Comments on: Part Two: Exclusive Interview With Ethiopian Legend Teshome Mitiku

By: Timeless Ethio Jazz | Sound the Horn

Timeless Ethio Jazz | Sound the Horn — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:00:37 +0000

[...] live in Sweden for 20 years and finally settle in the U.S. Great interviews. Here’s part one, part two and part [...]

By: Meet Young Entrepreneur Eskat Asfaw | College Shuttles at Tadias Magazine

Meet Young Entrepreneur Eskat Asfaw | College Shuttles at Tadias Magazine — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:28:35 +0000

[...] profiles by Martha Z. Tegegn Exclusive Interview With Ethiopian Legend Teshome Mitiku (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3) Why Girls Gotta Run: Interview with Dr. Patricia E. Ortman A Conversation with Haile [...]

By: demelash

demelash — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 03:20:35 +0000

This is a great job TADIAS ! keep it up! Tehse is my favorite singer of all time. It was an honour for me to have met him in Virginia two years ago to learn more about the intellectual side of Teshome Mitiku. Teshe is not only an artist but also an accomplished scholar with an amazing insight on varitey of social and political issues. He is a real treasure. God bless you Teshe!!!!

By: Part Three Exclusive: Teshome Mitiku Plans to Return to Ethiopia at Tadias Magazine

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:20:53 +0000

[...] Click here to read part two. [...]

By: Tatari Temari (Studious Student)

Tatari Temari (Studious Student) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 01:23:48 +0000

There is an Ethiopian literary tradition called Qine, a genre of Amharic poetry full of secret meanings. Tesh is obviously a well-versed person not only in the Amharic language but also in the cultural sounds of Bati, Ambasel, etc, as he learned it as a child through listening to his mother. But with this particular song, I don’t think he had any idea that people would interpret it in so many ways. That is the case with many great poets and writers.

What makes this song special is that Gara Sir evokes a common memory of love, longing and country with a meaning that is personal to each person.

But to put things in perspective, let’s come back to Qine. Aleqa Gebre Hanna, known for his “his quick and biting wit,” was the king of this Ethiopian tradition. As Simon Messing wrote: “The Amharic language lends itself readily to puns and hidden meanings, since many verbs have double or triple interpretations due to the hidden variations in the basic verbal stem and the absence or presence of gemination of some consonants. The listener must pay close attention. If he misinterprets the context and fails to discern the pun, he is often made the butt of the next tricky joke by those who have heard it before. The more a storyteller and wit masters the sowaso ‘grammar’ of the Amharic language, the better he can manipulate the humor. Alaqa Gabra Hanna was a master of the sowaso grammar, as demonstrated by one of his best-known stories. One day the Alaqa encountered a peasant with his donkey, and bowing low asked greeted him with Endet adaratchu? (“How did you sleep?”) Only afterwards, as the man told of the encounter did he realize that the Alaqa had used the plural form of “you”, not the singular: Alaqa Gabra Hanna spoke to the donkey and its owner as equals.”

By: Girmay Berhe

Girmay Berhe — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 08:15:45 +0000

Nostalgia!!! Teshome left Addu Genet when the melting pot of our beloved country begun to loose its sons and daughters. When revolutionary fervor was cooking in the campus, especially after the heroic hijacking attempt by Martha Mebrahtu/ the daughter of General mebrahtu, Tadellech Kidanmariam/ the daughter Abateri from Adwa/ and wallelign Mekonnen. We the ” jolly jacks” as the “Revos” were calling us then were trying to emulate Teshome. Bejoche iyedassesku….. and Mot adeladlogn…

Teshe, Lucky that you left earlier. We ended up singing for Kebelle bands to save our {behind} from red Terror…..

By: Shiferaw

Shiferaw — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 03:19:35 +0000

Thank you Dereje, it seems that I skipped Teshe’s explanations of “GARA SER”. As you said,it is easy for others to come up with different meanings.

By: Kerchele

Kerchele — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 03:22:20 +0000

Teshome’s “Gara Sir” has more than a romantic expression of a man who longs to be closer to his lover. His song is incurably convincing that, distance plays a brutal role for any longing heart and that being away from loved ones compells one to look beyond Ke Garaw sir in tearful eyes. The song has the power to renew itself and will have yet to impact the future generations.

Thank you Teshome and I would love to bless you in a manner Emahoy of our village used to bless us.

Ke Ketir ganen
Ke Lelit megagna
Ke gorebet mikegna
Ke Hidar beshita
Ke ginbot tiktik
Ke menged lay zinab
Ke Hamle berdo
Ke sew hager merdo

yesewurwo, tuary kebari ayasatawo
Weladite amlak alehu alehu tibelwo.

Kerchele

By: Saba Fasil

Saba Fasil — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:48:48 +0000

Teshome…you have graceful music and I love all your songs. I would also like to know the meaning of the song “Gara Sir“. God Bless!!

By: Bergude

Bergude — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:40:22 +0000

What a wonderful recollection of memory! "Teze Allengn Yetentu."

By: Dubaya Lekemisha

Dubaya Lekemisha — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:29:26 +0000

My older sister grew up listening to and singing Teshome’s songs; and then every songs of Teshome passed onto me and began singing his songs since then. Teshome is irreplaceable and will always to be a treaure to Ethiopia. His songs are sentimental, poetic,and unforgetable.

By: DJ Dereje Eshetu (Philly)

DJ Dereje Eshetu (Philly) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:21:50 +0000

Great stuff. I also love Gara sir. The beauty about that song is that everyone has their own individual interpretation about it. My uncle used to say that it was about sex and it is a very sexual song. For me personally though it reminds me of my aunt's place where I used to spend summers in Debrezit. Of course Teshu described his version, speaking in the context of song-writing in part one: "Like Gara sir new betish, for example, is about our house in Kebena where I grew up. When I wrote it the title was kebena new betish, that was the idea. And the house where I was born in and grew up in Ethiopia was just right under the hill (gara) and Kebena river is right under the bridge very close to the water." Betam, yemaital, yemailewet, yamytegeb zefen! Thanks for the love.

By: Shiferaw

Shiferaw — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:49:28 +0000

First of all thanks to Tadias for bringing us Teshome this time. My hat goes off to Teshome for his great musical talent and contribution to modern Ethiopian music. It seems that the 60s and the 70s were the prodigious decades in the history of Ethiopian music. As a child I grew up listening Teshome’s music on the radio and tape recorders. Now, after 40 years he is still one of my favorite singers. GARA SER NEW BETESH is so entertaining; I wish Martha had asked Teshe, what it really means. “MOT ADELADELOGN “is another great piece which brings millions of memories. Thank you Teshome for your great music, I enjoyed the nostalgia.

By: Ezra

Ezra — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:38:58 +0000

Marti,

You are punishing us. I have no choice now but wait another week. I think you should throw in some of Teshe’s favorite numbers as consolation.

Before I forget. Need to do an Amharic version too.

By: Exclusive Interview With Ethiopian Legend Teshome Mitiku at Tadias Magazine

Exclusive Interview With Ethiopian Legend Teshome Mitiku at Tadias Magazine — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:42:18 +0000

[...] – Click here to read part two: Exclusive Interview With Ethiopian Legend Teshome Mitiku [...]