Semaneh Jemere, Ottawa Canada
June 25, 2022
Music and art have the ability to capture human emotion eloquently, whether it be comedy or tragedy. The lyrics and melodies of the legendary musician, Dr. Tewodros Kassahun (known as Teddy), are clear examples of one who has mastered this in his own creations.
Teddy’s lyrics, in tandem with his music, are an embodiment of Ethiopian history and culture. Through his songs, he calls upon his followers to coalesce for the rainbow coalition in the spirit of Ethiopian unity in diversity. He meticulously demonstrates people’s feelings of happiness, melancholy, and chivalry.
His music is shrouded in the popular genre of Reggae music, making it uniquely global and linguistically Ethiopian. Oftentimes it is influenced by Soul Music, and Jamaican Memento linking originality to the traditional music styles of Ethiopia and Jamaica. This is how the Ethiopian king of music revolutionized Ethiopia’s music industry.
Also, his music is satirically convoluted with idiomatic phrases that have the power to arouse all sectors of the Ethiopian society. It inspires the very soul of the common man, politician, army, elite, the faithful, the young and the beautiful, children and youth, to analyze the essence of his lyrics while enjoying every bit of his soundtracks.
The musician is unmatched by any of his likes in the music and art industry, both nationally and globally. Teddy’s pieces of music are educational and mesmerizing to the soul in distress.
In some of his recent lyrics (ናዕት–እያመመውቁጥር፪) released a few days ago are the epitomes of Ethiopian music that express the current political debacles, successes, and failures. It highlights the pitfalls of past and present Ethiopian leaders’ inability to learn from history. It sarcastically tells the impotence of Ethiopian leadership and the curse spell that shone over the God-fearing people of Ethiopia.
Hinduism and Buddhism believe that each person is borne with ‘Karma’ which perpetuates transmigration signifying ethical consequences that determines the nature of the person’s next existence. Through his music, Teddy remains bamboozled by the kind of Karma that God conferred on Ethiopia and the Ethiopian people. Truly, this is the unsolved conundrum to us all, the believers and the faithful. Hence, it is time that the faithful of all denominations (Christians and Muslims alike) take heed to Teddy Afro than wasting their precious time worshiping manmade prophets and wizards ((ነብይ/ጠንቋይ) whose sole interest is to hypnotize innocent souls aimed at fulfilling their lust for greed.
Teddy’s lyrics, succinctly crafted in a few lines, challenge everyone (believers and non-believers alike) to consider the core values of what makes us Ethiopian. Anyone with a sense of humanity and listening to his melodies will be moved profoundly with unparalleled sentiment, emotion, regret, and guilt. His music articulates in idiomatic expressions and illuminates the pains and agony of his people in under ten minutes. The emotional music is clearly exhibited in his New Music Single 2022 (ናዕት (እያመመው ቁጥር ፪)
The fact that over three million people watched and listened ናዕት is a testament to the endorsement of Teddy’s message for unity.
This is the greatest worldly gift a nation and a suffering populace can receive from a young artist of his caliber. There is no wonder that he became the darling of the people and a voice to the voiceless in Ethiopia and beyond.
Since I m one of his million admirers, I would like to extend my appreciation, ten thousand miles away from my heartland and country of birth, Ethiopia.
My thanks to Ethiopia’s pop star Dr. Tewodros Kassahun. May God grant you a healthy and prosperous life.
Semaneh Jemere, Ottawa Canada
June 25, 2022
Semahagn Jemere
You were told to stop serving as a big mouth CADRE of Abiy the killer. You and your like volunteer cadres of the killer are also responsible for the genocide of Amaras. Shame on you. History will remember you as such.
Hi!
No sooner had the massacre ended than the song released. Doesn’t anyone question the lightening speed with which it was composed and aired? Was it on the launch pad ready to go at ኦነግ-ሽኔ’s next Amhara Massacre Fest? How does this help in unifying Ethiopia?
Such timed music single release wasn’t his first. It is rather his signature track record of timed marketing stunt [sales pitch] that capitalizes on moments of emotional turmoil in Ethiopia: Abeba Ayeshwey [‘Abebayehosh’], Ethiopia, Abbay, Menelik [Tiqur Sew], etc.
Look, one death of ANY Ethiopian is way too many. It’s no brainer that ኦነግ-ሽኔ’s savagery is barbaric! Wasn’t Abiy the OLF’s [ኦነግ-ሽኔ’s] first assassination target? እና – መቼ ነው – ለማንም – እንደ መንጋ – መነዳት የምናቆመው? “አላማው ምንድነው? ያፋቅረናል ወይስ ያፋጨናል? ይኼ – እንዴት ነው – ለኢትዮጵያ አንድነት የሚጠቅመው?” ብለን እንጠይቅ!
I haven’t seen him lift a finger when Negadras Jawar, Negadras Eskinder and Savage TPLF-OLF-ኦነግ-ሽኔ tormented Oromos and other ethnics. Although his ethnicity is of no interest to me, I see him as an Opportunist Amhara Lobbyist in Ethiopian Artist’s hat.
i_Mognu / don_Q