BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
Hachalu Hundessa, “Music is my life. It got me friends and foes. But it remains a tool that I use to speak for my people, a tool that I use to express my deepest feelings.”
Ethiopian Oromo music has already big names such as living legend singer, composer and poet Ali Birra, Tsegaye Dandana, Abitew Kebede,Qamar Yusuf and others. This fact however hasn’t stopped young Hachalu to penetrate and became one of prominent Oromo musican.
Hachalu rose to become one of Ethiopia’s biggest music stars, mesmerising fans with his songs about romance and political freedom. Even if there was other artists that exploited art for sociopolitical purposes,Hachalu exploitation’s of his gift was unmatched. He used folk stories and irony in his songs to messages. But Hachalu’s songs weren’t confined to politics. In fact regardless of their alegoricaly nature they talked about love, and unity.
Hachalu Hundessa had a humble beginning from playing traditional instrument kirar and signing to oneself to becoming a music star in Oromo and Ethiopian community at large. In an interview with the BBC, he recalled that, “I used to sing whatever came to my head.” Though his father wanted him to be a doctor, he had little interest of being a doctor.
From an infant, Hachalu showed a passion for music and singing, with the encouragement of his mother, while he looked after cows on the family’s farmland on the outskirts of Ambo in the Oromia region.
Sisay, one of Hachalu’s nine siblings, says, “But art was in his nature.”
His friend Kumela Kelbessa recalls Hachalu’s begining: “There was a spot where he used to practice his kerar, Ambo Alemtu. There was also a hill by his parents place where he would go to practice. It was not a popular hobby as far as his father, Hundessa Bonsa, was concerned, who wanted him to concentrate on his studies.”
The turning point in his life was his imprisonment at the age of 17 in 2003 for five years for his political stance. His father kept his morale high in prison, telling him during visits that “prison makes a man stronger.” Even he had the talent, he didn’t realize his potential to this time. “I did not know how to write lyrics and melodies until I was put behind bars.”
His big break did not come until the late 2000s, when his friend, a keyboardist named Tamrat Kebede, sold a small piece of land to sponsor Hachalu’s first professional music recording, SegniMoti. It was a romantic song about a lady who had royal ancestorship. It is during his time in jail, he wrote nine songs and released SanyiiMootii (Race of the King) in 2009, a year after walking free.
“He was romantic when he wanted to be; political when the moment called for it,” TsegayeDendena, a close friend and professional partner, remembers him.
His friend and also famous singer Jambo Jote admires Hachalu for his unique song writing and performace skills . “Songs he made in his childhood like geresa are done inside prison. They are so unique in lyrics and show his literary gift. They weren’t direct. He used symbols and alegory to convey his message. He did this when was very young. Because he was in jail, he invested all his time in art. He sang mostly about love but they have various meanings related with sociopolitical issues of the country.”
His second album Waa’ee Keenya (Our Plight) was released in 2013 while he was on a tour in the US. It became the best-selling African album on Amazon at the time.
Two years later, he released a powerful single, Maalan Jira? (What existence is mine?), referring to the eviction of Oromos from Addis Ababa and its surrounding areas, after the government decided to expand the boundaries of the city. Speaking about how and why he relates music and politics, Hachalu says he uses music to express his deepest feeling.
At a time of heightened protests at the end of 2017, Hachalu released another song.
“Do not wait for help to come from outside, a dream that doesn’t come true. Rise, make your horse ready and fight, you are the one close to the palace,” he sang, often to cheers from his fans.
It was in a time when his popularity soars and his activism is fervent, Hachalu fell short as he shot dead two years ago. His death sparked protest and resulted death and imprisonment of many people.
Hachalu had songs and melodies that were in preparation before his death. A year after, his album Maal Mallisaa is released and got wide reception. It was infact on world music chart. This album was nominated for grammy award on the category of best global music award. On the consideration it was lined” his lyrics inspired nation, his voice comforted the disturbed , his message disturbed the comfortable.”
Even if his death and the incidence that followed was very tragic and trumatic Hachalu continued to be remembered by his fans as they support his family and established foundation and recent introduced music award by his name.
At the last hour of his death, Hachalu was on featuring and singning in amharic. And, it expressed his and generation confusion, hope about the country.
And, again what happened to you
What happened to you my darling
Who saw you with contempt
How can I believe that your children quarrel for a piece of land in this modern time?
How can I believe that your children quarrel for a piece of land in this modern time?
Don’t forget what you told me.
Please give it a thought
I know mothers won’t be just when they are sad
Don’t forget what you told me.
Please give it a thought
I know mothers won’t be just when they are sad.
Now my darling now my darling
I can’t leave it
Mother issue is such aching
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 1 JULY 2022
