Wollo Lalibela Cultural Group was first established around forty-two years ago and had a sad ending after a regime change in Ethiopia in 1990. It stayed under the Wollo Development Support Association for two years, but the Culture Group could not sustain the burden. After twenty-two years, Wollo Lalibela Cultural Group, by the initiative taken by Debub Wollo Zone Authority and Debub Wollo Culture and Tourism Bureau was re-established in 2013. The reestablishment was made possible by recruiting cultural and creative groups focused on music and dance from the local and in 2014 the Wollo Lalibela Cultural Group officially started performing. The purpose of the reestablishment of the cultural group is to bring the vibrant and rich culture of Ethiopian Music as Wollo is the source of four of the Ethiopian Music beats. By bringing different local creatives together, the Wollo Lalibela group can express their culture through the
strong root of music and dance. After its reestablishment, Wollo Lalibella Cultural Group further went to produce its album called Marewa, participated in several festivals, and represented the region for the Nations and Nationalities Celebration. The momentum of the Wollo Lalibella Cultural Group started slowing down as the administration and management were becoming beyond the government
administration. The major shortcoming for the cultural group is the lack of professional trainers and coaches that can increase the capacity of the creatives. The culture group was also short of budget and hence it was difficult to sustain the group.
After being under the Debub Wollo Zone Authority and Debub Wollo Culture and Tourism Bureau for four years, in 2016 Wollo Lalibela Cultural group came under the Wollo University to be further rehabilitated and have a defined structure. Wollo University budgeted Forty-Six Thousand US Dollars (One Million Birr) at the time of taking over and worked with the cultural group from a different aspect. The first aspect of support the University made is regarding building the capacity of the cultural group was to introduce a coach that is well experienced in the management of cultural groups. The Wollo University works with its Theater and Music Department to create knowledge and capacity for the members of the cultural group by strengthening their technical capacity. Today, the University has budgeted a yearly budget of Fifty-Three Thousand US Dollars (Two Million Birr). The university also supports the Wollo Lalibela Cultural Group in creating income opportunities by employing PR personnel. The PR personnel finds jobs for the Cultural Group so that they can earn by performing.
The result of the re-establishment and rehabilitation of the Wollo Lalibela Dance Group is that the Culture Group is now managed under a sustainable budget dedicated by the University. Because the University supports the Cultural Group with qualified, professional, and scientific coaching, the introduction and integration of new creatives is much more smooth now. The technical and knowledge base skill
the development has also contributed to developing professionalism not only to those who are directly involved but also to those that are indirectly engaged.
Today, the cultural group has around thirty-seven members of which fourteen are dancers, eight are instrument players, seven are musicians, one professional coach, and the remaining six with administrative roles. Of all groups, eleven are women.
55,000 USD (2 million Birr/year)
| Name of partner | Type of entity |
|---|---|
Wollo University Theatre and Music Department
| Public Sector
|
Debub Wollo Zone Administration
| Public Sector
|
Debub Wollo Culture and Tourism Bureau
| Public Sector
|
Dessie City Administration
| Public Sector
|
Dessie Culture and Tourism Bureau
| Public Sector
|
The evaluation of the performance of Wollo Lalibela Cultural Group under Wollo University is more of a positive aspect. The evaluation concludes that the Cultural Group is strong in promoting cultural expression and diversity through its maintenance of the root culture and using that as a source of content. The Cultural Group also elevates the image of the University and its region as its participation to further support the creative sector and create sustainable income for the creatives.
The drawback of the Cultural Group is the time it is taking to be self-sustainable. In the evaluation, which the University has identified as a weak spot, is making the cultural group sustainable and stand on its own two feet without the support of the University. The University has further discussed finding means to make the Cultural Group sustainable.