By.
His entire Vodoo album is timeless, soulful and by far the sexiest album.
Did i say magical?

Here’s Erykah Badu’s recent tribute during her recent 25th Mama’s Gun Anniversary.
Singing, Shit, Damn, Motherfucker

Bereket Mengisteab

Another iconic musician transitioned this year.
I saw the celebration of Bereket in Asmara, this summer (just a few months before). It was emotional to see but I’m glad he was celeberated and witnesed this ab’Adu ❤️
Our neighbour in Kushet❤️
I’ll never forget how we kept playing him during mearey’s last few days and hours ❤️🕊

Too many to name all his gems but to choose a few of them: Tsegereda, Bereka Adey, lomi, Keder, Bitihti Gezana, Nei Telo, Milena…

Thank you Aboy B, for everything 🙏🏾🕊🕊
For making us proud, for the joy,
for your celebration of Meley and the koboro through music.

May you keep dancing with our ancestors in the sky.🕊🕊
n’zelalem

2026, here’s to ❤️:

less screen time,
less tabs & windows (minimum 2)
digital cleanse, deleting apps
unfollowing old/unaligned accounts on socials

more reading
more writing classes & submitting work-
more short stories & poems

More music,
more vinyls
more community
more outdoors
more tears of laughter

tse’tsubuk xx

Some shots from 2025: