Teddy Afro (in Amharic: ቴዲ አፍሮ; real name: Tewodros Kassahun, in Amharic: ቴዎድሮስ ካሳሁን) is an Ethiopian music sensation and one of the most successful singers and song writers from Ethiopia in recent times. Afro’s musical success has been credited to the powerful messages conveyed through his songs. From compassion to courage and from forgiveness to love, Afro has been able to break artistic boundaries that were previously untouched. He has been compared to Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley, in part because of his ability to bring a political, spiritual, and rhythmic presence to his listeners. Afro is also noted for his work with other young and inspiring artists throughout Ethiopia.
|In 2002, Teddy released his debut album Abugida, named after the “Abugida” or ABCs of the Amharic language. The album catapulted him on the global music scene, and quickly won him the admiration of his people and individuals from all walks of life throughout the world. Several tracks in particular quickly caught the ear of many listeners outside his native Ethiopia — “Halieselassie” a tribute to the late Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I; “Haile, Haile” a hit single in honor of Olympic long distance champion and national hero, Haile Gebrselassie; and “Mona Lisa”, a measure of human beauty. The album was dubbed a success in Ethiopian contemporary music, and was reprinted seven times.
In 2004, Teddy released his most successful single to date, Tarik Teserra (“History was Made”), in honor of world record holder and 2004 Olympic gold medalist, Kenenisa Bekele. The song captured the emotions of the entire Ethiopian nation. A music video was compiled including footage from other great Ethiopian long distance runners, and of Bekele’s 10,000 meter gold run in the 2004 summer Olympics. Throughout the video, Bekele is referred to as the new Anbessa (“Lion”) in Ethiopian long distance running, succeeding the great Haile Gebrselassie. Bekele is shown several times looking back for his mentor Haile Gebrselassie, who was unable to run the 10,000 meter race at full pace due to a lingering injury. The single raised Afro’s reputation as one of the greatest Ethiopian musical artists of his time, and heightened the release of his second album.
The long anticipated second album, Yasteseryal, was finally released in 2005. There was a roumer that the Ruling party (EPRDF) is not happy about this album and was after Teddy in the past. Now there is a disturbing news that Teddy Afro is arrested by EPRDF. (http://www.ethrev.com/00011042006_index.html) But one has to know that tens of thousands of people including political party leaders, university profs, students, human right activists, civic organization leaders, CBO leaders are suffering in Jails and the Arrest of Teddy is not a new news for Ethiopians except thinking of who will be next. |
