BY HAFTU GEBREZGABIHER
Edoe, a revolutionary Tigrigna music by aspiring singer Goytom Hailemariam carries message of peace and stability for the people of Tigray. The singer has criticized and denounced the political path in Tigray for half a century: revolting and taking arms for every question.
The music produced by Hohoma Entertainment and lyric was written by the vocalist himself. The singer conveyed the message targeted at the Tigrayan youth and he urged youth to say “enough is enough” for culture of responding issues with firearms. “We are not created for that and bullet responses should stop in Tigray.”
In the clip, a man is seen standing in front of an animated poster that portrays three core messages; ‘one who says the people of Tigray should be saved is not a treacherous,’ ‘people and party (institutions) are not the same’ and ‘save the people of Tigray’.
Other scenes in the clip also show tear-stained mothers, assembly of prayers, traditional dance, a mother tied with a rope, bullet firing can be heard, children recruits, a portrayal of the regional president and his crew acting as the kingmakers in Tigray, the singer’s pinpointed.
The term ‘Edoe’ was first coined by the Tigrigna Legend Hagos Gebrehiwot in the early 1990s and became very popular revolutionary word against the incumbent leadership in Tigray. Hagos was born in Tigray and lived almost his entire life in eastern Ethiopia, parts of Ogaden and in the historical city of Harar where he married to his wife (Harari), eastern Ethiopian regional state. Hagos was survived by his three children and his works. He passed away after contracting Covid-19 last year.
Hagos has produced nine albums excluding several collections and singles. He had worked in the Hager Fikir Theatre, Ethiopian National Theatre and with the Eastern Command in Harar during the Derg era. In his rare interview, Hagos praised Elias Melka, an Ethiopian music legend. They (Hagos and Elias) worked closely for so long. Hagos tributed Elias saying, “Elias had dedicated his entire life for the transformation of Ethiopian music including Tigrigna.
This music is dedicated to the Legend Hagos Gebrehiwot, the footnote at the clip reads.
Coming back to the revolutionary lyrics by Goytom, it reads as follows;
Edoe, I couldn’t believe what I see in my eyes
I hear in my ears,
Is it in my dream?
The singer expressed his dismay and anger against current political leadership in Tigray. This lyrics shows that the singer’s irritation and sadness over the things that have happend and are happening in Tigray since the inception of TPLF. TPLF campaign of war and its use of the people of Tigray as instrument of war are what caused this single music. Goytom insisted the people of Tigray who is humble, faithful and poor as the rest of Ethiopians do not deserve such a misery. For it he held TPLF and culture of warmongering for honor accountable. The singer, in his description of what is happenign in Tigray, heightens saying everything in Tigray seems a nightmare.
The king makers,
The headaches,
The deciders in every walk of life,
In Tigray, they are the landlords
We are the tenants.
Here, Goytom stressed that there is a gap in the leadership and the people. He equated the situation in Tigray as the relationships between a land lord and tenant. Tigray is the land, TPLF is the landlord and the people as he put the word “we” are the tenants. So, figuratively the singer told people as they are being exploited by few corrupt and power monger officials within TPLF. The people on the otherside are fated to hunger, displacement and death due to irresponsive act of TPLF. He further described in his poem that the ‘who conquers the mountain (Tigray) kind of game in Tigray should be stopped. Tigray belongs to all. Few makers and breakers should not decide on the fate of people.
The singer also pointed out that the pain in Tigray is not felt by its administration or the diaspora. The hunger, the displacement of people, deaths of youth and the elderly who are left without a child aren’t thought of. To stress the fact that who is shouldering the pain of his people he stated in his clip as the below;
Not everyone feels the pain of the people
But, we the oppressed.
Rise up and don’t be fooled
Enough is enough.
Goytom, the young revolutionary singer further went on to show that after this all misery in the people, what power is for after all? He questioned what importance power can have unless you are saving your people. He wonders as the source of their power is not clear whether it is from the people or whether they consider themselves as they are an elect of the creator.
Is the source of your chair from earth or heaven?
I doubt that it is from heaven
You let young man’s blood flood like a river
How many people do you let perished after these all to sustain your chair?
Most importantly, in his messages, the singer stated that the over fifty years’ mal administration of TPLF should come to an end. Though Tigray is the land of origins, land of heroism, land of Ge’ez language and ancient civilization, this rich history shouldn’t be overshadowed by warmongering and bravados, the singer stressed.
Fifty years, you traded by the name of the people
Everything has limits
People, Say no to bullets
We aren’t created for bullet
No for bullet (3)
This song is received positively and has gone viral among Tigrayans that are opposing TPLF and its belligerence. The singer and the rest of Tigrayans living in Addis Ababa and outside the country are using every means to show their difference and opposition to TPLF’s drums of war.
Tigrigna music is also loved for its unique beat by the rest of Ethiopians. This song coupled the beautiful, captivating beats with such powerful messages of peace and harmony. In the time being, the message of the song is limited to Tigrigna speakers due to language barriers but once the message is unravelled, Goytom will also get appreciation from the rest of Ethiopians.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 10 AUGUST 2022
