Take Me to Fendika illuminates the traditional and innovative musical culture of Ethiopia at what has been called “the best venue in Africa” through its founder, world-renowned dancer, Melaku Belay.
Fendika Cultural Center is a dynamic art space that draws artists from across Africa and the world to present music, dance, poetry, and visual art. This film tells the story of how this vital space came into being and how it continues to serve as a place for artists to invent and reinvent Ethiopian modernity and place it in dialogue with global culture.
THE FILMMAKERS
Cisco Bradley – Director
Cisco Bradley is a director, author, and professor at the Pratt Institute, where he teaches the history and aesthetics of music from the African diaspora and runs the Music and Migration Lab. He has founded three multimedia organizations that work to shed light on musicians operating in this sphere: New Revolution Arts, www.jazzrightnow.com, and the Free Jazz Oral History Project. He is the author of three books including The Williamsburg Avant-Garde: Experimental Music and Sound on the Brooklyn Waterfront (2023) and Universal Tonality: The Life and Music of William Parker (2021)…
Melaku Belay – Subject
Melaku Belay is the director of Fendika Cultural Center (fendika.org), president of Ethiopian Dance Art Association, world-renowned Ethiopian dancer, and leader of Ethiocolor and Fendika bands. Melaku is committed to the development of Ethiopian performance culture and heritage. Under Melaku’s leadership since 2008, Fendika is the first music venue in Addis Ababa that pays regular salary to traditional musicians and dancers. Fendika is home to artists of many disciplines and cultural backgrounds, offering music, dance, visual art and poetry…
Briana Monet – Editor
Briana Monet stands out in the filmmaking world, celebrated for her distinctive approach that blends vivid colors with engaging storytelling. With a rich background in various forms of visual art. Briana’s portfolio is a testament to her versatility and creativity, featuring award-winning short films, feature documentaries commercials, and music videos that have captured audiences and critics alike. Briana’s collaborative work with industry giants such as Netflix, Amazon, Spotify, HBO, Toyota, and E Network underscores her ability to bring visionary ideas to life…
Beyond her professional achievements, Briana is deeply committed to giving back to the community. She volunteers her time and skills with non-profit organizations including Made in Her Image, Hands on the Future, Black Lives Matter, Harriett Dreams, Black Girls in Film, BLK Behind the Lens, and various international outreach initiatives. Through these efforts, she engages with a diverse array of individuals and cultures, enriching her work and perspective.
Briana Monet is more than a filmmaker; she is a storyteller and activist dedicated to making a difference through her art. For collaborations or to learn more about her work, Briana welcomes you to reach out and explore the endless possibilities.
Lily Iserson – Producer
Lily Iserson lives between her hometown of Rochester, NY and New York City. She studied literature and writing at The College of Wooster, St. Anne’s College at Oxford University, and via Catapult books, through which Lily catalyzed her passions for storytelling, music, and sustainability. Her first animated short, Roadwash, debuted at Montreal’s International Arts Animation Film Festival in 2022. Lily continues to hone a multimedia creative portfolio as she pursues climate change solutions for Solar One, a nationally recognized nonprofit.
Salem Daniel – Co-Producer
Salem Daniel is an Ethiopian American director and producer based in Los Angeles specializing in stories that point the lens at pan African narratives.
Salem’s film career started at VICELAND where she worked in production on the award-winning docuseries My House. She most recently co-directed the poetic documentary God is A Black Woman, a multimedia feature-length piece that showcases the journey of eleven Black women in their realization of the divinity of self. She has since produced with companies such as XTR, HBO and HOORAE.
Setshi Ford – Director of Photography
Setshi Ford is a Dallas based filmmaker that has had a hand in creating content that spans from videos designed for CTV and broadcast placements, to documentary, to short films that are fully concepted, shot and edited in just 48 hours! He currently works at QuickFrame as the Manager of Maker Operations and spends his weekends taking his dog on long walks and working in his garden. As an avid traveler, his explorations have taken him from Ethiopia, to Peru, and across the pond to Turkey. He hopes to continue expanding his filmmaking…
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