BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
For some reasons there was times I haven’t been in the mood of celebrating the New Year. I would say this year I will just spend the New Year as some casual day. But this low mood will totally change whenever I reach the Pagume. Pagume is the name given to the 13th month in Ethiopian-the Geez calendar.
According to Ethiopian calendar, a year is divided into 12 months of 30 days with the remaining five or six days making up the 13th month. Pagume comes after August just before the New Year which falls on September 11 or 12. I think many people who weren’t in the mood of celebrating began to change their mood this time as the atmoshpere completely changes.
The beauty of landscape that covered by greenery and yellow daisies lighten the heavy mood. The bustling market and the commotion start to give breath to the holyday. And, cultural musics bring the holyday atmoshpere to every Ethiopian door. Songs like “Eyoha Abebaye”, “Abeba ayehushe” and “Hoe belen metan” are intended to catalyze the joy to everyone. They share postive energy, hope and joy to people. It is a way of saying it is the start of a New Year “why are you having such face?” Cheer up! Be grateful to being alive and reach this day.
The songs are basically traditional public songs but they have been modified through time and given new falvor by different artists. The legendry Tilahun Gessesse’s “Ye 13 Wer Tsega” /Blessing of 13 months/, Solomon Deneke’s “Serqtaye” /remembrance/ and Hamelmal Abate’s “Enkuan Aderesachu” are among most successful and impactful holyday songs ever sung.
Tilahun Gessesse, who is considered as the king of Ethiopian music, in this “Ye 13 Wer Tsega” /Blessing of 13 months/ mentions the uniqueness and beauty of Ethiopian culture and tradition.
(Ethiopia) Splendid by the light of sunshine
Winter, summer, through out all seasons,
It is a blessing of thirteen months
Tradition and custom inherited from fathers
Unfading memories of holyday
When everyone exchange good wishes
Beloved ones and neghibors say
“enkuan aderesachu”
It is really a joy
Oh, in the New Year
When the season changes
Good scent of flowers
Beautiful dance of young people
Announcing a new year
Eyoha
Here comes Meskerem
Abeba
The song continues to mention events that would follow the New Year celebration like Meskel and others. It narrates the common Ethiopian way of celebraing New Year and other similar events. The communal way of life, the delicious cuisines, the drinks and unique costumes are things described with beautiful words. It also remind that Ethiopians can now perform outdoor events that were deprieved due to the rainy season. It announce it is now over and all festivity is to resume.
It is usual broadcasting station to play Solomon Deneke’s “Serqtaye”/ (Hiccups), beginning from Buhe celebration. Solomon was famous for his folkloric songs in both Amharic and Oromigna. Solomon’s “Serqtaye” song recall childhood memories in adults. His song are strong enough to create celebratory mood in many Ethiopians. Hiccups is inspired by a belief that people experience hiccups whenever they are remind and their names are called in absentia.
‘(Hiccups), Who remind me?’
Rememberance
(Hiccups)
(Hiccups)
Is she Semegneshi?
I am hiccuping
Why am I hiccuping too much?
Aha, ha Semegneshi
I am hiccuping
Why am I hiccuping too much?
Do you remember me, Semegneshi?
Please, what if I got hurt by powerful memories
In my childhood, my childhood
Please remember all we do
When I find you carrying books on the street
I accompany upto your home
You gifted with manner and beauty
Whoever so you never get you enough
I, even if I saw you and interested
I never got you
With the remaining lines of the song, Solomon attempted to show holyday experience of children and thereby tell the ceremony and create good atmosphere.
Preparing to celebrate Enkutatash
When St. John approacing,
everyone coming out dressing new clothes
Carrying lemon, grass and flowers
Present to friends and relatives
Everybody invited ale and bread
All kinds of foods were in abundance
Father dressed with white Kuta
Mother beautified with jewels
The floor grace with lawn
You used to dance gracely
You used to dance eskesta
Abeba ayehushe
Lemlem (2x)
(Have you seen flower?
Yeah it is green)
My friends come in order
Till I break wood and build a house
Leave alone a house I don’t have a fence
I just spend the night counting the stars
Another captivating holyday song is Hamelmal Abate’s Enkuan Aderesachu. Hamelmal in this song calls the handsome guy to take this auspicious time
The rainy season has passed
It left time to the summer
plain and valleys are flowered
stylish, handsome and fashionable guy
come in this holday time, be in town (2x)
in the first month of months
first day of the new year
come fast, be with family
when said Abeba ayehushe
hoy hoy danced
The holyday is nice
It will be success with you
Enkuan Adereshachu, Enkuan Adereshachu,
Please say Eleele, say everyone Eleele
Eleele Eleele
Similar to song of legendry Tilahun and Solomon, Hamelmal also tells common way of celebrating holydays in Ethiopian houses. Preparation of Tella (tradional ale) and homemade bread Defo are mentioned and ways of eating together has also been clearly presented.
The reknowned Teddy Afro has also given a vibe to holyday song in his release when Ethiopia celebrates its millinial.
Blessing of God
In Ethiopian renaissance, century of truth
When you hear trumpet look to Easter
Abeba ayehoye
Lemlem
Abeba ayehoye
My friends come in order
Lemlem
Till I break wood and build a house
Leave alone a house I don’t have a fence
I just spend the night counting the stars
Say hoye Masenko hoy bel Kiraye (instruments)
Play for my country
Ho bel washintye ante maskeno
When people forgiving one other
Enkuan adersen for a New Year
Here we start the new year forgiving eachother
For the world, till the end of the world,
We pray to him not to apart us
Asfaw Tsiege’s “Ye Selam Yhunelen” is also very catchy holyday music you would listen repeatedly over radios and TV channels. A plate of cabbage symbolizes scaricity and poverty where as porridge is abundance and richness. So, Asfaw in his song plate of cabbage to be replaced by porridge this year.
Let it be the peace, health and joy
the New Year, the new era
Let it bring developement and prosperity
The New Year, the New era
Let it be the peace, health and joy
the New Year, the new era (2x)
adorned by flowers, the gift of nature
Let us come together and talk with love
Let everyone has a plan with a bright future
The past has passed.
Let it be the peace
The New Year, the new era
Let it be the peace
The New Year, the new era
Like the sun rising and Meskrem begins
We wish a horizon of hope encircle our country,
As the old the past year changed by the new
We wish developement and prosperity
Bring peace and love
Let Meskrem begin
take out Plate of cabbage
And replace it with plate of porridge
The Ethiopian Herald September 11/2022
