Remembering his life time devotion for art, mama Ethiopia
BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
A feeding hand to the hungry
A kind heart cares for destitute, deprived
It is sad when such men die,
Painful to see their body turned to a sod
I wonder if such men come back again
Why is it not possible they come again?!
To live with us for eternity
Why not such men re-created again?!
Why death is even such cruel?!
Why it takes such people for good?!
What if good people are created again?!
Tilahun Gessesse
A life span music career with great talent and passion made Ethiopians to consider Tilahun the greatest of all times, a King of Ethiopian music. There is no issue he hasn’t sung about, they say. There is no such powerful and captivating voice ever heard in Ethiopian music. Every song he sung he sang it beauitfully and passionately. He displays dramatic performance. He loves his country dearingly.
For Ethiopians of his time, like my father, he is a gift of their generation since his songs let them cherish past moments, find comfort in hard times and look to the future. His works though aren’t reserved for senior people! Tilahun is among few artists of his time to reach generation after generation. New singers want to emulate him in his performance energy and voice. Some have re-played his music. From children to elderly, Ethiopians listened and are still listening to Tilahun’s music. When Tilahun passed away fourteen years ago today, there was a huge grief engulfed the country. In every house he was mourned like a relative. He got big, intense and unique funeral fourteen years ago. He is still rememberd by many and his songs are being played as fresh and new.
It will be difficult to write about Tilahun’s vast music career in this short article but I will be trying to show his commitment, talent, and most of all his patriotism. Tilahun was very passionate about music from young age. He dropped out of school and run away from his grandfather house in Woliso to come to Addis Ababa. He joined Hager Fikir Theatre and then moved to Imperial Bodyguard Band where he became a leading star singer. In this journey, it is easy to see sacrification and commitment to music. He was very committed and visionary who wanted to be remembered by his works. In his music, “Tenfashe Tekertsoyekemet/Let my voice be recorded and catalogued” one would recognize music is what Tilahun want to live for and remembered by when he dies.
Let my breath be recored, kept for my funeral
It is this my legacy when I die
Let my breath be recored, kept for my tribute
This is my legacy when I die
I was magnifying the beauty of my country
This won’t be out of public memory
I lived all my life calling its name
My melody, my humming, my voice
Let my voice be recorded for it is my history, my legacy
I am a singer, a vocalist, I improvise a song
It is my history what else do I know
Let my voice be recorded and left for the living friend,
Like the meaning of his name, Tilhuan meaning be a shield or be like a tree that affords shade, he was a a big figure that gather other artists around him. He wasn’t just loved and adorned by fans but he was also an inspiration for artists of his time and the next generation. Big names like Mahamoud Ahemd, Alemayehu Eshete, Neway Debebe, Tsehay Yohannes, Aster Aweke, Kuku Sebsebie and others tell his music geneiousness. Kuku Sebsebie says, “for an artist there is no greater gift than being loved by next generation.
Tilahun is this much gifted to be loved for three or more generations.” The late Alemayehu Eshete recounts Tilahun’s influence in his career. “ It was Tilahun’s passion and singing style that inspired me to be an Amharic singer. For Amharic and Ethiopian songs, there is no one created like Tilahun.” In his poem legendry poet Getnet Enyew applauds Tilahun’s influence and contribution to the time he lived and even beyond. Getnet said, “Beauty, love and art seen through you.” His impact on the time is told in the poem as, “born and brought up imbibing your voice, soared high , swam far by your meliflouuse voice፣” Getnet conclude his poem saying;
It is a wonder for you spread love by beauty
It is a wonder for you beautifed life
It is a wonder for you extend our age
It is a wonder for you have been a bridge to generation
“through you I have seen it, we have seen everything”
Beauty, affection and love are well explored in Tilahun Songs. Ethiopian typical way of expressing love like it stays to eternity is reflected in his song. Like the song “ene eske mot deres” meaning /till I die/ put the extent of love in Ethiopian art.
Since you are life of my life
Please my love, let me be around you
Though it isn’t visible in my face
Your love is inside my heart, burning
I call you life of my life
I always say you are life of my life
‘cause I remember your good deeds
Day or night as far as I can
I can’t be happy without calling your name
Tilahun has sung many passionate songs that are played during times of war, times of public mobilization and other important events. Those songs however are loved still today. They have transcend time and situations.
Et..hio.. pia
Et..hio.. pia
Et..hio.. pia
Ethiopia, our pride
Motherland Ethiopia
Motherland Ethiopia
Ethiopia, our pride
The land of orgin
Holy Ethiopia
Tilahun has encouraged youths to defend their nation during Somalia and other wars. “Zemach Negn”/ I am a marcher, “Atentem yekesekes”/ my bone be broken to pieces, Ethiopia and similar show how deeply Tilahun was patriotic and wanted his listeners to feel the same. Apart from this, some of his songs have education content. He preached about punctuality, trustworthiness, forgiveness, politeness, respect, unity and others. In his “megb ema moltual”/ Regarding food plenty characterizes mama Ethiopia Tilahun indicated the country’s problem isn’t scaricity of resources rather it is lack of togetherness.
He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Addis Ababa University, in appreciation of his contribution to Ethiopian music. He also received an award for his lifetime achievements from the Ethiopian Fine Art and Mass Media Prize Trust. What maybe larger than this is his sustaining influence in Ethiopian music.Also his bent of inspiring generation to music, to be passionate to anything they love and to do it with wholeheardly and also leave legacy and contribuition to ones country.
The Ethiopian herald April 27 /2023
