His roaring voice that combines Musical orature, tone, and meaning
resonated
with millions of Ethiopians particularly the restless youth, as he told
them to
return home by any means necessary and fight for their Ethiopianity and
Andenet.
Through a series of songs, he stamped his foot on power, and reminded
the
Ethiopian youth that the love of country cannot be negotiated, that
sovereignty
is not for sale, and that we must live what we preach, and preach how
we should
live.
In the hands of the young man with the golden voice, and the sparkling
teeth,
modern Ethiopian music takes off from where Tilanhun Gessese left it;
once
again the poor, the overburdened and the alienated Ethiopians become
the
subject matter of contemporary Ethiopian music. In the hands of
Teddy,
Ethiopian music retains its classicality in its meaningful
contemporainiety.
Indeed Teddy himself has paid tribute to Tillahun Gessese, whom he
considers is
the father of Ethiopian music, its classical voice.
I too had written celebrating Tilahun that,
“He is Ethiopian music at the height of its perfection, and the depth
of its
living wisdom. With him music is philosophy and philosophy itself
attains the
musicality that the ancients have yearned. In his hands music becomes a
therapy
for those whose hearts have been broken by love, for all those who know
the
dangers of love and still dare to taste its bitter/ sweet pills.
To them he came to sing this night in a wheel chair reserved for all
those
geniuses that God has chosen for one of his hidden missions toward the
last
part of their living lives.
The king of music was chosen for a mission and he carried it with a
biting
courage and embodied it on an extraordinary intelligence of the human
heart.
Medium height, chiseled nose, a long face and an arresting complexion,
the
doctor /artist sat on and sung to eternity.
Love, death, sorrow, purpose, silence, solitude, and the joy that kills
were the
themes of his heartbreaking songs. He grabbed the microphone so close
to his
soul and projected that voice, which efuses to die in the air, until
the
listener is driven to tears and the heart is threatened with the
possibility of
death. His music is fated to bring the audience to the brink of joy,
the joy
that could kill, and the fulfillment that makes one move towards God.
His music is spiritual and carnal, therapeutic and transcdent, which
takes you
behind the veil of appearance to the depth of the hidden reality.
(Dekialula.com)
These words modified appropriately apply to Teddy Afro, the handsome
Ethiopian
with the golden voice. The very words I used a year ago describe what
Teddy
means to me, and I long to hear his voice again, as I move toward death
nourished by a music that brings me to tears, and by music that
rejuvenates my
Ethiopianity and Africanity.
Teddy even goes further, as he manages to synthesize Tilahun’s
classicality with
the brilliant rebelliousness of Bob Marley, and in this lays the danger
that
Teddy’s music poses for the tyrannical regime that has silenced the
voice with
meaning and purpose in Kality prison. Teddy’s music is haunted by
the presence
of Bob Marley, the thinker/singer, and the singer /thinker. Teddy is
not just
another singer. He is the voice of the overburdened, the abused, the
neglected
Ethiopians by the millions, who are already dead because their
condition had
long been ignored. All his songs tell us that we must not forget to
return home
and fight, safeguarding the dignity and the existential right of all
Ethiopians
to live as human beings.
I live the legality of his situation to the Transcendent and the
lawyers. For me
what Ethiopia is missing is another Tilahun Gessese and another
Ethiopian Bob
Marley, fighting for the poor, and standing for justice.
Once again, the regime is using the media and blocking the world from,
the right
to know that Teddy Afro, the voice of youth, meaning, courage and love
of
country is confined to prison, and I call on Ethiopians all over the
world to
see to it that dissent should not be silenced, and certainly not the
voice of
the artist, the voice that teaches us through an inimitable power of a
transcendental gift that very few persons possess, and Teddy Afro is
one of
them.
—-
The writer, Teodros Kiros, is a professor of philosophy at Harvard University. He can be reached at [email protected]
This short article about Teddy Afro and his role in the current Ethiopia situation was written about a year ago. I thought, considering the fact that currently he is imprisoned in Kality; we should revisit the Teddy Afro Factors. And, we all should think of him and follow his extraordinary and exemplary life.
It is an open secret that the Teddy Afro’s music has been phenomenal in the contemporary Ethiopia music history. Teddy’s music not only tells the amazing talent that this young man acquires, they also convey the issues that Teddy cares so much about. Apparently what Teddy cares about is what most Ethiopians care about. That is the main reason why his messages are residing in the majority Ethiopians heart and makes his message powerful. Since the release of “Yasteserial” I had chances to attend three of Teddy’s concerts. In March 2006 in Seattle, in July 2006 in Lose Angeles and again on July 2, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. In these concerts I noticed that Teddy flexed his Ethiopian celebrity mussel by drawing large crowed of funs from every age group and gender, particularly the younger generation. Besides entertaining his fan base, Teddy also consistently speaks about, from stage, the matters that are dear to him and to all of us Ethiopians. In my opinion Teddy’s messages can be seen in three main categories.
First, Teddy sings and preaches about how we Ethiopians need to strengthen our unity as citizens of a nation by celebrating the culture and beauty of the diverse ethnic groups that existed in Ethiopia. Teddy articulates that our diversity should be a source of pride, strength and beauty for Ethiopia, not a source of division and chaos. That is how most Ethiopians feel and they have been shown that time and time again. Tolerance, acceptance and mutual respect among Ethiopian ethnic groups are all good for all Ethiopians who are capable of thinking rationally.
Teddy sings and talks about the unity of Ethiopia and at the same time he suggests that he is not a politician and he has little or no interest in politics. That leads me to believe that Teddy thinks that the Unity of Ethiopia is not a political issue, it is not suppose to be like that and the Ethiopia unity shouldn’t be up for discussion by any political organization. I couldn’t agree more. Politicians can have their difference regarding a lot of issues with in the unity of Ethiopia that matters for Ethiopians. The Ethiopian politicians can differ on their economic, educational and other polices. However, they have no right to question whether Ethiopia should remain or stay united as a nation or not. The major United States political parties, Democrats and Republican can be mentioned as a good example in this case. These two major political parties have quite a few logical and natural differences between them regarding how to lead and strength the United States of America. However, both of these parties have an unwavering stand when it comes to defending the United States and never put the unity of their county in a compromising position. All Ethiopian political parties should follow the American political parties’ example for the good of our country.
The other interesting message that Teddy has been communicating from the stage is the need of Diaspora Ethiopians to go back to Ethiopia. (Wede Agre Bete) I am sure Teddy is more than smart enough to know the brutal and dictatorial nature of the governing group in Ethiopia. I am sure Teddy knows that thinking freely and expression of ideas can cost life in Ethiopia. I am confident that Teddy understands that the political and economic instability that cause a lot of us to leave our beloved country still exist in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, he emphasizes that we at some point need to go back to Ethiopia, and he says that is where we belong to. It seems to me that Teddy believes we don’t need the Weyanne’s good will or mercy to go back to our country. I think that Teddy believes that we just can be far away from the challenges that we face now in our country history and be effective catalysts for a change. We need to be close to our country, our people and confront whatever obstacle we may have a head of us. In principle, he is defiantly right. If we love our country and if we care so much about it, we need to find a way to go back and contribute what we can for a positive change. It is true that can be a tough task that could go as far as costing our lives for some of us. Given the brutality and irrational thinking of Weyannes What Teddy says and sings on the stage freely has a potential for a trouble for Teddy himself. If I were Teddy, I would not go back to Ethiopia. But, Teddy is not me. He is one courageous and very talented young man who lives what he preaches. That is why I admire him so much. I think he has a rare quality that Ethiopia needs from her children in these very difficult and dark days of our country history.
In conclusion, what we all or at least most of us should learn from Teddy’s factors is that we need to stand for the causes that we believe in. If we don’t speak our mind, if we don’t participate in our country affairs actively, and if we don’t tell hour history, it is easy for others to tell us who we are. Usually they would tell us or paint us as something that they want us to be. That just can’t be good at all. We need to tell who we are, stay active, go back to Ethiopia at least to visit at this point and be a part of the solution that our country needs these days. Visiting or living in our own country, speaking our mind freely and addressing our concerns are just basic human rights that are given to all human beings from the almighty God. We don’t need to wait mercy, permission or a good will from nobody to do that. Imagine what would happen in Ethiopia, if not all of us, if most of us get courage to stand up and be resolute for our convictions. In my opinion that is what Teddy has been doing in a very civil and creative manner, and we all need to do the same thing.
Teddy Afro is a son of Ethiopia in the purest sense of the word “son”! He has used his talent to entertain us, all of us – young and old, from all backgrounds, and from all walks of life! What many of us preach on this kind of FORUMS, Teddy takes with him on the road – city to city, country to country and continent to continent! Teddy does not only entertain us with music, but he has used his musical as the most effective medium to convey the pain our people live through, day in and day out!
This advocate of justice for our people; this voice for the voiceless; this champion of the oppressed; this ultimate entertainer could have lived in luxury abroad and enjoyed life as most of us do, but knowing the risk to his own life, he returned home to continue the mission he has set for himself! Today he sits in the notorious Kaliti Prison, precisely because of what he does for his down-trodden compatriots! The humiliation he has suffered so far and will continue to suffer hence will be the most poignant symbol of our peoples’ suffering for the last two decades!
The tyrannical regime in Ethiopia has spared no effort to silence the voices of those who dared to challenge them, and by locking up Teddy Afro, while simultaneously disenfranchising Ethiopia once again, it has clearly demonstrated its contempt for Ethiopia and its people!
The Ethiopian dictator is doing what all dictators do – eliminating those who pose a threat to their grip on power! What shocks me time and again is the utter paralytic inaction on the part of the people into whose eyes this regime has been poking its fingers with impunity!
In the absence of an effective defense of the people’s interest, the regime has been riding roughshod on all Ethiopians irrespective of their background, as long as they are not toeing the line. As I have warned repeatedly in my many write-ups our Tigrean compatriots may well be bearing the brunt of this oppression – history will tell! In my recent write-ups many of which have appeared on these pages, I have tried to lay out why it is imperative of Ethiopians inside and outside Ethiopia form a solidarity forum to try and prevent Ethiopia from slip down the face of a cliff on the brink of which it is currently tittering! As in any culture, our youth are our pillars and future depends on them. I recently lamented that our generation is proving ineffective in the face of an onslaught on everything we value in our culture, I appealed to our youth to make a covenant with our Motherland, and advised the formation of “My Solidarity Forum” youth league!
We have lacked effective tool against this heinous regime, and not because of its strength, but rather because of our weakness! There is no any other way one can explain such humiliation of a population of 80 million people by a handful thugs! There is no organization that I know of in Ethiopia or outside Ethiopia today, to which we can turn and that is a crying shame!!!!
Let us show that we have spine! Let us show that we still have some residue of self- respect, let show that we have a culture we value, let us demonstrate to the world that we have what it takes to regain the dignity which has been the trade mark of our forbearers. Let us show our SOLIDARITY with this young hero who has given all he has for the dignity of his motherland. Let’s honor his mobilization at grass-root level to carry forth his lyrics of emancipation! Let’s show him something as a token of our appreciation for what he has done and continues to do for us! Let us show we have SPINE!
In making this call, may I refer you to my recent write-up “When Our Home is Burning”! Please study and use principle listed therein, and take responsibility to help our Motherland move get out of this darkness. Avoid waiting for someone else to take action and take the lead – evidence from our recent history does not support such an approach! Accept 100% responsibility for Teddy Afro’s freedom and Ethiopia’s freedom. Do something new, establish a new contact, call a meeting, distribute a flyer, and initiate “My Solidarity Forum”, anything! Don’t let Teddy Afro perish in the hands of one of the most inhuman administration on the continent of Africa today! We can save him, and we can save Ethiopia – we just need to demonstrate self-respect and pride in ourselves and our heritage!
