the last song I heard befor I left Ethiopia 

ዶክተር ጥላሁን ገሠሠ > የኔ ማስታወሻ | Dr. Tilahun Gessese > Yene Mastwawesha

Tilahun Gesesse was an Ethiopian superstar and legendary singer, nick named ‘The Voice”. Tilahun broke in the Ethiopian music scene in what is considered the Ethiopian golden age of music, the 1960s and 70s. His incredible voice, impeccable performance and gracious appearance made him the most popular singer in the country. He is one of the most recognized personality in the country, and the one who reached the maximum height of fame in the music industry.

Musical Career

There are conflicting narrations for Tilahun’s decision to move to the capital Addis Ababa. While some argue that he moved for the sole reason of becoming a musician, others write that he actually came to live with his mother, who was living in Addis Ababa.

On his arrival in Addis Ababa, the 14 year’s old Tilahun first auditioned and joined Hager Fiker Theater. Tilahun met and befriended another legendary singer, Firew Hailu at the theater. Both of them were young and were living in the housing provided by the theater.

Impressed by their music arrangement, dressing style and the admiration they received, Tilahun then joined the Imperial Guard Orchestra. The Orchestra was thrilled to have Tilahun and he joined without officially leaving Hager Fiker Theater. In fact, records show that Tilahun was receiving salary from both places for a while, until his bosses’ heard his voice on radio and realized he joined the Imperial Guard Orchestra. Officials from Hager Fiker was unhappy and wanted Tilahun back. For a while, there were a quarrel between the Orchestra and Hager Fiker. While Mekonen Habtewolde demanded the Orchestra to give Tilahun Back, Chief of the Imperial Guard General Mengestu Neway ordered for his stay. Tilahun’s rise starts at the Imperial Guard. His tenor singing was considered the best of Ethiopian pop at the time, and his fan base was bigger than any other singer in the country. In the eight years he spend with the Imperial Guard, people could not see the Orchestra separate to Tilahun. In fact, Tilahun and the Orchestra met at the right time and place. Both were on the rise in the Ethiopian music scene. The brilliant melody and arrangement of the Orchestra and Tilahun’s voice created some of the master pieces of Ethiopian music.

In 1960, the Imperial Guard tried a failed coup on emperor Hailesellasie, while the king was on a visit in Brazil. Tilahun was arrested briefly with other Imperial Guard unit members and was accused of supporting the coup. The reason was one of his iconic songs recorded just before the coup, titled Alchalkum (I can’t take it any more), written by Afewerk Yohannes. During the four days coup attempt, the song was played by the Imperial Guard Tekel radio to get the support of the public. He later was released.

After the coup, one of the decision by the emperor was to close the Imperial Guard Orchestra. Including Tilahun, the musicians went looking for jobs in other Theater houses.

Tilahun then joined Ras Band and the National Theater. His popularity was only growing at the Theater. As an employee of the theater house, Tilahun was expected to record songs on a regular bases. That allowed many of his hits to come out frequently, making Tilahun the biggest music star in the country. His popularity grew so fast that he was a regular at the National Palace performing for the emperor himself. Tilahun’s popularity grew even bigger after the fall of the emperor. In the 1970s and 80s, Tilahun recorded some of his iconic works.

Award

2009, Life time achievement awards, Ethiopian Fine Arts and Mass Media Prize 

Trust
Honorary Doctorate Degree, Addis Ababa University, in appreciation for his contribution to Ethiopian music.

ዶክተር ጥላሁን ገሠሠ > የኔ ማስታወሻ | Dr. Telahun Gessese > Yene Mastwawesha

www.habeshazefen.com for full album in HD
Kosty HD EffeCT

Shewandagne Hailu -- Ayeresat HD

Ethiopian Music - AddisZefen - # 1 Ethiopian Music Website On The Internet!

Blene - Tsehaye Yohanis

Abeba Desalegne Hiywet Ende Shekla New Ethiopian Music 2013

Overdub instrument at Home Recording - 5/06/2024
Performed on Yamaha DTXtreme III Drum Kit with a Yamaha M12 Percussion Drum Pad

Had To Let You Know   -  Vocal n Drums.wav

Madingo Afework- Anchin Beteleye ( አንቺን በተለየ ) at Ethiopia, Addis Ababa

ድምጻዊ፡ አበበ ተካ
ግጥም፡ ሙሉጌታ ተስፋዬ
ዜማ፡ አበበ ብርሃኔ
ቅንብር፡ ሙሉጌታ አባተ
| Singer: Abebe Teka
Lyrics: Mulugeta Tesfaye
Melody: Abebe Birhane
Arrangement: Mulugeta Abate
Release Year: 1995 GC

አበበ ተካ - ያ ሱዳን ፈናኒ | Abebe Teka - Ya Sudan Fenani

I enjoyed this album. so this is my dedication. please listen and go buy the album. its great.

Ephrem Tamiru & Roha Band Album Sample

The Roha Band
When the Ibex Band disbanded in 1979, three of its members – Selam Seyoum, Giovanni Rico and Fekadu Amdemeskel – joined with Dawit Yifru, keyboard player for the also recently disbanded Dahlak Band, to form the now-legendary Roha Band. Specializing in modern Ethiopian music with a traditional blend, the band’s first contract was with the Addis Ababa Hilton, where they performed together six days a week, perfecting their signature sound. The Roha Band traveled extensively, in Ethiopia and abroad, and performed on Ethiopian television. They made over 250 recordings with a multitude of celebrated Ethiopian singers, including Aster Aweke, Tilahun Gessesse, Mahmoud Ahmed, Muluken Mellesse, Theodros Tadesse, #Hamelmal Abate and Neway Debebe. Although the band broke up in 1994, with the members pursuing individual interests, no other Ethiopian group has matched the number or quality of their recordings.

Tour 1990

Kiya Kiya (Vocal: Hamemal Abate)

Askotuu Asinjira by Haile-Yesus Feyssa

ኢትዮጵያ ለዘላለም ትኑር ::

ዶክተር ጥላሁን ገሠሠ > የኔ ማስታወሻ | Dr. Telahun Gessese > Yene Mastwawesha

Ethiopian Music ; Yoftahe’s Collection

Recent comments

hanan Tesfaye

Brookeina Hiververse

Fasica

Related tracks