In a country where criticising the authorities has often landed people in trouble, the latest song from Ethiopia's biggest musician – which appears to condemn the government – is attracting attention.
Teddy Afro's track Das Tal, meaning 'put up the tent' in English, has been viewed more than seven million times on YouTube since its release on Thursday. Referencing a traditional mourning tent, Teddy Afro – whose real name is Tewodros Kassahun – sings that he is grieving a country he says has been lost.
The build-up to the song's release had already drawn controversy after a preview event for journalists in the capital Addis Ababa failed to go ahead, for reasons which are unclear. 'The spirit of being Ethiopian is now pushed away,' the 49-year-old laments on Das Tal.
'Now I understand the sorrow and pain. Where can someone go to mourn, where do you cry? In the place that raised me, in the village where I grew up, I have become a stranger, like someone with no country.'
The star has been a thorn in the side of previous governments. Two decades ago he was imprisoned for 16 months for being involved in a hit-and-run, and said the charges were politically motivated. His last album, 2017's Ethiopia, enjoyed significant sales in the country and topped the Billboard World Albums chart for weeks, though its official release in the country was blocked by the authorities due to protests over the marginalisation of the country’s largest ethnic group, the Oromo.
'The only choice we have is love,' Teddy Afro stated, reflecting on the social dynamics of the country.
While Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is Oromo himself, came to power promising a new era of unity, Afro's perspective has shifted to one of disillusionment, reflecting on the violence and government actions, particularly during the two-year civil conflict in Northern Ethiopia. As the country heads toward a general election, the voice of artists like Afro will be crucial in shaping the discourse around unity and governance.
Teddy Afro's track Das Tal, meaning 'put up the tent' in English, has been viewed more than seven million times on YouTube since its release on Thursday. Referencing a traditional mourning tent, Teddy Afro – whose real name is Tewodros Kassahun – sings that he is grieving a country he says has been lost.
The build-up to the song's release had already drawn controversy after a preview event for journalists in the capital Addis Ababa failed to go ahead, for reasons which are unclear. 'The spirit of being Ethiopian is now pushed away,' the 49-year-old laments on Das Tal.
'Now I understand the sorrow and pain. Where can someone go to mourn, where do you cry? In the place that raised me, in the village where I grew up, I have become a stranger, like someone with no country.'
The star has been a thorn in the side of previous governments. Two decades ago he was imprisoned for 16 months for being involved in a hit-and-run, and said the charges were politically motivated. His last album, 2017's Ethiopia, enjoyed significant sales in the country and topped the Billboard World Albums chart for weeks, though its official release in the country was blocked by the authorities due to protests over the marginalisation of the country’s largest ethnic group, the Oromo.
'The only choice we have is love,' Teddy Afro stated, reflecting on the social dynamics of the country.
While Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is Oromo himself, came to power promising a new era of unity, Afro's perspective has shifted to one of disillusionment, reflecting on the violence and government actions, particularly during the two-year civil conflict in Northern Ethiopia. As the country heads toward a general election, the voice of artists like Afro will be crucial in shaping the discourse around unity and governance.
