Tilahun Gessesse News Legendary singer Tilahun dies at age 68…

ADDIS ABABA

Ethiomedia.com

20/04/09

Ethiopia’s legendary singer Tilahun Gessesse died at age 68 in his family home in the Ethiopian capital, family sources said.

Perhaps the greatest modern musician whose star shone brightly during the golden years of Ethiopian music of the ’60s, the 68-year-old iconic figure died Sunday on his way to hospital.

A day earlier, Tilahun flew from New York City to Addis Ababa to spend Easter with his family.

Reacting to the sudden death of Tilahun Gessesse, the Washington-based Radio Host Abebe Belew, also a close friend of Tilahun, said he was deeply shocked.

“He was sporting a heatlhy look and was in good spirits when left for Ethiopia Saturday. On Sunday in Addis, we heard Tilahun was sick with “some burning” and was being rushed to a hospital when in the midst of all the chaos came in the news of his sudden death,” Abebe said.

“I wonder if there could be another Ethiopian who would live up to the honors and achievements of Tilahun Gessesse,” Abebe said. “Music and musicians have really, really fallen on most trying times.”

His updated biography in Wikipedia said: “Tilahun Gesese, King of Habesha Music, died on April 19, 2009 in Addis Ababa only 7 hours after returning from the United States. The cause of death is not yet known. His family and individuals who were with him at the moment of death suspect a heart attack or some kind of heart complication as a cause of death.”

A winner of several awards, including an honorary doctrate degree from the Addis Ababa University, Tilahun was a voice of love, peace, harmony and above all unity in the beleaguered Horn of African nation.

Born in the Ethiopian capital in 1941, the teenager Tilahun joined Hager Fikir Theater from where his golden voice captured the attention of the nation. Shortly, he joined the Imperial Guard of Emperor Haile-Selassie during whose era the legendary singer became a household name not only in his native country but also in neighboring countries such as the Sudan.

He later joined the prestigious National Theater, with whom he stayed for several years. He has sold millions of albums, and was singing in Amharic and Oromiffa languages.

In 2006 there were several fund-raising activities in the United States to help the aging and diabetic singer retire into a relative comfort.

When Tilahun Gessesse visited Seattle in November 2006, Ethiomedia reported on the occasion:

Several hundreds of Ethiopians spent the weekend night dancing to the songs of Tilahun Gessesse, arguably Ethiopia’s most beloved and popular singer whose distinct voice and endless songs of romance and patriotism have molded him into a revered national icon.

The symbol of modern music whose early songs date back to the heady days of Emperor Haile-Selassie before the ’70s, Tilahun stole the hearts of young men and women who ruled over the dancing floor for much of the night into the early hours of Saturday.

“Tilahun is a rare talent whose music is enjoyed by different generations living between the era of boogie-woogie and rap music,” a friend whispered into the ears of this writer with a mix of laugh.

The life of the artist is closely intertwined with the ups and downs of the country, and there is no doubt his death would be mourned by millions of Ethiopians.

During the ’60s, when Ethiopia was at perfect peace with itself with the rise of nascent capitalism, the time for music was ripe it was generally referred to as the ‘golden era of Ethiopian music.’

Tilahun was an offshoot among legends of the era such as worldclass composer Mulatu Astatike, legendary saxophonist Getachew Mekuria, singers Mahmood Ahmed, Alemayehu Eshete, Tamrat Molla, the late Hirut and Bizunesh Bekele, Asnaketch Worku, and many others.

Most memorable among his romantic hits is Mona Liza, where beauty is adorned with rare words. The power of capturing the hearts and minds of the youth could be compared to legendary American singer Marvin Gaye. If there is a distinct difference between the two, it is that Marvin Gay adores sex while Tilahun reveres beauty.

Away from the world of romance, Tilahu was a great philanthropist. When Ethiopia fell on worst days of the 1974 and 1984 famines, his albums helped raise millions. He openly sobbed on national TV and on the stage, wondering why hunger and famine haunt millions in a country endowed with natural resources that a few were capable of wallowing in extra-terrestrial affluence.

The legend was a great patriot as well. When Ethiopia and Eritrea went to war in 1998, for instance, a military-uniformed Tilahun was – along with the other great singers – singing for the Ethiopian Defense Forces who honored the nation by destroying the invaders in a blitzkrieg.

Tilahun is expected to be accorded a state funeral.