Teddy Afro
Teddy Afro | |
|---|---|
 Teddy Afro performing in Melbourne, Australia, June 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tewodros Kassahun Germamo |
| Born | 14 July 1976 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Origin | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | www |
Tewodros Kassahun Germamo (Amharic: ቴዎድሮስ ካሳሁን ገርማሞ; born 14 July 1976), known professionally as Teddy Afro, is an Ethiopian singer-songwriter. Known by his revolutionary songs and political dissent sentiment, Teddy is considered one of the most significant Ethiopian artists of all time.[1] Teddy has had a huge cultural impact on the Ethiopian music industry and has been a big influence on many young artists.
Life and career[]
1976–2001: Early years[]
Tewodros Kassahun Germamo was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 14 July 1976 to a Gurage singer and songwriter Kassahun Germamo and Tilaye Arage, a dancer. Despite involving with the entertainment industry, his parents encouraged him to pursue his music career.[2]
2001–2007: Abugida, Teddy and Yasteseryal[]
Teddy Afro made his debut in 2001 with the album Abugida, quickly establishing himself as a prominent voice in his native country. Mixing reggae, traditional Ethiopian styles, and pop music, his sophomore LP, 2005's Yastesereyal yielded a major hit in its controversial title track, which criticized corruption in the country's government. The song "Hab Dahlak" talks about the division of Ethiopia and Eritrea in terms of couples separating. Four of the album's songs were subsequently banned from media outlets, though "Yastesereyal" sales and influence remained controversial.
His second album Teddy was done in 2000 but released in 2002.
His third album, Yasteseryal was released in 2005. This album was one of the most influential and controversial. Teddy's lyrical sentiments and the release of this album coincided with the elevated political tension in Ethiopia surrounding the 2005 Ethiopian general election. The government banned four of his songs including "Yasteseryal" from playing on Ethiopian media outlets.[3] Nonetheless, the album sold more than a million copies within a few months after its release.[4]
2012–2017: Tikur Sew and Ethiopia[]
After his breakthrough, Teddy released his fourth album, Tikur Sew on 14 April 2012. The album Tikur Sew (black person) is dedicated to Emperor Menelik II and the Battle of Adwa, the war of colonial resistance between the Ethiopian forces and the Italian Empire in 1896. The album was the most expensive and most widely sold album in Ethiopia after his fifth album Ethiopia. The album saw huge sales via music markets. According to AdikaRecords' producer Ashenafi Zeleke, the music markets required 500,000 CDs and 200,000 cassettes and the album was in process for sale.[5]
On 22 August 2014, Teddy released "70 Dereja", with 9.1 million views on YouTube within two years. The music video set in 1970s-themed black-and-white scenarios in Ethiopia, including several monuments and places.[6]
Teddy's fifth album, Ethiopia was officially released on 2 May 2017, reached the top of the Billboard World Albums chart in that month, at which time more than 600,000 units had been sold.[7][8]
2020–present: "Demo Be Abay" and upcoming projects[]
Kassahun held the Adwa! Wede Fikir Guzo concert on 22 February 2020 to a record-breaking crowd in Addis Ababa Meskel Square.[9]
On 3 August 2020, Teddy released "Demo Be Abay", a song dedicated to the Abbay river, known in English as the Blue Nile River.[10] The song is a critique of Egyptian attitudes, or "Egypt's shamelessness", in regard to its claims over the waters of the river Nile; Egypt had claimed that the filling of the reservoir for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam would endanger its water supply.[11]
Personal life[]
Teddy lives in Addis Ababa. He has been married to Ethiopian actress, model, and producer Amleset Muchie since 2012. They have three children.[12]
On 6 December 2006, Teddy was jailed for four years in connection with an alleged hit-and-run incident during the 2005 Ethiopian general election. Some also believe that former rulling political party, the TPLF made up the incident to put him in jail. He was accused with driving under the influence when he rammed a 40 years old homeless man. The government sentenced him to six years in prison, and fined with 18000 birr ($1,755). With good behavior, Teddy was released in August 2009.[13][2]
Artistry[]
Teddy's earlier work was solely based on reggae fusion but gradually turned with Ethiopian music employing traditional vibrato vocals, and itchy triplet of "Amhara sound".[14]
Award[]
In 2021, Teddy received honorary degree from Gondar University[15]
Discography[]
Studio albums[]
| Albums list with singles |
|---|
Abugida (Abo Geeda)
|
Teddy
|
Tarik Tesera
|
Yasteseryal
|
Yasteseryal Edition 2
|
Best Collection – Nahom Volume 14
|
Gizzie Lekuluu
|
Tikur Sew
|
Ethiopia
|
Non-album singles[]
| Non-album singles |
|---|
"Afralehu"
|
"Kaba"
|
"70 Dereja"
|
"Korkuma Africa"
|
"Demo Be Abay"
|
DVDs[]
| DVDs list with singles |
|---|
Tarik Tesera
|
Yasteseryal – DVD
|
Lambadina – DVD
|
Inya Sinewaded (Concert) – DVD
|
References[]
- ^ Orgeret, Kristin Skare. "When will the Daybreak Come?". Nordicom Review. 29 (2): 231–244. doi:10.1515/nor-2017-0188. ISSN 2001-5119.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Teddy Afro's Biography". Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Login • Ethiopian News Forum". www.ethiopianreview.com.
- ^ "When will the daybreak come? Popular music and political processes in Ethiopia". www.ethiomedia.com.
- ^ "Teddy Afro's Album "Tikur sew" Hit a New Record in Ethiopian Music Industry - Misrak Link". www.misraklink.com. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ^ "Addisfortune- The Largest English Weekly in Ethiopia!". addisfortune.net. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ "World Music: Top World Albums the week of May 20, 2017". Billboard. Eldridge. 20 May 2017. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
- ^ Elias Meseret (13 May 2017). "Ethiopia's star singer Teddy Afro makes plea for openness". The Washington Post. AP. ISSN 0190-8286.
- ^ "Adwa! Wode Fikir Concert on Feb 22nd, 2020 | TEDDYAFRO &". 21 February 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ "Teddy Afro: "Demo Be Abay". Borkena Ethiopian News. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ Yibeltal, Kalkidan (21 August 2020). "Nile dam row: Ethiopia's pop stars hit out". BBC News.
- ^ "Teddy Afro and Amleset Muche dancing with Teddy's New song, Tewodros". Awramba Times. 6 May 2017.
- ^ "Ethiopia: Teddy Afro's prison term reduced by 4 years".
- ^ Teddy Afro, Ethiopia's biggest pop star: 'Because of our government, our country is divided', 14 July 2017
- ^ Teddy Afro gets Gondar University Honoris Causa , thousands graduate, 1 August 2021
External links[]
- 1976 births
- Living people
- 21st-century male singers
- Ethiopian expatriates in the United States
- Ethiopian male singers
- Reggae singers
- Reggae musicians
- Ethiopian philanthropists
- Ethiopian people convicted of manslaughter
- Ethiopian prisoners and detainees
- Ethiopian singer-songwriters
- People from Addis Ababa
- Prisoners and detainees of Ethiopia