A Tribute to Artist Dr. Tilahun Gessesse

If you hear any music playing during the last week in our offices at Addis Life, it is most likely that it will be the rich tones of Tilahun Gessesse, and this is probably the case for most offices in Addis right now, because he and his music are loved by all of us. You can’t really be a big fan of Ethiopian music and not be a great fan of his.

We at Addis Life share a great sadness with all Ethiopians and lovers of Ethiopian music at feel the loss of Tilahun, and our only consolation is his music, which will remain with us forever.

If the size of the crowd at one’s funeral is a measure of the impact of a person’s life on those he or she leaves behind, then Tilahun Gessesse must be one who has affected many.
For those who would like a little background into the history of this exceptional singer and songwriter’s life, here is a brief account:
Born on September 29, 1940, in Addis Ababa to Gete Gurmu and Gessesse Negussie, he attended his elementary education in Ras Gobena School in Wolliso town, while living with his grandfather. Tilahun’s inclination to music was evident early on, and he pursued a musical career in spite of his grandfather’s disapproval.

The principal of his school, Mr. Shedad (a Sudanese), encouraged Tilahun's interest in music, advising him to go to Sudan to pursue his music career. Although Gessesse did not go to Sudan, he took Mr. Shedad's advice very seriously. When Woizro Negatwa Kelkai, Ato Eyoel Yohanes and others artists from the Hager Fikir Theatre came to his school to perform, Tilahun excitedly talked to them about their shared passion and from their conversation, going to Addis Abeba resonated as the best option if Tilahun was serious about music.

Tilahun left school to go to Addis Ababa to persue his dreams, and such was his eagerness to get there that he began on foot. A series of ostacles were to try and stop Tilahun from reaching Addis Ababa, including his grandfather and his great-aunt Woizro Temene who caught up with him in Tulu Bolo- but all to no avail; he reached Addis Ababa, by hiding himself in the back of a lorry.

In Addis Ababa, Tilahun was first hired by the Hager Fikir Theatre where he worked for a few years before he joined the Imperial Bodyguard Band where he became a leading star singer. Tilahun then moved to the National Theater with growing success and fame. It was this fame that also gave him the opportunity to meet the Emperor on three occasions.

Many of Tilahun’s recordings are in Amharic, though he has recorded a number of songs in Oromigna.

After that, Tilahun’s career as a singer boomed until he became the great singer we now know him to be.

The Gaslight, Sheraton kept a wonderful tribute to Tilahun Gessesse on Wednesday May 6. In place of their usual Jazz Night, Abegaz’s Jazz Band performed Tilahun songs with the best of Addis’s Tilahun impersonators collected from Addis’s myriad Azmari Bets. It was a very memorable occasion with emotions running high. His daughter was among the crowd sharing their love of his songs.

The lucky few received limited edition t-shirts with Tilahun’s photo on them. Surely they will treasure them for eternity as well as the memories and the timeless relevance of Tilahun’s music.

AddisLife expresses its deep condolences to Tilahun Gessesse’s family, friends, colleagues, fans and the entire Ethiopian music family.

where he worked for a few years before he joined the Imperial Bodyguard Band where he became a leading star singer. Tilahun then moved to the National Theater with growing success and fame. It was this fame that also gave him the opportunity to meet the Emperor on three occasions.

Many of Tilahun’s recordings are in Amharic, though he has recorded a number of songs in Oromigna.

After that, Tilahun’s career as a singer boomed until he became the great singer we now know him to be.

The Gaslight, Sheraton kept a wonderful tribute to Tilahun Gessesse on Wednesday May 6. In place of their usual Jazz Night, Abegaz’s Jazz Band performed Tilahun songs with the best of Addis’s Tilahun impersonators collected from Addis’s myriad Azmari Bets. It was a very memorable occasion with emotions running high. His daughter was among the crowd sharing their love of his songs.

The lucky few received limited edition t-shirts with Tilahun’s photo on them. Surely they will treasure them for eternity as well as the memories and the timeless relevance of Tilahun’s music.

AddisLife expresses its deep condolences to Tilahun Gessesse’s family, friends, colleagues, fans and the entire Ethiopian music family.