He did not lose it. Abroad, I did not have the opportunity to see him, but, he always remained in my childhood memory. I used to see him perform at the yearly Enkutatash live shows. Whenever I immitated to sing him, the joy I used to have. Dearest Tilahun, you did not die. You left Ethiopians gifts and rested.
Tilahun was Ethiopia’s legendary singer but he did nothing for the struggle.Tilahun could have done so much for Ethiopian human right ,injustice and against dictatorship. We have lost Tilahun today but we lost Dr Asrat as well the difference is Asrat’s choice was his country first and his profession last.
Dear friends, as you know Tilahun’s “Tzta” has been sung by many artists and may be downloaded on line. But, I am really looking for his version of “Tzta”. Where can I get Tilahun’s original “Tzta”?
I feel like I lost some one important from my immediate family. Don’t know how much he was in my life till I hear this news. I have been listen his music’s since I remember myself. He is great human and he will live in us many years to come and many generations after us… People like him won’t die there work always live with us. He was there when we need him for happiness, he was there when we need him for our grief, he was there when we need him to the front of the war zone and so many other way this guy without we know it he live with us for so many years…
We were afraid that this day and this bad news would come soon and is imminent as his health was deteriorating very fast.
It is just as part of me, my wife and my good memories of the old days have died with him.
May God give comfort to his entire family and all Ethiopian music lovers.
We always treasure your great songs and everlasting memories.
Rest in peace Father.
Tezera T.
Genet B.
I really love tilahun for his compassion and love of people plus his undieing music which gives and transfers his love to the society forever. Tilahun is a roll model to the next generation to come, he teaches love, peace, unity, togetherness, fatherhood, heroine, and his legacy will be remembered until the next milenium.
Very sad news indeed, but remember that we are all mortal creatures after all. In the old days, I used to listen to his melodies on the radio, in remote small town in the Hararghe region. Also, one of my classmates used to sing his songs well thereby getting a nice marks in the literature session. I liked his songs. Meanwhile, someone comments about his low profile about politics. I think he did the right decision by distancing himself from controversial issues. Politics is dirty stuff that destroys one’s originality and name, and especially such is the case in Ethiopia. After all, he was artist not a politician. Besides, I don’t blame him for not involving in it since he was imprisoned in the 1960 coup incident, accordig to the above Wikipedia comments, and given his humble background of being brought by poor Oromo relatives.
News of loved ones loss in Diaspora is beyond sadness
Menelik III, Washington DC
April 21, 2009
Dear Diaspora brothers and sister;
Yesterday a friend of mine called and whispered to my ears the death of Tilahun. Not wanting to be true, I tried to discredit the news downplaying as April the full’s prank. Deep inside me though, I just did not want to accept the new as authentic.
This is one of the rear moments in which we come together to mourn the loss of important figure. And Tilahun undoubtedly is one of the few iconic figures who transcended ethnic disparity, religion, age, gender, etc., you name it. Just as in his music for more than half a century gathered us in music halls through out the world at different occasions, here he once again through, brought us together in his death. No mater how old one is or how sick he was, the death of people like Tilhaun Gessess is always received as a tragic one. In deed, his death is a great loss to our nation, people, and to the Art.
There existed few fortunate people, in our country, in fact, in the world who could define certain attributes of a society; Tilahun is beyond a shadow of a doubt stick out as one. I have not heard any Ethiopian raised person who did not confessed not to have Tilahun an effect in his or her life. I for one remember emulating his music when I was as young as five or six years old; I used to get candies and gums as a reward from my next door “Suke”. I though I was going to be just like him when I grew up. Little that I knew life has different callings for each of us.
As I witnessed the death of our iconic figures in the last few years, my heart just bleeds. I always ask myself who else is there any more. I always envy the longevity majority of the western iconic figures enjoys. The few monumental figures we had departed one by one: the loss of Tsegaye G/Medhin is still fresh in our heart. Every time we lose such figures we are not losing just an individual. I don’t think society is able to measure such loss.
To say Tilahun’s contribution to the Art, cultural, patriotism, romance, etc., in our country was significant would be an understatement. He was an architect of multiple generations in so many ways: just with a breath of his voice he touched every aspect of our life until our own last breath. His life, regardless, is considered shortened by the merciless phenomenon called death, to which we all are subject.
Tila had a powerful influence over his people. I remember last year during Ethiopian Soccer tournament that was held in Washington DC on which Tilahun had asked the people to pay tribute to an individual who was at odd with our people. Such a request would have been received with a swift antagonistic reaction if it had came from someone else other than the one and the only – Tilahun. However, coming from him, the assemblage of tens of thousands of people, regardless of our grudges against that particular individual, respected Tilahun’s wish and request. I said to myself that was a lot of power for one man to have. I would not imagine any one having such a power. Can you? Imagine our political figures having such reaction; I can’t see it not happening.
The important thing for us all is to use this painful moment of his passing as an opportunity to reflect back and forge a society in which there is peace and reconciliation and where every Ethiopian, regardless of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation can seize the moment to think about doing some good to our people and our society.
I always have looked up to him since i was six. i grow up listening to his songs. I have learned a lot about life through this music and everything else. even here in the USA i listen to his music to make me happy and bring momeries of Ethiopia. i fell like my own father died again. my father loved him and his music. He was the greates man on earth.i think we should built a stau for him.
15 thoughts on “Remembering Tilahun Gessesse”
He did not lose it. Abroad, I did not have the opportunity to see him, but, he always remained in my childhood memory. I used to see him perform at the yearly Enkutatash live shows. Whenever I immitated to sing him, the joy I used to have. Dearest Tilahun, you did not die. You left Ethiopians gifts and rested.
Tilahun was Ethiopia’s legendary singer but he did nothing for the struggle.Tilahun could have done so much for Ethiopian human right ,injustice and against dictatorship. We have lost Tilahun today but we lost Dr Asrat as well the difference is Asrat’s choice was his country first and his profession last.
It is sad, we lost one of the best singers our time. May your soul rest in peace.
ጥላሁን ገሰሰ በመስቀል ቀን ተወለደ:
በፋሲካ ቀን አንገቱ ታረደ (ማን እንዳረገው እስካሁን አይታወቅም):
ይኽው በፋሲካ ቀን አረፈ::
እግዚአብሄር ነፍሱን ይማር!
ነጻነት የጥላሁንን ፈለግ እየተከተለ ላለው ለቴዲ አፍሮ!
ፍቅር እና ሰላም ለ ኢትዮጵያችን!!
Dear friends, as you know Tilahun’s “Tzta” has been sung by many artists and may be downloaded on line. But, I am really looking for his version of “Tzta”. Where can I get Tilahun’s original “Tzta”?
We miss you Gashe Tilhaun.
I feel like I lost some one important from my immediate family. Don’t know how much he was in my life till I hear this news. I have been listen his music’s since I remember myself. He is great human and he will live in us many years to come and many generations after us… People like him won’t die there work always live with us. He was there when we need him for happiness, he was there when we need him for our grief, he was there when we need him to the front of the war zone and so many other way this guy without we know it he live with us for so many years…
Rest in peace
We were afraid that this day and this bad news would come soon and is imminent as his health was deteriorating very fast.
It is just as part of me, my wife and my good memories of the old days have died with him.
May God give comfort to his entire family and all Ethiopian music lovers.
We always treasure your great songs and everlasting memories.
Rest in peace Father.
Tezera T.
Genet B.
God bless his soul. Tilahun was great artist. king of Ethiopian music. we need to build his statue. we need to write his biography
I really love tilahun for his compassion and love of people plus his undieing music which gives and transfers his love to the society forever. Tilahun is a roll model to the next generation to come, he teaches love, peace, unity, togetherness, fatherhood, heroine, and his legacy will be remembered until the next milenium.
Very sad news indeed, but remember that we are all mortal creatures after all. In the old days, I used to listen to his melodies on the radio, in remote small town in the Hararghe region. Also, one of my classmates used to sing his songs well thereby getting a nice marks in the literature session. I liked his songs. Meanwhile, someone comments about his low profile about politics. I think he did the right decision by distancing himself from controversial issues. Politics is dirty stuff that destroys one’s originality and name, and especially such is the case in Ethiopia. After all, he was artist not a politician. Besides, I don’t blame him for not involving in it since he was imprisoned in the 1960 coup incident, accordig to the above Wikipedia comments, and given his humble background of being brought by poor Oromo relatives.
RIP!
We love and always remember you with great respect.
News of loved ones loss in Diaspora is beyond sadness
Menelik III, Washington DC
April 21, 2009
Dear Diaspora brothers and sister;
Yesterday a friend of mine called and whispered to my ears the death of Tilahun. Not wanting to be true, I tried to discredit the news downplaying as April the full’s prank. Deep inside me though, I just did not want to accept the new as authentic.
This is one of the rear moments in which we come together to mourn the loss of important figure. And Tilahun undoubtedly is one of the few iconic figures who transcended ethnic disparity, religion, age, gender, etc., you name it. Just as in his music for more than half a century gathered us in music halls through out the world at different occasions, here he once again through, brought us together in his death. No mater how old one is or how sick he was, the death of people like Tilhaun Gessess is always received as a tragic one. In deed, his death is a great loss to our nation, people, and to the Art.
There existed few fortunate people, in our country, in fact, in the world who could define certain attributes of a society; Tilahun is beyond a shadow of a doubt stick out as one. I have not heard any Ethiopian raised person who did not confessed not to have Tilahun an effect in his or her life. I for one remember emulating his music when I was as young as five or six years old; I used to get candies and gums as a reward from my next door “Suke”. I though I was going to be just like him when I grew up. Little that I knew life has different callings for each of us.
As I witnessed the death of our iconic figures in the last few years, my heart just bleeds. I always ask myself who else is there any more. I always envy the longevity majority of the western iconic figures enjoys. The few monumental figures we had departed one by one: the loss of Tsegaye G/Medhin is still fresh in our heart. Every time we lose such figures we are not losing just an individual. I don’t think society is able to measure such loss.
To say Tilahun’s contribution to the Art, cultural, patriotism, romance, etc., in our country was significant would be an understatement. He was an architect of multiple generations in so many ways: just with a breath of his voice he touched every aspect of our life until our own last breath. His life, regardless, is considered shortened by the merciless phenomenon called death, to which we all are subject.
Tila had a powerful influence over his people. I remember last year during Ethiopian Soccer tournament that was held in Washington DC on which Tilahun had asked the people to pay tribute to an individual who was at odd with our people. Such a request would have been received with a swift antagonistic reaction if it had came from someone else other than the one and the only – Tilahun. However, coming from him, the assemblage of tens of thousands of people, regardless of our grudges against that particular individual, respected Tilahun’s wish and request. I said to myself that was a lot of power for one man to have. I would not imagine any one having such a power. Can you? Imagine our political figures having such reaction; I can’t see it not happening.
The important thing for us all is to use this painful moment of his passing as an opportunity to reflect back and forge a society in which there is peace and reconciliation and where every Ethiopian, regardless of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation can seize the moment to think about doing some good to our people and our society.
I always have looked up to him since i was six. i grow up listening to his songs. I have learned a lot about life through this music and everything else. even here in the USA i listen to his music to make me happy and bring momeries of Ethiopia. i fell like my own father died again. my father loved him and his music. He was the greates man on earth.i think we should built a stau for him.
we miss you Tilahun