ARLINGTON, VA – Ethiopians have set June 27 as a day to honor Tamagn Beyene, an artist who over the years has become a symbol of perseverance, courage, and defiance in the struggle for democracy and justice. Today, after nearly two decades of steadfastly speaking out against tyranny in Ethiopia, Tamagne is held in high regard as a staunch human rights activist with the power to inspire the young generation.
The program starts at 6:00PM at Hilton Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22311. For further info, please call (703) 868-5863.
Background
Tamagne is a highly gifted artist and he started entertaining people at a very young age. Among his talents as a comedian, impersonations of people and different styles of music from various Ethiopian cultures and languages, as well as introducing himself and other artists in a hilarious and poetic way are his hallmarks.
He worked with the Gondar Traditional Group and subsequently with the National Theatre of Ethiopia before he was chosen to take part in an international goodwill tour of Ethiopian artists in 1987. The tour named People-to-People was conducted in North America and Europe and Tamagne contributed greatly to its successful completion.
He is a brilliant comedian with evidently sensational passion for Ethiopia. And besides his talents in the world of comedy and entertainment, he is best known for his charismatic patriotism and his outspokenness against the unpatriotic ways and the injustices of the current regime in Ethiopia. Not only is he an outspoken critique of the EPRDF regime, he is also a human rights campaigner, a role model and an inspirational figure particularly for the younger generation of Ethiopia.
He organizes public performances not only to entertain people but also to promote unity among all Ethiopians. He has always used his talents and access to the Ethiopian people to express his love for Ethiopia and to teach and inspire others to do likewise. His outspokenness has made him very popular among Ethiopians who have serious concerns about the very nature of the EPRDF regime. However, Tmagne was imprisoned by the regime in 1996 and upon his release, he left Ethiopia for the United States where is still resides.
Although Ethiopia has numerous other comedians, Tamagne is largely seen as a pioneer in the filed of comedy for he has made Ethiopians laugh time and again the way no other comedian has ever done. And his courageous and selfless efforts to promote patriotism, unity and respect among all Ethiopians – which have come to be his hallmarks – make him one in a million.
