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, adding, 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, which he claims were politically motivated. His last album, 2017's Ethiopia, enjoyed significant success and topped the Billboard World Albums chart for weeks, calling for unity among Ethiopians but was officially blocked by the authorities.
Mass protests had erupted in Ethiopia against the marginalisation of the Oromo ethnic group, leading to the fall of the then-prime minister. Teddy Afro emphasized that while he initially supported current Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s vision for unity, he has been increasingly disillusioned by violence and government actions amid a civil war that has claimed many lives.
As Ethiopia approaches its next general election in June, the themes of tribalism and national identity expressed in Teddy Afro's music are likely to resonate deeply within the country's complex socio-political landscape.
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, adding, 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, which he claims were politically motivated. His last album, 2017's Ethiopia, enjoyed significant success and topped the Billboard World Albums chart for weeks, calling for unity among Ethiopians but was officially blocked by the authorities.
Mass protests had erupted in Ethiopia against the marginalisation of the Oromo ethnic group, leading to the fall of the then-prime minister. Teddy Afro emphasized that while he initially supported current Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s vision for unity, he has been increasingly disillusioned by violence and government actions amid a civil war that has claimed many lives.
As Ethiopia approaches its next general election in June, the themes of tribalism and national identity expressed in Teddy Afro's music are likely to resonate deeply within the country's complex socio-political landscape.
