From Right to left Abubaker and his brothers Saleh and Osman
Gift of Incense, “Sendelay” as his grandmother used to
call him in Tigrait, is a book about the
life and musical career of Abubaker Ashekih, one of the forgotten Eritrean artists who
left big marks on the Ethiopian musical scene. Some of those artists composed some of the
best hits for Tilahun Gessese, Buzunesh Bekele and Mahmoud Ahmed. It was
Abubaker who discovered the talent of Mahmoud Ahmed when he worked as a
shoe-shine boy in front of one of the clubs where he performed and later introduced
him to the Imperial Body Guard Band. According to the book, Abubaker composed
more than 300 songs, including marches for the Imperial guard such as “Shegietou”-
Sweet heart of my life.
His story is narrated by his American wife, Judith Ashekih
as was told to her by her husband. The first time they met was at Saleh Hinit
office, in Addis Ababa where she worked as a secretary. Saleh Hinit was the
Minister of Post and Telecommunications in Ethiopia when the Derg took over in
1974. Abubaker’s first wife was Almaz from Asmara with whom he had several
children. While in Asmara he performed at Odeon and Asmara theatres. Later with
the formation of the ELF, life became difficult for the musicians as Ethiopia
introduced censorship of songs. Abubaker moved to addis to pursue his music
career. He performed with the Imperial body guard band not only in Addis but
travelled with the band to Russia, China, and Japan accompanying the Emperor.
Other Eritrean artists who also performed in Imperial Body Guard band included
Girmay Solomon and Colonel Girmay Hadgu.
Abubaker was born and grew up in Keren. Since early age he
was fascinated by music. The only thing he wanted in life was to be a musician.
His family with roots in the nobility of Habab were against his love of music.
As a person he was kind person who took care of his extended family, cared
about his employees and customers who were drunk by the end of the night, a
naughty boy adventurer who was eager to punish those who tried to abuse him, including
teachers he did not like. Keren boys and
girls will be interested to learn about his adventures in Keren.
Through Abubaker’s narration we get a glimpse for the first
time on how life was for the local citizens during the fierce, strategic battle
of Keren that raged from February 3 to April 1941 between the British and the
allied forces and the Italian colonial army. How the local population
experienced that war, hiding from continuous air raids, taking refugee in the
villages in the neighbourhoods, Italian soldiers desperate to escape to Asmara
asking for civilian clothes and at times threatening to get food, the sight of
corpuses that lied every where.
In Addis, Abubaker’s talent was discovered by Eritrean
Colonel Girmay Hadgu who was a member of the Imperial Guard and who composed
music. Girmay had served in the Ethiopian contingent in the Congo. He
introduced him to General Mengistu Neway who was the Commander of the Ethiopian
Imperial Guard, and Girmamye Neway who had returned from Jijiga and who was
looking for individuals who played Arabic music. Both tested his musical
abilities playing violin, mandolin, guitar and Oud. They were impressed with
his skills and asked Colonel Girmai Hadgu, how much to pay him. Girmai
suggested they pay him as much as his salary which was Birr 150/monthly and
they did. According to Abubaker, Tilahun at that time was earning Birr 100. Abubaker and family had to leave Addis to the
USA after life became difficult after the take over of the Derg in July 1978.
They sold ‘Venus Night Club’ before travel to the US. Through the book we get a
glimpse of how difficult life was in Addis during the Red Terror period.
On his first day of the job as a civilian with the Ethiopian
Imperial Guard, Abubaker composed the melody of his first hit, “My eyes always
follow you”. I guess it was ‘Wub Ainama’ where the
style and rhythm were quite new. It was sang by Tilahun. G. Mengistu Neway
called him to his office and gave him a bottle of Wiskey and 80 Birr as a bonus,
for that song. His other melodies include ‘Yefikir Shemani’ meaning ‘Weather of
love’ sang by Buzunesh Bekele; ‘Hiwetye Anchi Bemohonesh’-
you are my life by Tilahun Gessese. Other melodies include ‘Ingudaye Nesh’ – you are
a fruit of my life by Tilahun; ‘Gara Ser New Betish – by Teshome Metehu meaning ‘you live by the
mountain’; ‘ Kefu
Ayenkash’ – may nothing harm you by Tilahu; ‘Innatye nesh’ – you are my
mother and many others.
The book is an interesting read in terms of the musical
career of the artist, his contribution to Ethiopian music, and in shedding
light on the developments in Eritrea in the early 1940s to the early sixties
and on Ethiopia during Haile Sellasie rule and the early times of the Derg. The
book can be purchased at: https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Incense-Story-Revolution-Ethiopia/dp/1569021813
Abubaker passed away in the USA on the 2nd of
November 2000.
A book review by Awate.com: http://awate.com/gift-incense-book-review/
A book review by Awate.com: http://awate.com/gift-incense-book-review/
Another Eritrean artist who left his march on Ethiopian
music is artist Girmai Solomon . Unfortunately the few things we know about him was in the
interview he gave to Eri TV. Girmai passed away on the
3rd February 2019.
