BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
Art in a good times is expression of beauty, calmness, comfort and evoke new ideas that would sustain the good atmosphere. But art is such significant in hard times. It helps people to heal and find comfort. It is soothing and strengthen the weak. It motivates the struggling.
Ethiopia is currently going through the hardest times in its history. Its people are being tested by numrous challenges; economic challenges upto peace and security. Many people would expect art in this time to be significantly affected. However, artistic expressions haven’t stopped from coming out. Infact, they are increasingly available. Artists work this time though majorly focused on showing solidarity with their audience generally with people in the good or bad times. They sustained exploiting their gifts to expressing their feelings of current situations through various ways. Poems, books and musics single or albums are being released relating to current situations.
While some chose to send critical messages through their artistic productions, others preferred to offer support. But there are some who are going deep into Ethiopia’s sociopolitical problems and come up with a soultion they think pleausible. Rophnan Nuri who is known for saying “I have confidence in my generation” is among those artists. Rophanan is a DJ, singer, songwriter, and audio engineer. He is considered as one of the most influential artists in Ethiopia.
In his debut album Netsebrak /Reflection/, 2018’s Leza Awards Album of The Year, he introduced a completely new style of Ethiopian music and pioneered electronic music in Ethiopia. Speaking about his debut album, Rophanan said: “Reflection is an album where I reflected myself, my country and my generation…. I want to say to my younger brothers and sisters, use the computers, internet and smartphones you have in your reach for bigger things.”
After huge succes of debut album, Rophanan released triology music ‘Sost”. Sost called Ethiopians to honor their forefathers by renewing vow of unity and togetherness. Most importantly, everyone to value humanity before ethnicity, language, religion, and culture.
My countrygirl
Have you found a name ?
My countrygirl
Have you found a name ?
My hearts found the truth
I identified who I am
When I trace my back
I found my name written
It says I am human
According to his interview to the BBC, his coming album that is set to be released July 11 brings wider perspective to the country that is grappling with issues of langauge difference, ethnicity and other difference. He emphasizes the youth deserves universality morethan anything. He urges a paradigm shift from comparing one to the other to everyone cooperating and emerging powerful. The artists said he had experimented children behavior for six months while writing his lyrics and composing his music. “Children are forgiving. They don’t trap by the past. They live today. Their love is unconditional. For children being human is enough. So, they helped me to better illustrate messages of love and hope in my music,” said Rophnan.
Rophnan announced a contract signing with Universal Records. Rophnan will become the first Ethiopian artist major artist to sign a contract with universal records. The artists shared the news on his social media.
Universal Music Group N.V. is a Dutch–American multinational music corporation. The record company previously signed major artists like Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Amy Whinehouse, Eminem & many others.
Ethiopian artists that have signed to major label is Aster Aweke in the late 1980’s with Columbia Records and Ejigayehu Shibabaw.
The Ethiopian Herald 10 July 2022
