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Chelis: How did you find the place that "fed" [[strikethrough]] you [[/strikethrough]] you? (enabled your activism)

Meklit: I came across town - notably "The Red Poppy" -accidentally.

Meklit then demonstrated an Ethiopian lone song (K) about a man w/ a perfect afro. Title: Kuh- ma- kun (?)
Keme kem

Chelis: Does this traditional Ethiopian song have elements of Californian culture.

Meklit: [[strikethrough]] I cha [[/strikethrough]] It certainly does [[strikethrough]] have [[/strikethrough]] I chose it for its relatability.

Chelis: have Ethiopian women (musicians) influenced you?

Meklit: Yes, though there are few female Ethiopian singers. She then listed a few examples. Meklit noted that singers tend not to be songwriters, despite a poetic tradition in Ethiopia. She mentioned that this is now changing - many new ♀ songwriters 

Chelis: To whom do you write?

Meklit: I write from the perspective of a woman. She mentions that she is also aware of her "image"; she is learning a traditional Ethiopian instrument.