BY HAFTU GEBREZGABIHER
Artist Yohannes Afewok had started his artistic career at Ras Theatre. Five years later, he joined the ‘Hager Fikir’ Theatre as leading actor and manifested his talent in the ‘Forfe’ Musical Drama, ‘Ye SerguWazema,’ and the Diary of Ana staged in different theatre centers.
The Ethiopian Herald (EH) had made a short stay with Artist Yohannes who is also the Stage Manager of the ‘Hager Fkir Theatre.’ Excerpts:
EH: It is well known that our country is now found in a multifaceted challenges posed by internal terrorists and anti-Ethiopia external forces. What do you think the contribution of Art at such critical time?
Artist Yohannes: My name is Yohannes Afwork, I am the Stage Manager at ‘Hager Fikir’ Theatre. Before I went to speak out about the challenges, such challenges are not now the new incidents for this country. I want to go back to the history of the theatre dates in which its establishment goes back to 1935, when ‘Ye-hager Fikir Mahber’ (The Association for Patriotism) was founded. The aim of the establishment of the association was uniting citizens by using various artistic means in order to collectively defend Ethiopia from the Italian invasion.
The artists, scholars during that period opened up and initiated a state modernization project when Emperor Haile-Selassie began communicating with Europe and the United States and initiated a state modernization project when he came to power in 1930.
During his reign, Ethiopia began developing its infrastructure, introduced European-style education systems, and established state institutions, documents written in the area indicated. One of these state institutions was the ‘Hager Fikir Mahiber’ which literally means “Association for Patriotism” that later developed into the ‘Hager Fikir’ Theatre.
The purpose of the association, according to Yohannes, was entirely to promote unity among the people of Ethiopia to defend the country’s sovereignty and greatness. By the time, the Association was performing an orchestra which met Emperor Haile-Selassie’s interest in western orchestras that he heard during his visits to Europe. But the Patriotic Association transformed the orchestral concept to using only traditional musical instruments of the country in a way that arouse national sentiment among the people to assist the resistance against the invaders.
EH: What are the artistic efforts that your colleagues and you are exerting in order to shape the generation to heir the heroism and patriotism of forefathers so as to safeguard its country?
Artist Yohannes: Not only at the present days, but also during the time when Eritrea was federated under the Ethiopian state during the 1952, it was the ‘Hager Fikir’ Theatre that played a significant role in bringing the rifts to an agreement through its art works. It may be bad luck or not, the current generation is living through a critical time due to the terrorist TPLF. Our artists are working on the national level to avert all the adversities.”
Artists from ‘Hager Fikir’ have been supporting the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) to refresh their mind and build their moral through appearing in various warfronts in person. We have been working much more through mobilizing and motivating the brave defenders. We have been encouraging the war veterans and those who wounded during the combat. And, we will keep doing this in the future as well.
EH: As an artist and speaking onbehalf of the ‘Hager Fikir’ Theatre, how do you express the role of artists to get the country out of the current challenges?
Artist Yohannes: This role should not be left only for the theatre centers, but also it concerns all the artists including authors, film makers, and scholars of the field and decision makers to maintain the survival of the country. Literally, art and peace are interchangeable. Thus, art is a tool and has strong power to build peace and destroy Ethiopia’s opponents from all sides as well.
We have a good memory of how art works can embolden fighters during the Ethio-Somalia War. The war was broke out due to the Ziad Bare’s dream to establish greater Somalia which posed a threat to Ethiopia. That is why Ethiopian patriots destroyed it with united arms. By the time, the popular singer Tilahun Gesesse was in the frontline to motivate the brave Ethiopian fighters.
The art works should go in defending the unity of Ethiopia and Ethiopians regardless of ethnicity, race or other diversities. This can be encouraged through art. Unity can be built by our art works. The wrong doings of terrorist TPLF should be back to their minds than recruiting and deploying child soldiers.
This wrong doings can be corrected through art. To this end, artists in all the art fields, are expected to exert maximum efforts in averting such challenges. It is possible through art to pull individuals from knowingly or unknowingly support the devilish act of terrorist TPLF.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD AUGUST 26/ 2021
