BY YOHANES JEMANEH
A farewell ceremony to artists who show commitment to head to warfront in support of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) that is sacrificing its life to safeguard Ethiopia was held recently at the Addis Ababa City Municipality Office premises.
On the occasion that hosted on 13 August 2021, several artists from various artistic fields have expressed pledge to appear on warfront standing beside the ENDF with moral support. They have planned to perform heartwarming songs and dramas to the national army and back to the capital together after achieving the mission.
Vocalist Memhru Chamo is a traditional music player at ‘Hager Fikir’ Theatre. He had expressed preparations to provide the national army with moral support. The theatre house is established to defend our country and consolidate its unity, he said, adding that it had been playing important role in equipping Ethiopian forefathers with moral support during the second Italo-Ethiopian war.
Since its establishment in 1935, ‘Hager Fikir’ theater house had played an immense role in encouraging patriots through sending off various artists to the battlefield. For example, singers like Tilahun Gessesse and Habtemichael Demisse had performed various patriotic songs on warfront during the Ethio-Somalia and Ethio-Eritrea wars, he said.
The artists conveyed the message that the enemy targeted capitalization on the people and the land. Accordingly, “We are participating in the current military operation to safeguard our country similar to what our mentors did in history,” Memhru noted.
‘Hager Fikir’ is among the four theatre houses engaged in the national survival operation under the command of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. More than 100 artists incorporating war cry performers, dancers, theatre players, and stage leaders among others will head to the front soon.
“It is only if a country exists that an artist can lead a peaceful life performing music and theatre. Aspiration is essential in every field in general and in a military life in particular. We are ready to share the feelings of the army and build their moral with art.”
All Ethiopians have only one country so that they should stand for its security. “As the local adage goes ‘a one-eyed person does not play with dust’, we have only a one and only country in which we all need to contribute fair share for its wellbeing,” according to Memhru.
Artist Aklilu Berhanu is among the artists who join Memhru from the same theatre house. He said that he is ready to play due role to secure his motherland through supporting the national army. “I am glad to repeat the glorious history of artists from ‘Hager Fikir’ Theatre house through responding for the national call. We will mobilize and recreate the army through performing songs, theatre and so on. We will stay with them to the end and we will back together in victory.”
Addis Ababa Theatre and Cultural Hall singer Yetimwork Kebede also shares Berhanu’s commitment to mobilize the army and improve its vibe through playing national songs. “In fact, I have worked with the army as an artist through entertaining the Western Command of the ENDF 10 years ago.”
Today, the artists are prepared to perform artistic works that amplify patriotic sentiment so as to inspire the army. Art will play a significant role to build the moral of the soldiers to achieve victory. “We want to show that we stand beside them,” she noted.
Bidding farewell to the artists, on the occasion, Addis Ababa City Deputy Mayor Adanech Abebie remembered that the government has got into an unexpected war forced by internal and external elements that work together to destruct the country.
These forces that assume Ethiopia as unnecessary unless it ruled and controlled by them are attacking the people disregarding the government’s appeal to peace. However, whatever they do, Ethiopia will not be deterred from its journey to prosperity. Therefore, Ethiopians ought to defend their country on one hand and ensure its development on the other, as to Adanech.
Therefore, the artists are committed to fight for the security of their motherland beside, the ENDF. Participating on national security operation is not necessarily related to holding firearms. It can be also undertaken in building moral of soldiers like what the artists are trying to do so.
Art makes a person courageous and brave. Therefore, the artists are showing dedication to fight for their country on the warfronts using their artistic skills, the Deputy Mayor reiterated. She also expressed them her best wish to come back after victory. “Let you return home conquering the enemy, let the almighty make you victory announcers.”
The occasion was opened and wrapped up with songs that manifest national sentiments. Moreover, attendees have attended programs like a war cry, poetry, songs, national anthem and a minute of silence for addressing prayer to some members of the national army who have lost their lives in the operation to ensure national security.
The farewell was concluded after the Deputy Mayor Adanech handed over a national flag to the artists who were guest honors of the day for heading to the front responding to the national call for survival.
Meanwhile, the artists demonstrated that they have kept their promise as they had performed artistic pieces before the national army on 15 August 2021 at Awash Military Training Center. At the event, the artists expressed their happiness for joining the army with moral support. They have performed patriotic songs and a battle cry wearing traditional costumes, holding a sword and shield in their hands similar to what forefathers had worn while fighting against enemies.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) appreciated them for their deeds and expressed his wish for many others to follow their lead. The premier wrote on his official Facebook page on Tuesday that art always motivates Ethiopian heroism. “I wish to express my gratitude to all the artists who perform before the army. I hope many others will follow your leads.”
As the premier said, patriotic songs and war cries play an important role in arousing the zeal of the national army to fight aggressively and achieve victory. It is also crucial to intimidate the enemy and lose shortly for lack of moral to resist. Therefore, the artists are playing significant role in recreating and emboldening the moral of the brave ENDF and other security apparatuses that headed to warfront with it in the mission to safeguard Ethiopia’s security.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD AUGUST 24/ 2021
