BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
Songs in any language have typical nature of expressing love, happiness, sadness, concern, surprise or anything that is related to life to the higher extent possible, and of course with brevity and beauty. The listener will enjoy expressions of feelings, nature or circumstances along with the melody and the voice of the vocalist.
Amharic songs with unique gold and wax style (puns) have been unraveling the mysteries of life for centuries beginning from modern Ethiopian music industry. Traditional folksongs were dominant and appreciated for containing local wisdom and stirring discussion among the community. These songs must have influenced modern Amharic songs to bring forth local understanding or philosophy to listeners. Song writers convey emotions, public concerns and universal life inquiries to listeners. Music albums are reputed for containing a range of topics not just romance alone. Legendry singer Hirut Bekele’s albums are of such quality.
It is impossible to talk about Hirut’s albums but the power and evocative nature of her songs can be exemplified by this unique song called “Hiwot Ende Shekla/ life brittle or as a clay pot.” Ever since I heard the sad news of her passing, I have repetitively listened this song which wonderstruck me. The song verse is masterfully crafted to hammer home the hollowness or flitting nature of life that is lived only for once amid a multitude struggle of life, Hirut points one could only taste the sweetness of life to the full or give real value to life by living it harmoniously and magnanimously.
On one hand, she showed how life could be fragile and at times vain and on the other hand she insisted life to be lived fully showing togetherness, forming bonds of togetherness and sharing the gifts of nature. It is a usual message in Ethiopian churches, mosques or any social gathering but her depiction of life personifying it a clay pot is riveting. In fact, the fragile nature of human beings is usually raised when people fall sick, injured or suddenly pass away. In this simile, the singer urges people to use the best of their life before everything turns to ruins. She says life strides very fast and suddenly ends without any forewarning. But people’s life is in death row or waiting, expecting the best of times which isn’t guaranteed.
While the age is progressing
This vain man though forgot
He says tomorrow I will be in comfort
Forgetting he could pass before
The struggle however continues
Till that stomach got full
Till it got broken
Life as a clay, Life as a clay
The struggle however continues
Till that stomach get full
Till it got broken
Life as a clay, Life as a clay
Even if this ephemeral existence bestowed on you everything, everything is temporal and no earthly wealth will accompany you when you die. Therefore, Hirut in this song urges people to give value for companionship and advises people to be generous and kind. She referenced hell, tribulation, retribution another life and transition of life by symbolic words like “extreme darkness” and “in the valley of death.” The earthly possessions are portrayed by even using the rarest “gold” piled to the roof and walls gilded with it and accumulating wealth as a mountain. None of these even relatives tag along the deceased’s journey than his/her good deeds. The song encapsulated this idea which Hirut sought to deliver by this music.
Even if the roof and wall are built out of gold
Money is piled to form a mountain
When extreme darkness envelopes
The pathway of death,
Wealth, relative won’t accompany the deceased
She criticized egotism and hypocrisy the formidable vices making life worthless. She questioned people “why they needed to be greedy when life is brief?” And why they fail to reflect all these treasures could not buy eternal happiness. She also criticized why people fail to reach out the poor in the latter times of need than shedding tears after the deceased is gone. This is a constant message Ethiopians share. They say people should learn to support to one another before the stalking death descends on them turn by turn out of the blue. A show or a constant regret after it is to late doesn’t work.
The privileged with the unprivileged
Should have enjoyed sharing
Why does the former be greedy?
Wealth won’t prolong age
When s/he sends a relative in need empty handed
And when the needy passed in misery
What would be the point of crying during his/her funeral?
The affluent and poor rarely share and eat together
Why must the haves be greedy?
Wealth couldn’t prolong age
With her dulcet voice and perfect arrangement of the music, the song has become so impactful in listeners’ ears. It initiates people to contemplate their life’s journey and ponder whether they are living it purposefully. Before a curtain is put down on their life that is compared with a clay pot, which is easily a breakable material, they could help one another feeling a sense of humanity.
I could not but reflect she sung this music to her own. She was a superstar of her time but none of her wealth or fame accompanied her up on departure. She left everything behind. She must have internalized this fact as she gave up her music career and opted to be a gospel singer. Tilahun’s teskertso yekemet demse/ let my voice be recorded and catalogued/, would be the right elegy to grieve Hirut too and it conjures up in mind the futility of life.
Hirut has also sung other music’s of social and political significance. Her music career can be characterized by a melodic voice, rich language and powerful messages. Listening it lately I understood there is a lot to enjoy, studying and delivering for the future generation, a wisdom that is hidden in old records.
All in all the song verse carries across the message it is good to have wealth but learn to share it with the destitute.
The Ethiopian Herald May 25/2023
