He sings of whites as poisonous snakes biting jaguars who wanted to live in peace and asks why it was as such. One of his most famous songs, for instance, is Addis Abeba Bete, aka “Addis Abeba My Home,” which alludes to Piassa, Gulele and Merkato, some of the oldest neighbourhoods in the capital.Īnother is Tikur Gissela, aka “Black Jaguar,” a song dedicated to black freedom fighters. Notably, he chose a wide range of themes to express in his songs instead of the prevalent romance and heartbreak songs that make up the discography of most musicians.
#ETHIOPIAN OLD MUSIC ALEMAYEHU ESHETE SERIES#
Buda Musique dedicated the ninth volume of its Ethiopiques series to Alemayehu’s work in 2001. Alemayehu, one of the most enduring faces of this time, had a fairly deep voice, which he used to contribute around 400 songs to the music industry. The era was characterised by combining modern recording technology, heavy piano and saxophone use, and an imposing vocal representation. “He became notable in an age of the likes of Mahmoud Ahmed and Menelik Wessenachew, but he was one of a kind,” says Tsegaye, who remained friends with him for the next half a century after that encounter. It goes without saying – he was sharply dressed. He sat on a sofa on the patio, welcoming guests that came to console him. The area was forested at the time but off to the side of the street was a well-lit house, where Alemayehu lived. He could take the number 10 Anbessa bus – a numbering system for identifying routes – which he did. Tsegaye was told it was on Shola, on modern-day Kenenisa Avenue. He wanted to attend the funeral of a person so dear to his favourite musician, known for his deep voice and characteristically slicked-back hair, and asked for where his house was located. It was the passing of Alex’s, as Tesgaye calls him, father circa 1972 that served as a catalyst.Ī long time admirer of his music, Tsegaye had lived in Addis Abeba for about a year before he learned that Alemayehu's father had passed away. Tsegaye Birhane, actor, met Alemayehu Eshete in the most unorthodox of ways.