Our guest today is a talented artist who is not afraid to try and experience new forms of art. His passion has allowed him to excel in the things he creates.
Let’s get you acquainted with our readers?
My name is Fenkil Tesfamaryam. I was born and raised in Dubarwa and did all my schooling there. After doing my national service as a member of the 26th round, I joined the Institute of Technology and Science at Mai-Nefhi and studied civil engineering. I graduated in 2019. Now I am working with Keih Bahri General Construction Company in Massawa.
Why civil engineering?
I guess since I was a child, I have been passionate about the construction of buildings, especially their aesthetic side. I’ve always thought building houses is a form of art. I have been in tune with art. I remember walking around neighborhoods to look at buildings, which I consider were beautifully and artistically made.
What part of art are you in tune with?
My journey into the world of art began with music. I learned to play the traditional music instrument Kirar when I was in grade six and used to entertain my peers in our neighborhood. I wanted to improve my skills, so I decided to learn the guitar and enrolled in an after-school art program. All these activities did not fill the void I was feeling. Although I adored music and playing instruments, it always felt not enough. I even tried singing but that did not provide pleasure at all. Acting proved to be the one. When I acted at school plays during end-of-school year shows, the amount of joy I felt every time I stepped on the stage is unforgettable. Advancing from school plays I joined the Dubarwa’s NUEYS drama club called Rewiet. As a club, we performed every weekend, and that enabled me to improve my acting skills. During that time, I had a hobby of keeping a journal, which I believe was the initial step into my script writing and film making career.
Tell us more about your script writing and film making journey?
In college, I decided it was time to focus on school, and as we all know civil engineering was not easy. It demanded all my time. Therefore, I could not pay attention to art for a while. But when I was in my fifth year, through a friend, I met Michael Eyasu, a writer and a director. Michael told my friend that I had a potential and that he would love to cast me in one of his movies. When I heard the news the first word I said was “let’s go.”
What was the transition from acting in a play to acting in a film like?
I am not going to lie; it was hard and a bit weird. The limited experience in that form of capturing drama doesn’t enable you to demonstrate your skills as an actor, but I am glad my first experience was not as disastrous as that of some actors’. The first film I acted in is called kem Libey. Then I acted in Felatsi Libi (ፈላጺ ልቢ), which was aired on the national television. After that I have acted on several movies: Hibri Zagra (ሕብሪ ዛግራ), Bifiqri Qiteleni (ብፍቕሪ ቅተለኒ), Kab Men (ካብ መን), Natey Ika (ናተይ ኢኻ), Bitanya (ቢታንያ), Silezefqerki (ስለዘፍቅረኪ), Amenzira Aykonkun (ኣመንዝራ ኣይኮንኩን), Setri (ሰትሪ), Silalot Seb (ጽላሎት ሰብ) and Bifiqri Hatie (ብፍቕሪ ሓጢአ).
And how did the script writing go?
As I said writing in my journal has given me an insight into the world of writing, and after a while I started writing film scripts. But I was very concerned that they might not meet the expectations of the audience; so I just kept them. Then when I gave my script to a friend and Michael Eyasu, they both said that it must be made urgently and I did it. I made my first film and directed it, which made me realize I have another hobby. I took courses on directing given by the famous film maker Efrem Kahasy. The courses were on both directing and acting.
Your book Zeyhases Feqri is now a sensation, and you’re about to publish a second edition. Why did you want to write a book?
I firmly believe that books are a powerful vehicle to enhance our society’s ability to imagine. We, artists, are feeding the public with great amount of films, a great medium to pass information. But a book is a different medium of sharing information, where the readers enrich their imagination while being informed and entertained. I love writing film scripts which has allowed me to be connected with audience but writing a book has elevated me to a different level. People of different ages have reached out to convey their thoughts. I think writing a book is more prestigious in the eyes of our society.
Any final thoughts?
I want to pass on this message to my fellow film makers. The highly deregulated film industry has boosted film making in terms of content and quality of the pictures, and so many skilled young film makers are flourishing. Yet the freedom of making independent movies should not lead us to be irresponsible with the type of messages we spread. Sometimes I see adaptations of movies straight from the Hollywood movies which have no moral acceptance in our society, and that scares me a bit. I urge my fellow artists to be meticulously careful about the type of information and message they pass on.
Thank you for your time!