The Israel Film Service Collection

Through Our Eyes - The Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony presented by Hana Mekete

8 Minutes, 2001
Genre:
Documentary

  • Rate
Directed by: Unknown
Production Company:Israel Film Service
Language: Amharic
| Subtitles not available

“Through Our Eyes,” aired in 2001, is a TV documentary series of short episodes focusing on Ethiopian born creators in Israel. It was produced by the Israel Film Service and presented by Tibebe Solomon.

This episode focuses on Hana Mekete, an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony hostess.
The Ethiopian coffee ceremony is called “Buna,” the drink’s name in the Amharic language. According to Tradition, coffee was accidentally discovered in Ethiopia by a shepherd who noticed that his goats rejoiced when they ate green coffee beans. Ethiopians first embraced coffee, which was later spread to Europe through colonialism. The ceremony is mastered by women, and Hana Maketa demonstrates its phases, participants, and meanings.
Inviting the guests to sit together around the ceremonial table, observe the slow process of preparing the coffee, and smell the coffee aroma will soften the atmosphere so the guests can address controversial issues without tension.
All ingredients and vessels used in the ceremony will be prepared ahead of time on a low central table since the hostess must remain in her place throughout the complete ceremony. The essential ceremony phases are washing the green coffee beans, slowly roasting them on a metal tray placed over burning coal, grinding, and preparing the sacred liquid in a Jebena, a clay pot designated for the ceremony. Smelling the Coffee and the insence aromas before drinking takes place is a must, and each of the guests will eventually be honored with three cups of coffee, from concentrated and bitter to diluted and finer.
Conflict resolution, an integral part of the coffee ceremony, will start when participants are content and ready to open conflictual matters.

Persons in segment:
Locations: