Publication | Hardback; 256 pages; 22.0 cm x 33.0 cm
Amharic, English and German
ISBN: 978-3-86335-713-9
Available at Buchhandlung Walther König

A project by Institut für Raumexperimente e.V., Berlin;
in collaboration with Tobiya Poetic Jazz, Addis Ababa, 2019

With contributions by Frezer Admasu Molaligne, Olafur Eliasson, Eric Ellingsen, Clara Jo, Mihret Kebede Alwabie, Erica Licht, Robert Lippok, Bekele Mekonnen, Nebiy Mekonnen, Abebaw Melaku, Jorga Mesfin, Ari Benjamin Meyers, Neo Muyanga, Nolly Nesbit, Cia Rinne, Solomon Sahle Tizazu, Rike Scheffler, Robel Temesgen, Misrak Terefe Ergetu, Rediet Terefe Wegayehu, Christina Werner, Uljana Wolf, and Meheret Zelleke.

Poetry Jazz: Wax and Gold brings together poetry, language and sound experiments around Addis Ababa’s popular art form of poetry jazz, which combines poetry and live music. With the help of “wax and gold”, a lyrical form of expression, the poetic encryption of dissent and critique succeeds. 
The superficial, literally understood layer of “wax” conceals a core of “gold”. The book documents six poetry concerts, which took place alternately in Addis Ababa and Berlin and gives voice to the artists in Amharic, English and German. It offers a glance behind-the-scenes at a compelling and resistant practice that addresses questions of importance across continents and suggests subversive methods to challenge threats to the freedom of expression.

This publication is part of the poetry series Poetry Jazz: Wax and Honey, I’m Home, initiated by the Institut für Raumexperimente, Berlin, in dialogue withTobiya Poetic Jazz, Addis Ababa; in cooperation with the Akademie der Künste, Berlin; with support from Studio Olafur Eliasson, Berlin, the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, Chicago

Institut für Raumexperimente, Berlin | photos: María del Pilar García Ayensa