BY STAFF REPORTER
Ethiopia’s fertile womb relents not from bringing forth dear sons and daughters that quench its thirst for enchanting music. The country is a mother to musicians that run the gamut from veterans to emerging ones. Artist Ali Mohammed (Ali Birra) sticks out among such society lions.
It was in May, 1948 he was born in Dire Dewa, an emblematic town of hospitality, peace and love. He consecrated two third of his ephemeral existence of 75 years to music. Though Ali Mohammed is his family-given name but the whole Ethiopian People know him by his stage name Ali Birra.
For over half a century the king did own the music stage. The Afan Oromo word Birra is derived from the song he staged for the first time. The song’s title was “Birra da bare”. Circulating in the lips of fans the nickname Ali Birra got acceptance and won popularity.
Versatile by nature, the gifted vocalist Artist Ali Bira used to write song lyrics, compose music and write melody. It suffices to have a little knowledge about music to tell Ali Birra was a talented artist. Transcending ethnic bases and language differences, Ali Birra’s music has power to provoke listeners’ feelings that range from elation down to contemplation.
Aside from Oromifa he has sang in seven languages: Somali, Afar, Harrar, Amharic and Arabic languages, among others. He had released 267 songs all together. His songs will remain sources of childhood humbleness, youthfulness’s hustle and bustle and old age’s walking stick. Music was at his fingertips for 60 years.
He attended his elementary and secondary school education at Dire Dewa and Addis Ababa cities. Heading to America he joined Santa Monic Music College to refine and hone his skills. Though Ali Birra is well known to music, he legally spliced in marriage with music in 1962 joining the traditional music band known as Afran Kelo.
He then joined the Imperial Guard’s Music Band. He stayed there for three years before he shifted to Ibex Band to stage his works at Hotel De’Afrique for eight years. The instrumentalist Ali Birra had the knack of playing guitar, piano, oud, among other musical instruments.
He had staged his numerous musical shows on the stages of over 40 countries. He had bagged innumerable awards and won countless local and global recognition for his contribution for the development of art. The Diredewa and Jimma Universities have conferred him honorary doctorate degrees. After a week-long attention at Adama Health Hospital he ceased to be last Sunday. At age 75. As to his friends in the same profession, he was a kindhearted and sociable person.
Interviewees said the following. “Ali is a famous singer on whose dictionary of life pride has no place. As such he used to treat all equally. Not just like our culture of exulting the deceased, he was a genuine person. He was a phenomenal one like a shooting star that happens in a century or two. He had the bent of encouraging fledgling and emerging singers. His dulcet voice was hard to imitate even for gifted ventriloquists. There is a need to introduce apprenticeship so that emerging singers pick skills from sought-after mentors, like Ali Birra, while the likes of him are still kicking,” vocalist of Amharic Songs Gete Aneley.
“Ali is a singer that got international renown. Though death is a natural process, passing away stamping a gargantuan footprint is becoming fortunate. Keeping the ethical code the profession needs, the coming generation must bring to fruition what the artist Ali Birra began,” vocalist of Oromifa songs Demere Legese. The vocalists have wished his bereaved family members and fans comfort in their grief following the demise of the musical giant.
The famous vocalist reminisced how Ali was on his toes to render professional support to peers and said he did give me song lyrics that are still seared in the minds of many.
The Ethiopian Musicians Association has lauded Ali Birra’s huge contribution and age-old service in carrying across unity, love, tolerance, culture and freedom as well as bequeathing the assets to generations next. He has made a difference in the Ethiopian music industry. Quality lends his music an eternal touch. He played quite a role in the peace brokering effort between TPLF and the incumbent.
His strong devotion to serve the public was appreciated by Government Communication Service. The famous music critique Seretse-fire Sibhat appreciated the all-rounded talent of Ali Birra and his personal traits. His demise is a loss to Ethiopia, the PM tweeted. The beloved singer was laid to rest in Dire Dewa, his home town.
The Ethiopian Herald November 11/2022
