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

ቴዎድሮስ ታደሰ > ደሞ ባይኔ | Tewodros Tadesse > Demo Bayine

Born and raised in Addis Ababa, Tewodros Tedesse was able to transcend age gaps and reach people from different age groups and is loved by a varied audience.

Having started music in a church choir, his big break came when he was invited to a wedding to sing Muluken Melesse’s ‘Wasa Megena'. This left a mark on his singing career.

When he started performing, he was doing cover songs of renowned artists. The feedback was encouraging for him, so his first album, ‘Lubanjaye’, easily broke the market. It did not take him that long to become a household name though. His consecutive albums ‘Eyekorekoregn’, ‘Sadulaye’ also became a huge success.

Many of his songs are like national anthems which are sang by people from different age groups, especially the song ‘Emeye Ethiopia’ was somehow unforgettable. He toured many countries, taking the stage with his unique, vivacious voice.

His fifth album, ‘Semeto Zzemale’, was also done before he left for the US, but the album was released after he arrived in Virginia. During his stay abroad, he performed in many places and also revealed in many interviews how life was not easy for him there.

Many music critics say his 1997 album, ‘Zimita’, was different from his previous ones as it was more influenced by jazz and also gave new sound to his fan. Even though he started working on his album in 1998, the hurdles in his life got the better of him and he could not focus on his work. Returning to Ethiopia was a different phenomenon, he says. His fans, which have not seen him for the last 17 years, overwhelmed him by showing up at the airport and expressed their love by hugging and greeting him.

During his stay in Ethiopia, he performed in different venues before going back to the United States. In 2009, he established an independent studio. Now residing in the States, Tewodros performs in different venues in the States. Tewodros Tadesse, as the vice president of Yo Yo records, is aiming to represent Ethiopian music on the international stage.

His new album targets Ethiopians and the world music audience, who also have the taste for alternative music apart from the mainstream popular beats. After the album release, the artist has a plan to tour different parts of the world.

ቴዎድሮስ ታደሰ > ደሞ ባይኔ | Tewodros Tadesse > Demo Bayine

Aster Aweke-- Hulun Yemitewed

Bezuayehu demissie-zem atabzi

Wub Aynama Tilahun Gessesse

Madingo Afework  3

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)

Helen Berhe

Widely Helen Berhe is best known with her single clip Uzaza Allina. As this single clip is a Sudanese (Arabic) beat, the Addis born Ethiopian Helen Berhe is usually believed to be a Sudanese singer.

Recently, with the Ethiopian New Year, Helen Berhe staged out with her new album, known as “Tasfelegnaleh!” (I need you!). In relation with her album, the widely circulated Amharic weakly, “Addis Admass” has conducted a brief interview with her. Here is presented the translation of the interview.

While others could not achieve wide acceptance and acknowledgement with their consecutive albums, Helen simply proved to be the best, with “Uzaza Allina” that usually viewed via television channels, YouTube and promoted her in a brief moment. The clip “Uzaza Allina” composed both in Arabic and Amharic replaced her natural and legal name Helen Berhe. 

This young vocalist now came to the stage with her new album “Tasfelegnaleh”, after a three years tiresome preparation. This new album will be released with the Ethiopian New Year. Addis Admass had conducted a brief interview with the emerging star on this new album and other related issues.


05 Kedunaw

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