By Peter Heinlein | VOA
Tens of thousands of Ethiopians have attended a state funeral for legendary singer Tilahun Gessesse, considered a symbol of national unity since the time of Emperor Haile Selassie. Many of Tilahun’s songs were considered anthems, binding together a country through war and famine, monarchy and dictatorship.
Mourners wailed in the streets and security forces struggled to control massive crowds as a nation said farewell to a man many call ‘the father of Ethiopian music’. Radio stations interrupted regular programming for a live broadcast of the memorial service.
Hours before the service began, tens of thousands of fans, many with tear streaked faces, gathered under a blazing sun in Addis Ababa’s main square, chanting and singing along with Tilahun Gessesse’s songs.
Fifty-year-old Antene Gizachew said nobody will replace him in Ethiopia’s heart.
“He’s a legend for Africa,” said Antene Gizachew. “He was motivator, humanitarian, so the United States has legends, as a young man I remember Elvis was a legend. He’s like our Elvis. He lives in each Ethiopians hearts and minds forever.”
Tilahun’s golden voice captivated a struggling nation, transcending politics and time. He was a favorite of Emperor Haile Selassie, and served in the Imperial Guards.
His fame grew through the years of Marxist dictatorship known as the Dergue, under Mengistu Haile Mariam. His songs about starvation raised millions of dollars for a famine-stricken nation. He traveled abroad, thanking the world for its support during the famed “We are the world” campaign.
But unlike many who fled the terror of the Dergue, he overlooked politics and kept on singing to his adoring public.
He won over the current government a decade ago during Ethiopia’s war with Eritrea when he went to the front to entertain the troops.
The front row of seats at the memorial service was dotted with the faces of top government officials.
Also prominent at the service was a massive floral bouquet sent by the young singing sensation Teddy Afro, whose songs were adopted by the opposition during the violent anti-government protests following the 2005 elections. Afro is currently serving a prison sentence for a fatal hit-and-run traffic accident.
Famed artist Sileshi Demisse says even though Tilahun’s music sometimes had a political edge, politicians of all stripes embraced him.
“He was not anti any government personally, but through his music he expressed his feelings during all these three regimes, and all these governments were going to give him a hard time,” said Sileshi Demisse. “But he wasn’t that politically hard, but he was saying what he wants to say.”
Prominent actor Abdullah Balcha, who also served as Tilahun’s personal attorney, says the singer not only had a knack for expressing the people’s feelings, but could do it in several languages.
“There was some operation in every form at the time of the emperor, at the time of the dergue, there was that feeling of expressing, and he was always the voice of the people,” said Abdullah Balcha. “He used to sing perfectly and eloquently in Amharic and Oromifa and in Sudanese, Arabic as well.”
Tilahun had been in poor health in recent years, suffering from diabetes. He died Sunday, hours after returning to Ethiopia from the United States. He was 68-years-old.
London, UK (IAAF) – Olympic bronze medallist Tsegaye Kebede is hoping to bring Ethiopia its second major marathon victory in the space of a week when he takes on one of the best marathon fields ever assembled in the Flora London Marathon this Sunday (26 April).
The Flora London Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.
Kebede is still buzzing from his compatriot Deriba Merga’s {www:triumph} in the Boston Marathon on Monday (20), describing it as “wonderful to see” and “an inspiration” coming just seven days before he toes the London start line for the first time in his career.
But Kebede almost didn’t see the race at all thanks to a power cut at his home near Addis Ababa which had him running miles to find an internet café where he could follow his lifelong friend and training partner’s victory in the first World Marathon Majors race of 2009.
“We literally had to run to find an internet café to see the race,” says Kebede with a laugh. “I only got there in time to catch the end, and then I was very happy because I could see Deriba was going to win.
“We grew up together in Ethiopia and we often train together so it was great to see him win. It has inspired me to do well here.”
Last gasp battle for Beijing bronze
It’s not the first time the pair have been thrown together by marathon drama, of course. The two provided one of the most {www:dramatic} moments of an altogether extraordinary Olympic marathon on the last day of the athletics programme in Beijing last summer.
Then, in 30-degree heat and under {www:stifling} humidity, Kebede came from sixth place and more than a minute down on the leaders over the last few kilometres to snatch the bronze medal from Merga’s grasp with just 200m to go in the Bird’s Nest stadium.
It was devastating for Merga, of course, but for Kebede it was a triumph of will in the most trying of conditions.
“Beijing was a very hard race for me, very difficult,” he says. “But I came from behind and when I got to the stadium I could see Deriba ahead of me. He was very tired so it was possible to pass him and become number three.”
Kebede returned home to huge celebrations in a country where marathon running has been a matter national pride ever since the barefoot runner Abebe Bikila shocked the world to win the Olympic marathon title in 1960. Even for a runner as young as Kebede – born in January 1987, 23 years after Bikila’s second Olympic victory in 1964 – the grandfather of Ethiopian distance running is still regarded as an iconic figure.
“I love the marathon because of Bikila and the national pride he brought to our country,” says Kebede. “He showed a positive side to Ethiopia when we needed it.”
Running his family out from poverty
With his Olympic medal in Beijing, and big city victories in Paris and Fukuoka last year, Kebede has done a fair bit for national pride himself. More importantly, perhaps, he’s helped to raise his large family out of the stifling rural poverty he grew up with.
The fifth born of five brothers and eight sisters, the young Kebede was often forced to miss school to collect wood with his mother and helped his father sell wood to make the family living, earning less than 20 Birr (about US$3) a day.
“When I think back to how we used to survive it brings a tear to my eye,” he says. “Now it’s like a dream to be able to help my family out of poverty.”
Now commanding the high earnings of an international marathon star, Kebede has been able to build a new house for the whole family and buy his parents some cattle so they can start to become self-sufficient.
I want to get faster
If he wins on Sunday (26) it will complete quite a journey for the 22-year-old who won his first ever marathon in Addis Ababa in 2007 in 2:15:53. With the likes of reigning champion Martin Lel, Olympic gold and silver medallists Sammy Wanjiru and Jaouad Gharib, and perennial minor medallist Abderrahim Goumri in the line-up, it could be the toughest test yet of his short marathon career.
Coached by Gete Wami’s husband, Geteneh Tessema, Kebede certainly has the pedigree. His victory in Paris last year, in 2:06:40, made him the second quickest Ethiopian of all time behind Haile Gebrselassie, and his course record win in Fukuoka last December, in 2:06:10, was a new Japanese all-comers’ record, eclipsing Wanjiru’s time from the previous year.
As to his chances, Kebede is playing it cagey. “I don’t want to guess,” he says. “Everyone comes here wanting to win, but we will have to see what happens in the race.”
“This is my first time in London so I don’t know the course or what to expect from the weather. But I have done some good training in Ethiopia and will show on the day what I can do.”
“Actually, the most important thing for me is not my position but my time. I can’t guess what that will be but I want to get faster.”
There is every chance he will. With the weather set to be fair, organisers are planning to set a World record pace on Sunday and have asked the pacemakers to take the racers through 20 miles.
It’s always possible Kebede may not be with the leaders by then. Judging by the Olympic race, however, we can expect him to finish strongly and, who knows, when he gets back to Ethiopia he may even have reason to meet up with his friend Deriba Merga for a double celebration.
Matthew Brown for the IAAF
Ethiopian Airlines has announced a promotional drive to make travel cheaper in the current global economic {www:distress}.
Ermajechew Regassa, the Airline’s Uganda manager, announced recently that the promotional drive that started on April 4 would last up to May 31 and would have major international routes on special discount rates.
One of the cheapest routes will be a return trip from Entebbe to New Delhi which has a current {www:market} rate of $850 but will now go for $500 in economy class. The other routes on {www:promotion} are Entebbe-Addis Ababa, going from $480 to $400.
The journey to two of China’s key trade cities (Guangzhou and Beijing) has also been made cheaper from $870 and $1000 to $700 and $800 respectively.
The other destinations with discounts are Entebbe to Dubai, Hong Kong and Mumbai.
“The current season is a low season. We feel there is need to offer promotional fares and due to the current economic crunch, we want to make travel less expensive,” said Regassa.
One of the biggest casualties of the current economic meltdown is the aviation industry. It has not only seen profits nosedive but also the drop in the number of passenger.
The situation in Uganda has been aggravated by the falling Uganda shilling, which has affected imports. In recent weeks, the dollar traded as high as sh2,200.
“The Ethiopian market segment is importing traders. Once importers are threatened because of the Uganda shilling versus the dollar exchange regime, things get worse,” said Regassa.
Regassa says despite tough economic times, Ethiopian Airlines is encouraging people to travel.
– The New Vision
By ARGAW ASHINE | The Daily Nation NATION
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Western diplomats based in one of the world’s largest diplomatic hubs, Addis Ababa boycotted a dinner party organized by the Ethiopian government to honor Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir.
President al-Bashir had received a warm welcome from his Ethiopian hosts on his {www:arrival} in Addis Ababa on Tuesday morning for his two-day official visit.
Al-Bashir was welcomed by Ethiopian Prime Minister dictator Meles Zenawi and many other African diplomats at Bole international airport but no Western diplomat or representative showed up.
China, Venezuela Cuba and North Korean ambassadors joined their African counterparts at the airport to welcome President al-Bashir.
Hundreds of Sudanese living in Ethiopia warmly welcomed the president both at the airport and at a separate party.
The Ethiopian regime hosted a lavish state dinner in honor of President al-Bashir on Tuesday evening.
Though invited, US and many European diplomats boycotted the state dinner in {www:protest} against ad-Bashir whose arrest is sought by the International Criminal court over alleged abuse in Sudan’s Western Darfur region.
One Western diplomat told the Nation in Addis Ababa: “It’s not fair to sit for a dinner with a criminal”.
During a joint press conference with Mr Meles, President Bashir dismissed the notion that the {www:arrest} warrant could restrict him from traveling.
“We came to this meeting to show those who said we could not travel outside Sudan that we can travel outside Sudan,” President al-Bashir told journalists.
The Sudanese {www:leader} has visited Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia since the ICC issued an arrest warrant on March 4.
