Hoya Hoye

Halloween was very interesting this year. It is definitely not an easy holiday to explain. Halloween is a VERY American custom.

Lots of questions.
I have to dress up?
Costume?
What is a costume?
People are going to give me candy?
Chocolate?
Are you serious?
I have to say what???

On Monday night after thinking about Halloween and deciding they really liked it (who wouldn't like a holiday where people fill your bag with chocolate and all you had to do was dress a little funny and say a few silly words) the boys explained that there is something similar in Ethiopia. It is called Hoya Hoye. Groups of boys go around their neighborhood and sing taking turns making up rhyming lyrics to the tune... if the listener likes them they get a little bit of change or some bread.

J - I think, thought they were making it up...and I'd never read anything about it - so later that night...off to the internet for a search and this is what I found...........



which led me to this....



..I LOVE IT. I surprised the boys and played it for them tonight. They listened for a few seconds and then started singing along to the Amharic parts.

That is the best thing about our boys. We learn so much from them. Every day.

A few days ago we had never heard of Hoya Hoye. Now we have. We found some awesome Amharic music in the process. The entire Bole2Harlem CD is great and it's on itunes.

And in case you didn't know.... the head of a sheep is a dog's favorite part....I learned that today!! Not everything I learn is good, unless at some point I have a hungry dog and a sheep's head that I don't know what to do with.

G & H. Betam Ewedechaulu