Good luck on your journey and for keeping our culture and the legacy of our country.

For your daughter Emilia, she’s a beautiful singer too.

Wish you all the best and God keep you safe!

Thanks for a well written report.

I have to admit that I was taken by surprise when I read how much this legendary signer is loved and admired. Given my younger age, I heard Gara sir new betish as played by Teshome (The blind guy who sings with a keyboard) about maybe 15-20 years ago. I loved it then. I loved the song even more when I listened to the original and learned that Teshome Mitiku wrote and composed it. Very nice composition, Amazing vocals!! It somehow makes me long for a time I have not even been a part of. In any case Tenana Selam Yistilign; can’t wait to listen to Teshome’s other albums.

peace.

Your bro
Ephrem

Teshome is truly a wonderful person.
Yared

What a great public service you have provided us with this interview! Thank you and and well done Martha Z Tegegn on a great job interviewing Teshome Mitiku. I can’t wait for part 2! The words, the music and THE VOICE of Teshome Mitiku is like a bridge, a bridge over the troubled and tempestuous waters of contemporary Ethiopian life. For over 30 years his art has transported us safely back and forth enabling us to look at what is going on and who we are as people at different points in time. Each of Teshome’s tunes is a time capsule capturing the moment and mood of the era. And here he is still going strong.

If Ethiopian time/ contemporary history had a sound, it would be the sound of Teshome’s music and poetry. Many have shared with us their beautiful endless dreams but only Teshome has interpreted our dreams for us and described our day to day reality in his songs. All his songs, and in particular his love songs have the bittersweet taste of Ethiopian love and Ethiopian life in modern times, in troubled times… and in sidet…I love Teshome Mitiku and hope Tadias keeps focused on this poetic and musical genius because we need to give him this well deserved and overdue recognition for an outstanding, almost spiritual Ethiopian talent. I have no doubt that Teshome’s CD Yegna Neger is engraved on every Ethiopian soul that has heard it and the words of Iyoot Sileyayoon is engraved on every Ethiopian heart in Ethiopia. Teshome’s music is a chronicle of our life and times. Long may his pen record our Ethipian journey and his long may his voice echo our hopes and fears. Thank you Teshome.

Live long and prosper “ye wenzay lij”

But, that aside, Teshye is back with a new message of light at the end of the tunnel for our children for the next generation which Emilia represents. When I was her age, not that much older, I was sent to Europe on a scholarship for further study abroad at the Sorbonne in Paris. Believe it or not during my years in France, my Hungarian girlfriend’s favorite music was Gara Sir new Betish, thanks to Amha Eshete’s records which I made sure to pack in my bags. Eva and I danced to the song in Paris, yes drunk, made love, had three wonderful children and have been married for 37 years. Thank you Tsehye!!

Tshome Mitiku, ye agere Anbessa, was born in Qebena, he is a Qebena Lij. Those of us who grew up in downtown also claim him as our own a piasa lij, he is also the Haile Selassie First Day School lij, he is a Kokebe Tsebaha lij. The Anbessa is ye Addis Ababa lij. For me, above all, he is ye Etopia Lij. Betam Ewodihalew…I love you!!

Indeed, I am from Kerchele prison and was there for decades. During the deafening silence of Kerchele that which came nearest to expressing the inexpressable was “Gara Sir new betish”. It tickled my muscles and stretched my soul. I listened to it motionless and still; And carried away with it up the hill. I must admit that for a moment I was released from Kerchele and wandered freely around the land of my birth. The chief trouble with “Gara Sir New Betish” is that there is not enough of it; even if you listen to it a million times, it will still force you to wipe your tears and never lets you get to the bottom of the hill – Ke Garaw Sir.

Kerchele

I am so glad someone got you out in public again. My little brother thought the original Gara Sir Naw Betish was done by someone else. You see he did not know about you. I had to tell him. It was one night in a restaurant where I heared a CD playing, you singing it. Oh how my brother was disappointed about not knowing you. I told him everything about you, Seifu, Tesfaye “Hodo” Tamrat “ferenj” and the rest. I also mentioned the day we spent at the Red Cross festival in Janmeda “Ethio-GOGO” tent, dancing to the Soul Ekos music. AH, it was good era of music and partying. I was one of the best fan, cause one of my best friend, Melaku Mengistu was your schoolmate @ Kokebe Tsibah.

I am glad you’re here to be heared again. This is like my generation is back on stage now. Thanks a lot to Tadias!

In a more serious note, I think there is some good music going on in Addis right now. There is no doubt in my mind that Tesh would be pleasantly surprised not only by the music but by the amount of love that Ethiopians will show him. But it has to happen in his own time under his own terms, and calling. Things happen when they happen. And most of the time there is a reason for it. I believe Tseh’s music jam of his life has not happened yet. It is waiting to happen. But most importantly though, there is nothing more healing than visiting family. I speak from experience that I returned home after 34 years four years ago. I have never felt more energized, renewed sense of purpose in life, a much keener appreciation of small things in life. I do believe it has a healing power.

Stay blessed.

Kerchele

I am searching for the right word to compliment you. Ezra already said it correctly that “your efforts are one more step to reclaiming our often squandered and neglected cultural heritage.” You are a mini cyber-museum yourself, preserving and sharing these cultural icons to your wide-readership to the younger generation.

My heartfelt thanks.

Yours truly,
Getachew
P.S. I look forward to your feature interview with Teshu’s daughter Emilia too.

Teshu not only GOLD but DIAMOND i remember you always and gara sir new betish.

The club I was refering to is Zula and it was near Atkilt Tera. You are right about them being called Zula band prior to Soul Ekos. I could not remember the name of the club last night. It must be the vino then again I could not afford it then so what do I know. Thanks !

Where are you? Our Friday nights are not the same since your departure from the DC music scene. I wish Meaza or some other comfortable venue will have you on weekend nights so that we can shade the pressure of work and life itself, and rejuvenate with the sound that comes out of your inner being. Teshe, We miss you so much, and lately my wife’s single agenda has become to open a place where you, Teddy and Nebeyou perform together. I hope she will realize her dream and see you on stage again here. My own dream is, as I expressed to you time and time again, is to visit home and do a performance at the Meskel Square along with your beautiful daughter. Bye for now my friend.

TADIAS! Thank you for sharing this Ethiopian jewel to your reading public and beyond.

Cheers!
Yared

Those were a very decent days/TIMES and Teshé and his group were decent and brilliant kids. And remained so.

I am so proud to be part of that school. I am proud of Teshomé and the rest of that crowd.

Long Life for the Living and Nirvana for Those who Departed!

YOU are my world
BIG BIG WORLD

All of them were great and Emilia stands as a great vocalist as any. All of us look forward to hearing more from Emilia.

I think you got your map coordination wrong. I don’t remember any club near Atkilit tera. Why would anyone open a club in Atkilit tera? Although there were few after hour places and speakeasies in Lideta, but again I have no recollection of Soul Ekos playing there. They played at Zula club and Ras Hotel, etc. I don’t know but maybe Zula was in Atkilit tera. Maybe I am the one who is confused. Frankly I was drinking too much vino at the time too. Anyways, the main point is they used to play at Zula and in fact their name used to be Zula before they became Soul Ekos. Zula used to be owned by an Eritrean-Ethiopian business man named Eisenhower Geb. I have no idea why they called him Eisenhower but that was the name everybody used to call him.

I raise my glass to Teshome for keeping the legacy of Zula, Soul Ekos and the tense yet creative 1960′s and for paying homage to his home and his generation. Salute!