Updated on November 17, 2024 at 1:25 P.M. Toronto Time
About Borkena
Borkena.com was created primarily to share news and informed opinions—focusing on Ethiopian news and beyond. Unless explicitly stated, the posts, opinions, and views on Borkena.com do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the platform or its editor.
What is Borkena?
Borkena is the name of a well-known river in the North Central Ethiopian Highlands where the founder of this website grew up. There are views that the term originated from the Oromigna language, one of the most widely spoken languages in Ethiopia. But there is no definitive evidence on that.
For the founder of this page, Borkena was a small world of exploration, socialization, and community service. Just as riverbanks have historically fostered civilizations, Borkena, in its own way, cultivated warm social relationships.
As a significant attraction for children from all corners of the small town of Dessie in North Central Ethiopia, Borkena served as more than just a playground. It nurtured social consciousness, obedience (and necessary resistance), a sense of belonging, and a sense of responsibility.
The platform started as a blog in 2008 inspired initially by nostalgia. Over time, it became clear that its creation was driven by a combination of instinctive and rational resistance to individualism and the erosion of collective social values. Borkena is not merely a cherished memory of childhood but an idea emphasizing collective values and societal well-being.
Independent and Nonpartisan
Borkena is an independent platform, free from any affiliation with political parties. It is dedicated to publishing Ethiopian news with perspective and providing a space for opinion leaders to share their views and thoughts.
Commitment to the Ethiopian Community and Beyond
Apart from providing news content and a platform for thought leaders, Borkena is committed to promoting small businesses within the Ethiopian community and beyond, helping them thrive and reach broader audiences.
The publication is still based in Toronto, Canada, and since its inception, it has been a relentless effort by a single individual. The founder has juggled the demands of running Borkena with the responsibilities of a survival job and family, all while maintaining a commitment to delivering timely, relevant news for the Ethiopian community and beyond—to the Horn of Africa and the diaspora in North America, Europe, Australia, the Gulf Region, and the rest of Africa.
Borkena aims to enhance the quality of its news content and broaden its reach. However, achieving these goals and ensuring the platform’s growth require building a team of at least four full-time staff members. This step is crucial to meeting the increasing demands of content creation, moderation, and audience engagement.
How you can support borkena
You can support Borkena in two significant ways:
Financial Contributions: Your donations help us hire skilled staff, improve content quality, and make Borkena even more valuable for the Ethiopian community and the wider Horn of Africa region. We’ve created a GoFundMe page to make contributions easy. You can donate any amount to help us grow. Access the page here.
Active Participation: Engage with our content, share your perspectives, and participate in discussions. Your active involvement can help shape an informed opinion and foster a stronger community of thoughtful readers and contributors.
Thank you for visiting Borkena.com and for considering ways to support our mission!