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Vertical Ethiopia | Purchase | Behind the Book | Publicity | Excerpt | Speaking Tour | Press Release |
Map by Andrea Jensen
Vertical Ethiopia Speaking Tour
In April, 2009, Majka finished a fourteen-month speaking tour around North America for Vertical Ethiopia. She next headed to Namibia for a new project, and has since returned and launched a new progam on Namibia. She is continuing to book Vertical Ethiopia events, as well as lectures on Namibia. Please read more about the Vertical Ethiopia Tour Below, and about Majka's work as a speaker here. If you would like to schedule a show, please email Majka at mb@majkaburhardt.com.
*Please scroll down for a list of compleated tour events.
Vertical Ethiopia: Possibility, Environment, and Adventure in the Horn of Africa.
In March 2007, I led a team of four women on an expedition to northern Ethiopia to climb virgin sandstone towers in a region of the world known primarily for its history of drought, famine, and war. My adventures and the people, politics, and potential of Ethiopia are chronicled in my book Vertical Ethiopia: Climbing Towards Possibility in the Horn of Africa, from Shama Publishing. Vertical Ethiopia is a large-format coffee table book featuring Gabe Rogel's stunning imagery and a series of vignettes that together reveal what it means to climb, to travel, and to explore.
In conjunction with the publication of Vertical Ethiopia, I have spoken to over forty-five audiences throughout the United States and Canada since February 2008. From the Seattle IMAX Theater, to a small independent book store in Miami Beach, from crowds of 30-300, my talks have run the gamut, My presentationscombine a slideshow filled with images of climbing, culture, and the immense African landscape with a narrative behind the images. As a speaker, I’m interested in exploring new ways of understanding Ethiopia in the midst of the current global landscape where religion, politics, and landscape continually interact and react. I explored Ethiopia while establishing first ascents on 600’ sandstone towers. My presentation explores Ethiopia at its multiple points of intersection with the rest of the world.
Vertical Ethiopia is a unique collaboration with an Ethiopian publishing company, Shama, a company committed to presenting Africa and Ethiopia in a more positive and realistic light. Through working with Shama, I learned to navigate the Ethiopian press rules in a country that has been called one of the worst in the world for freedom of the written word. In my presentation, I share the full story of my experience—discussing various obstacles the Ethiopian press rules presented to portraying the current military offensive towards Eritrea, recent kidnappings, and the Ethiopian anti-violence movement. Thus, Vertical Ethiopia is more than a story about Ethiopia. It is a story about the making of an Ethiopian product at a time when the nation is on the brink of becoming a global industrial player while trudging through the vestiges of its communist and corrupt past.
I can offer a variety of presentation lengths and focus points to suit the needs of a particular audience or event, from climbing exploration, to Ethiopia’s environmental initiatives and potential, to women’s adventure, to the current geopolitical state of the Horn of Africa, and Africa’s emergence from a western imagination.
Past Events:
January 5th, 2008:
Durango Ice Demo, Durango, Colorado
Slideshow for the Durango Ice Fest to support the Women's Resouce Center.
February 2nd, 2008:
Chicks with Picks, Ouray, Colorado
Slideshow for Chicks with Picks, an ice climbing weekend for women with women. Proceeds from the show will benefit a local women's shelter.
February 12th, 2008:
Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine
7:30 PM
February 25th, 2008:
Boulder Bookstore, Boulder, Colorado
7:30 PM
Details and Directions www.boulderbookstore.com
February 27th, 2008:
Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado
7:30 PM
March 6th, 2008:
Neptune Moutaineering, Boulder, Colorado
8:00 PM
Details and Directions www.neptunemountaineering.com
March 7th, 2008:
Explore Bookstore, Aspen, Colorado
5:30 PM
Details and Directions www.explorebooksellers.com
March 12th, 2008:
Steamboat Mountain Theater, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
7:00 PM
Epilogue Book Company Outdoor Author Series
Details and Directions, link to Epilogue Books
March 13th, 2008:
Snow King Resort, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
7:00 PM, Teaton Room
Event in conjunction with the Access Fund
Directions
March 18th, 2008:
Summit Canyon Mountaineering, Glenwood Springs, CO
7:00 PM
March 28th, 2008:
Red Rock Rendezvous, Las Vegas, Nevada
April 10th, 2008:
The World Affairs Council of the Florida Palm Beaches
Palm Beach, Forida
Details and Directions
April 13th, 2008:
Books and Books, Miami, Florida
4:00 PM
Coral Gables Location
Details and Directions
April 16th, 2008:
Kenton Firehouse, Portland, Oregon
7:00 PM
Brought to you by the World Affiars Council of Oregon
Details and Directions
April 17th, 2008:
IMAX Theater, Pacific Science Center, Seattle, Washington
6:00 PM
"Science with a Twist"
Event in conjunction with the World Affairs Council of Seattle and Pacific Science Center
Details and Directions
April 19th, 2008:
Patagonia Store, NOLS Alumni Reunion and Public Reception, Seattle, Washington
Patagonia Seattle
7:00 PM
National Outdoor Leadership School Reunion and public event
Details and Directions Please register here for this event.
April 24th, 2008:
Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
8:00 PM
Robertson Hall, Bowl 2
April 26th, 2008:
Houston, Texas
Houston World Affairs Council Young Professionals Brunch
11:00 AM
April 26th, 2008:
Houston International Fest, Houston Texas
3:00 and 5:00 PM
City Hall Theater
Event in conjunction with the Houston World Affairs Council.
Special Instructions: These shows are at Houston City Hall, on Bagby between McKinney and Walker street. WaMu Center Stage is the alternate name of the venue.
Details and Directions
April 27th, 2008:
Midwest Mountaineering and The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1:00 PM
Target Performance Hall
Details and Directions
April 30th, 2008:
Boulder REI, Boulder, Colorado
7:00 PM
Event in conjunction with the American Alpine Club, the Access Fund, and the American Mountain Guides Association
Details and Directions
May 6th, 2008:
Greenwich Country Day School, Greenwich, Connecticut
May 7th, 2008:
Cabot Auditorium, Boston, Massachusetts
7:00 PM
Event in conjunction with the Appalachian Mountain Club
Details and Directions
May 8th, 2008:
Boston Patagonia Store Book Signing, Boston, Massachusetts
12:00-2:00 PM
May 8th, 2008:
Fenway Park, NOLS Alumni Reunion and Public Reception, Boston, Massachusetts
7:00 PM
National Outdoor Leadership School Reunion and public event
Details and Directions
May 10th, 2008:
Rock And Snow, New Paltz, New York
8:00 PM
May 17th, 2008:
Chrissy Fields Center, NOLS Alumni Reunion and Public Reception, San Francisco, California
7:00 PM
National Outdoor Leadership School Reunion and public event
Details and Directions
May 25th, 2008:
Telluride Mountain Film, Telluride, Colorado
3:00-5:00 PM Reading Frenzy (Book Signing)
Reading Frenzy and Chalrlie Fowler Climbing Film Award Judge
Details and Directions
June 14th, 2008:
Boulder Patagonia, Boulder, Colorado
4:30-6:30 PM
June 19th, 2008:
Denver Flagship REI, Denver, Colorado
7:00 PM
Event in conjunction with the American Alpine Club
Details and Directions
June 21st and 22nd, 2008:
Women's Rock Weekend, North Conway, New Hampshire
Majka is teaching clinics on Saturday (Trad Leading) and on Sunday (Level 2 Crack Climbing), and giving a short, "teaser" show on Saturday night at 8pm.
Details, Directions, and Registration
June 26th, 2008:
Tattered Cover Bookstore LoDo, Denver, Colorado
7:30 PM
June 28th, 2008:
Backcountry Gear, Eugene, Oregon
8:30 PM
July 19th, 2008:
Squamish Mountain Festival, Squamish, Canada
7:00 PM, Eagle Eye Theater
Majka is giving a show on Saturday night and teaching clinics on Saturday (Trad Basic for Women) and Sunday (Trad Basics for Men and Women).
Details and Directions. or Clinic Registration
August 3rd, 2008:
Keystone Science School, Keystone, Colorado PUBLIC EVENT in conjunction with the American Alpine Club
7:00 PM
Details and Directions
August 9th, 2008:
Outdoor Retailer Trade Show, Salt Lake City, Utah. Book signing at the Scarpa Booth, #5000
3:00 PM
September 24th, 2008:
Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum, Golden, Colorado
7:00 PM
September 30th, 2008:
Lincoln Theater, Raleigh, North Carolina
7:00 PM
Brought to you by the American Alpine Club and Great Outdoor Provision Co
Details and Directions
October 2nd, 2008:
Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina
8:00 PM
Brought to you by the American Alpine Club
Flemming Student Union
October 9th, 2008:
Salt Lake City, UT event with 10,000 Villages and Petzl.
Lehman Auditorium, Rowland Hall Upper Campus
7:00 PM
October 14th, 2008
NOLS Alumni Event, Soho, New York.
7:30 PM, Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe
October 25th SHOW and 25th and 26th Clinics, 2008
Climb Smart, Joshua Tree, California
Patagonia presents Majka in Joshua Tree for a weekend of climbing, clinics, and slideshows.
Details and registration
November 7th, 2008:
Banff Mountain Book Festival, Banff Canada
Presentation and book signing, time TBA
Details and Directions
February 19th, 2009:
Cleveland World Affairs Council, Cleveland, Ohio
6:00 PM
Wyndham Cleveland at Playhouse Square
Tickets, Details and Directions
February 21st, 2009:
Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival, Vancouver, BC
7:30 PM
Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver
Details and Directions
February 27th, 2009:
Five College Consortium, Amherst, Massachusetts
7:30 PM
Amherst College, Fayerweather Hall, Pruyne Lecture Hall
March 4th, 2009:
92nd Street Y, New York City, New York
7:30 PM
92 Street Y: Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street
Tickets, Details, and Directions
March 24th, 2009:
San Diego REI Store, California
7:00 PM
March 25th, 2009:
Manhattan Beach REI Store, California
7:00 PM
March 26th, 2009:
Joshua Tree, California REI Demo Camp
7:00 PM
The Vertical Ethiopia Tour is brought to you in part by:
