Addis Ababa honors Michael Jackson

Unbelievably, it has been a year since the King of Pop Michael Jackson died. His millions of fans all over the world included many in Addis Ababa.
Fans around the world marked the first anniversary of his death, June 25, with various events from candlelight vigils to slumber parties planned in honor of MJ’s extraordinary 50 year journey.
Over 5,000 fans in the US are reported to have marched since dawn to cast flowers and mementos to their idol.
In other parts of the world as well various events were organized to mark the first year anniversary.
In Tokyo, flowers began piling up where 50 diehard fans paid more than 1,000 dollars each to attend a sleepover inside an exhibition space showcasing some of the singer’s belongings.
In Germany, candlelight vigils with music, balloons, posters and Jackson imitators were planned in numerous cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.
Fans dressed up like Michael in Prague and unveiled plans for a bust of the singer at a city party.
Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa too wasn’t left out of the celebration of the pop star.
Hosted in the city’s main hall, more than sixty young talents came together after weeks’ of preparation to reenact the singer’s sensational music and dance moves on the stage.
“We called on the media for Michael Jackson’s fans with dancing talent to come to us and be part of the event,” Getaneh Tsehaye said. He is a founder of Helget Entertainment and Dance Studio which organized the event.
The entrainment, which co-runs, a studio with Frank Addis Bar and Restaurant, was responsible for finding sixty dancers a venue for the long performance of MJ’s most recognizable, sensational dance moves from his video clips.
On June 30 at city hall invitations were sent to out to fill the place to capacity but hundreds more, mainly youngsters were allowed in. The 10 something Haleget dancers collaborated with others and another performance by Abyssinia Art Academy musical performance flavored the event.
Respect for the King of Pop was the name of the event and from the city’s theatre bureau to various FM radio programs; many put an effort to make it happen.
“From now on we want to honor Michael Jackson with similar events at June 25 every year,” Getaneh said.
Helget Entertainment and Dance Studio, who came to the limelight with an appearance in Love and Dance movie wants to make the event stand permanently and be recognized among the annual global events honoring the extraordinary Michael Jackson. The upcoming association they are helping to establish, The Ethiopian modern music dancers association, should aide the effort. (Compiled by Kirubel Tadesse)