In a country where criticising the authorities has often landed people in trouble, the latest song from Ethiopia's biggest musician – which appears to condemn the government – is attracting attention.
Teddy Afro's track Das Tal, meaning 'put up the tent' in English, has been viewed more than seven million times on YouTube since its release on Thursday. Referencing a traditional mourning tent, Teddy Afro – whose real name is Tewodros Kassahun – sings that he is grieving a country he says has been lost.
The build-up to the song's release had already drawn controversy after a preview event for journalists in the capital Addis Ababa failed to go ahead, for unclear reasons.
The spirit of being Ethiopian is now pushed away, the 49-year-old laments on Das Tal. Now I understand the sorrow and pain. Where can someone go to mourn, where do you cry? In the place that raised me, in the village where I grew up, I have become a stranger, like someone with no country.
The star has been a thorn in the side of previous governments. Two decades ago he was imprisoned for 16 months for being involved in a hit-and-run, which he claimed were politically motivated. His last album, 2017's Ethiopia, enjoyed significant sales and topped the Billboard World Albums chart for weeks but was blocked by authorities upon its release.
Amid a backdrop of protests against the marginalization of the country's largest ethnic group, Oromos, Teddy Afro's music calls for unity and reflects on concerns over increasing tribalism, especially in the wake of a civil war that has devastated the nation.
As Ethiopia heads toward general elections, Teddy Afro's call for unity and reflection on Ethiopia's challenges is likely to resonate more than ever.
Teddy Afro's track Das Tal, meaning 'put up the tent' in English, has been viewed more than seven million times on YouTube since its release on Thursday. Referencing a traditional mourning tent, Teddy Afro – whose real name is Tewodros Kassahun – sings that he is grieving a country he says has been lost.
The build-up to the song's release had already drawn controversy after a preview event for journalists in the capital Addis Ababa failed to go ahead, for unclear reasons.
The spirit of being Ethiopian is now pushed away, the 49-year-old laments on Das Tal. Now I understand the sorrow and pain. Where can someone go to mourn, where do you cry? In the place that raised me, in the village where I grew up, I have become a stranger, like someone with no country.
The star has been a thorn in the side of previous governments. Two decades ago he was imprisoned for 16 months for being involved in a hit-and-run, which he claimed were politically motivated. His last album, 2017's Ethiopia, enjoyed significant sales and topped the Billboard World Albums chart for weeks but was blocked by authorities upon its release.
Amid a backdrop of protests against the marginalization of the country's largest ethnic group, Oromos, Teddy Afro's music calls for unity and reflects on concerns over increasing tribalism, especially in the wake of a civil war that has devastated the nation.
As Ethiopia heads toward general elections, Teddy Afro's call for unity and reflection on Ethiopia's challenges is likely to resonate more than ever.
