Tewolde Redda the multi-talented Eritrean artist committed to the people’s cause
Tewolde Redda the multi-talented Eritrean artist committed to the people’s cause
Tewolde Redda is one of Eritrea’s most prominent artists, renowned for his commitment to the people’s cause. His legendary song “Shegey Habuni” (Give Me My Torch), which he first performed in 1965 at Cinema Odeon, resonated as a powerful cry for freedom. Despite its metaphorical lyrics, the song was widely interpreted as a call to regain liberty. Its relevance endures to this day. Since leaving Asmara in the late 1960s, Tewolde has not returned to Eritrea due to his opposition to the current regime, and he remains steadfast in his support for the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), which he joined in 1962. He joined the liberation struggle with his daughter, where she was killed, but he survived. He came to the Netherlands in 2002 and lives there since, where he leads a reclusive life.
More than just a songwriter, musician, and
singer, Tewolde Redda is a multifaceted talent—playwriter, poet, sportsman and skilled
electrician. He was the first to design an electric version of the krar (a
traditional string instrument), which was adopted by Ateweberhan Segid, the
father of traditional music in the Asmara Theater Association (MTA),
significantly impacting the evolution of Eritrean music. He was also an
accomplished mechanic and athlete, engaging in cycling, football, and even
boxing.
In an interview with ERIPM, Tewolde shared that
he served as the musical producer and public relations officer at the renowned
Asmara Theater Association (MTA). As the go-to person for refining songs and
lyrics, he collaborated with poets and musicians until the material was
stage-ready. He mentioned that only Osman Abdulrahim would come fully prepared
with complete lyrics and rhythms. As a public relations officer, Tewolde
coordinated requests for performances and events and took the Association’s
scripts and music to the Censorship Office, which, though staffed by
sympathetic Eritreans, was cautious not to endorse any content that might be
viewed as defiance to Ethiopian occupation.
Back then, music was recorded on reel-to-reel
tapes, which were not widely accessible, so people would gather to listen in
cafés and bars. To promote their productions and concerts, they used vehicles
equipped with microphones that roamed the city or brought tapes to bars,
offering a sneak preview of their latest works. When asked why the music of the
1960s remains timeless, Tewolde attributed it to the intense effort,
discipline, and camaraderie among the artists.
Regarding how "Shegey Habuni" passed
censorship, Tewolde recounted that the censor, who was friendly toward him, and named Tewolde as well, initially exclaimed, “Do you want to get us in trouble, my son?” when he first
heard the song. Tewolde managed to convince him that it wasn’t political,
explaining that the inspiration came from observing a young boy asking for his
torch during the traditional Meskel celebrations. With that clarification, the
song was approved. However, when it received an overwhelming reception at its
first performance, Ethiopian officials demanded that all song scripts be
translated into Amharic, after that. But the song was never recorded in a studio, due to its political implications. under the present circumstances he does not want to sing the song in public.
At the age of 16 years, he heard of a music contest in Asmara and decided to compete by choosing a popular song of the time, Asmeretei. He practised using a borrowed guitar. According to the Norwegian music enthusiast (Aka. Kidus Berhane) who remixed and recorded his songs and wrote about him, Tewolde prepared himself for the occasion by fixing his hair and styling like Elvis Presley all the way down to the leather jacket. At the competition he was the youngest of 14 contestants and was declared the winner. The result gave him confidence to pursue his musical career. The gift, later of an electric guitar by the husband of his older sister gave a solid beginning. By the 1950s Asmara had several Italian bands and with the Italian racial laws lifted, Eritreans gradually started joining them and starting their own bands. In the cosmopolitan, Asmara space, Tewolde grew up fluent in Tigrinya (his mother tongue), Amharic, Arabic and Italian. In 1961, he was one of the pioneers with Tekabo Nemariam who started Mahber Teater Asmara (MaTA), the Theater Association of Asmara. He recorded with Phillips and Amha Records in Addis Ababa, and had his own music shop (Yared) , label, and record studio.
He sang for love, for life and its challenges, family and provided advice to the young through his songs. When he plays the guitar, it is as if the guitar is talking to him. One of his famous hit songs, is Seb Mukhaney ' which reads
Being human living in the earth
Being human living in the earth and unable to cope
We are its soil and returning to its embrace
From dust to dust
we think we live forever, yet life is short
Live in love and kindness
Avoid sin and mistakes
In the end, what remains?
The legacy you leave behind
Not wealth nor fame
Enjoy the warmth of family,
The laughter of siblings.
Live gently with love
And when the sun sets on us
The number of funeral goers
Increase when the corpse lives the house
Being human living on earth and unable to cope
His masterpiece Shegey Habuni reads as follows:
Give me my torch (flame)
Don't deceive me
Don't let me wait
There was a friend of mine
Who refused to give me my torch
He betrayed me
I have gone everywhere
Help me with this
I have thanked the soil and stones
What can I do more than this
Please listen to me
Why don't you give me my torch
God has created the earth and it is enough for all
Tewolde was born in Asmara’s Tzetzerat neighborhood on December 27, 1941. He was born at an important historical juncture, few months after the allied forces defeated Italy and Britain took charge of Eritrea. He was the youngest and only boy in a happy family. He attended Schola Vittorio Emanuele and later Hibret School. His father, Redda Tesfamariam Game (Enda Mefles), was from Rokhoyto in Akle Guzai, and his mother, Silas Tessema Neuus (Enda Turkay), was from Lego Sarda. He recalls meeting key independence movement figures like Abdulgadir Kebire, Ras Tsemma Asberom, and Woldeab Woldemariam at the Jeberti Club, later named ‘Nadi Al Shabab’—a youth club that inspired him to join the liberation struggle.
Tewolde shared that he was deeply influenced by the great Syrian-Egyptian musician Farid Al Atrash. He also discovered and mentored Tebereh Tefahunay, one of the few female artists performing on stage, writing many of her songs. As an artist, Tewolde’s low profile allowed him to support the fedayeen—guerilla fighters who undertook special missions in towns—by hiding arms for them when they visited Asmara. Tewolde's musical style has attracted international attention. A documentary film on Tewolde Redda’s ‘SHIGEY, MY FLAME’, directed by Marc Schmidt was prepared in the Netherlands in 2009. in the introduction, it is written. "The song Shigey habuni lives on in the hearts of all Eritreans around the world. It became a symbol of the long and harsh fight against the Ethiopian occupation. Nowadays Eritrea is an independent country, but the writer and singer of this song, Tewolde Redda, seems to be forgotten." The film was also reviewed.
Yared Tekeste, a promoter, festival producer,
DJ, and passionate music enthusiast, is the son of Tekeste Goitom, also known
as “Trillo,” one of the founders of Ma.M.Ha.L. (the Association for Advancing
National Culture), which preceded the Asmara Theater Association (MTA). He describes Tewolde’s music as avant-garde, emphasizing how he introduced
innovative musical scales into traditional Eritrean music, creating dynamic
sounds that have shaped modern popular music. His pioneering approach to guitar
playing and electrifying the krar transformed Eritrean music's trajectory
forever, he believes.
As a person, he is humble, doesn't like talking about himself and rarely gives interviews but very friendly. It was the late Jelal Yassin who introduced me to Tewolde Redda. Tewolde mentioned in a recent conversation with him that he and Jelal were very close and spoke on the phone almost daily. On the night Jelal passed away (15th May 2022), they had a long conversation during which Jelal, feeling unwell, mentioned he was “in death’s quarter” and felt dizzy. Tewolde recalled hearing a bell ring, likely Jelal calling for help. The next day, Tewolde learned of Jelal’s passing. He spoke highly of Jelal’s kindness, sharing that Jelal had sent him money and tickets to visit his daughter in Sudan, unannounced, whom he hadn’t seen in years. Though Tewolde was hesitant due to his eyesight issues, Jelal made the reunion possible. A relationship that transcends all boundaries. Tewolde remains deeply affected by the loss of his 30-year-old son in 2014. He currently lives in the Netherlands.
At 83, age and eyesight problems have taken its toll on him, but his memories are intact and remains engaged, though his musical engagement has dwindled. The first time Kidus Berhane met Tewolde in the Netherlands, he told him, "I am not like the other singers of my time, (I am not a wedding or a night club singer,) I performed with Mahmoud Ahmed, Tilahun and others, but I was never making music to be popular. I was a revolutionary singer, singing for the love of my country and people and that was my main motivation."
Reflecting perhaps on the dictatorial regime, ruling Eritrea, he added, "I lost belief in my country, I have not lost my voice. but my enthusiasm for performing has diminished; along with the loss of my country. I am still making some melodies some lyrics and so I have many songs that I have not released. One day I might give them to my people, but not now. Perhaps when I feel better about things." And that better has not come yet.
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