BY JOSEPH SOBOKA
In Ethiopia, art, especially music, is often used to promote war. All leaders, monarchs, dictators, and elected leaders, commission artists to create and generate popular support for wars and to urge the public, particularly the youth, to make sacrifices needed to sustain wars.
The internationally reputed Ethiopian artists/singers, such as Tilahun Gesesse, Teddy Afro, Niway Debebe and the rest, have produced wartime music to raise the spirit of the youth.
For the evidence of it, a piece of Teddy Afro’s war cry goes as follows:
Go forth, his father’s a warrior Go forth, his mother’s a warrior Go forth, he shows no mercy Go forth, on affairs of the country
The lyric of Tilahun Gesesse’s heroic song runs as follows:
‘ኢትዮጵያ’ ‘የኛ መመኪያ’ ‘እናት ሃገር ኢትዮጵያ’ ‘የኛ መመኪያ’
“Ethiopia” She [remains] our pride
Motherland [Ethiopia] She [remains] our pride
As a matter of fact, the heroic legacy, regardless of ethnicity and gender, imbued with patriotism, still runs fresh in the blood of young Ethiopians and their enthusiasm to take arms against the terrorist TPLF is the kind the country prides itself on. Such valor as has been inherited from their forefathers is not limited to males only. The young females all over Ethiopia, have equally exhibited their readiness to defend their country without reservation.
The old concept that women follow the fighters or remain at home and anxiously waiting for the victorious return of their men from the battlefield after the war is over is just a thing of the past. It is history, gone with the wind and never to come back. As a matter of fact, they, too, have, at sundry times, proved their courage to fight side by side with men. This was extraordinarily proven at the Battle of Adwa-the young Itege Taitu Bitul is a tangible witness.
It should be noted that a country without young people is already dead; a generation is extended by young people who after gaining maturity produce children of their own in turn for the continuity of the race – biological activity as dictated by nature. Lineage or family line is thus established with which every person proudly identifies himself. In Ethiopian culture, obviously the same in almost all countries in African, the high number of children is pride and security for the family. A family with many children cannot be threatened or intimidated by an enemy for the children defend their parents as well as their property. Such protection is enjoyed at the national level in times of aggression by enemies as it is currently evidenced in Ethiopia.
The various contributions of the youth to their country’s defense and development are highly acknowledged. UN Commission on Human Rights emphasizes the important role of young people in the promotion of their country’s political, economic and social development. And especially in an effort to overcome such obstacles to political, social and economic development as colonialism and neo-colonialism, all forms of racial discrimination, racism and apartheid, foreign domination and occupation, aggression.
Coupled with these, threats to national sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity to a major degree are deterred by the unreserved intervention of the youth. Denial of the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms and of recognition of the right of peoples to self-determination and to the exercise of full sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources are the issues in the youth struggle.
The current Ethiopia’s dire situation, in the face the terrorists’ aggression, calls for the total commitment of the young people in defending and maintaining the sovereignty of their country.
Relevant to art/music, whoever is involved in fighting, war cry, mostly with Ethiopians, is straight route, for the young people, to total engagement in battle. The fact is that battle cries are not necessarily articulate although they often aim to invoke patriotic or religious sentiment. Their purpose is a combination of arousing aggression and esprit de corps on one’s own side and causing intimidation on the hostile side.
A war or battle cry is a shouted word or sound used by fighters in the battle to give each other courage and at the same time to threaten their enemies. They say that the first strike is half the battle. A war cry, song and painting combined together are like the first strike between two individuals and they will definitely throw the opponent off balance as soon as the actual fight begins.
Furthermore, war cry is a slogan, phrase, or motto used to unite citizens against an enemy. That is why artists, namely singers, actors, painters and poets have a greater role in this nation-saving venture. In Ethiopia, while the country is engaged in various forms of war internally and externally, the people must experience spirit buoying activities such as the war cry that arouse their spirit to stand up against the enemy to defend their country.
Artists are doing to the best of their abilities what their country expects from them unreservedly. They do not at all hold back their talents to boost the spirit of the young people who are apt to get into the fight to save their country. They organize public musical concerts where the audience fully participates in the process of preparing for war. War cry expressed in such a way dispels fear and builds up courage.
In the process, people will have clear insight of war crisis and do all they can to avert the situation or circumstance. They gird their loins and fight bravely to prevent the war from causing any threat or crisis to national security. Girding in principle implicates preparedness for action without allowing anything to interfere.
While youth are often perceived as driving unrest, a growing body of evidence makes clear that youth engagement is vital to fostering safe and inclusive communities. Wherever such zealous and pacific endeavors take place, people live in peace and their day-to-day activities will be fruitful and develops the economy of the country grows strong as well.
As it is evident in Ethiopia, the enthusiasm that the youth have exhibited lately has been proven fundamental and vital key to the enforcement of the law and the maintenance of peace and security in the country and in the region – the Horn of Africa at large. In every casual conversation, the young people clearly indicate that all issues are youth issues, and that they want to have a say in anything that affects the country including war.
Thus, the role of young people has been recognized as critical in creating long-term stability and offering protection from the present and future attacks and conflicts. The vast majority of young people can play active and valuable roles as agents of positive and constructive change.
At this intensive time of crisis when the country is under internal and external pressure, the youth driven by the force of art are coming to the front to play their part in alleviating the situation in every way they can. Their innocent youthful zeal that drives them so much is more vivid in their activities than their words.
The vividly accepted general truth ‘action speaks louder than words’ proves more true with young people for they are not yet fully exposed to and defiled by evil experiences. Innocence is clean acceptance while experience is doubt. Every word that comes out of the singer is readily accepted and the young man puts it into practice. The interference of a couch is of high importance; counseling is much needed to control the emotion of the young men.
Thus, the junta extremist that is at war with Ethiopia, without proper initiation, taking advantage of such innocence and the powerlessness of the youth, forces them to be involved in the armed conflict. As much as the youth in the rest of the country are preparing to fight alongside the national defense force, many of those that are by force conscripted by the junta are willingly surrendering to the Ethiopian army.
The best opportunity young Ethiopians are enjoying is the psychological preparation triggered by the art and music provided by the artists of the country. Thus, without being forced, the youth are voluntarily going to the battlefront for the sake of their beloved country.
The Ethiopian Herald August 22/2021
