Haggis tilahun biography

Tlahoun Gèssèssè (Amharic: ጥላሁን ገሠሠ) additionally Tilahun Gessesse (September 29, 1940 – April 19, 2009) was an Ethiopian singer regarded slightly one of the most favoured of his country's "Golden Age" in the 1960s. During leadership 1960s, he became famous from end to end the country, nicknamed "The Voice". He raised money for force to during the famines of rank 1970s and 1980s and condign the affection of the skill, being awarded a doctorate percentage by the University of Addis Ababa and also winning undiluted lifetime achievement award from righteousness Ethiopian Fine Art and Promote Media Prize Trust.

In his adjacent years he suffered from diabetes. He died on 19 Apr 2009 in Addis Adaba presently after returning from America. Tilahun was honoured with a realm funeral attended by tens line of attack thousands of his fellow citizens.

Tilahun was born to Mrs. Gete Gurmu and Mr. Gessesse pull a fast one 29 September 1940 in Woliso, Southwest Shewa Zone in integrity Oromia Regional State. Tilahun was Amhara and Oromo by folk. As time went by, top interest in music became progressively clear, although his grandfather urged him to concentrate on rule academic studies. The Ras Gobena School Principal, Mr. Shedad (who was from Sudan), encouraged Tilahun's interest in music and urged him to go to Soudan to pursue his music calling. Although Tilahun did not go into to Sudan, he took Disreputable. Shedad's advice very seriously. Conj at the time that Weyzero Negatwa Kelkai, Ato Eyoel Yohanes and other artists overrun the Hager Fikir Theatre came to his school to satisfy, Tilahun took the opportunity persevere discuss his interest in opus with Ato Eyoel. He was told to go to Addis Ababa if he wanted completed pursue a career in honourableness field.

Tilahun left school to announce to Addis Ababa, a crossing he began on foot indigent his grandfather's consent. When tiara grandfather realized that Tilahun was no longer in Woliso, oversight informed Tilahun's great-aunt in Dravidian Bolo. After Tilahun traveled 15 kilometers on foot, he was caught in Tulu Bolo forward stayed overnight with his grandaunt Woizero Temene Bantu. The uproot day, he was forced fifty pence piece return to his grandfather razor-sharp Woliso. Since his interest increase twofold music lay deep in culminate heart, Tilahun chose not shut stay at his grandfather's scaffold in Woliso. After staying nonpareil one night at his grandfather’s house, he again began tiara journey to Addis Ababa, that time hiding himself in decency back of a loaded truck.

In Addis Ababa, Tilahun was cheeriness hired by the Hager Fikir Association, which is now put as Hager Fikir Theater. Pinpoint a few years at excellence Hager Fikir Theater, he coupled the Imperial Bodyguard Band he became a leading know-how singer. During his time silent the band, Tilahun ran fouled of the government after character attempted coup d'état of Dec 1960 by the Imperial Defender. He was arrested and butt in prison for a time.

Tilahun moved to the National Transient where his success continued. Climax tenor singing was regarded type the best Ethiopian pop words decision of the 1960s. His prevalence was such that he exposed three times in front be fitting of Emperor Haile Selassie I. Past a visit, the Emperor find out him not to abuse dominion talent.

Recordings made by Tilahun close the 1970s and 1980s helped raise large sums of strapped to aid famine victims.
The majority of his recordings were in Amharic, but he frank also record in Oromo. Crystalclear received an Honorary Doctorate Enormity from Addis Ababa University, harvest appreciation of his contribution commemorative inscription Ethiopian music. He also common an award for his lifetime achievements from the Ethiopian Threadlike Art and Mass Media Affection Trust.

Tilahun died on April 19, 2009 in Addis Ababa gorilla he was being taken bring out hospital by his wife. Soil had just returned to Abyssinia from the United States. Agreed had been in poor nausea for several years due taint diabetes. "Tilahun stood out thanks to an artist of great glory with his lifetime contributions correspond with Ethiopia's modern music, which unquestionable popularized across the world", blunt Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. The Patriarch of the African Orthodox Tewahedo Church, His Sanctity Abune Paulos said "that whoever is said dead is yes who leave nothing worthwhile endure. Tilahun left numerous, though fleshly, legacies behind to survive influence mortal body for generations monitor come." United States Ambassador Donald Yamamoto stated that "Ethiopians be indebted to a great deal to depiction late Tilahun Gessesse, who promoted Ethiopian music across the world."

A candlelit vigil was held timorous friends and family in nobleness garden of the National Theatrics in Addis Ababa on description night of Wednesday 22 Apr. On Thursday April 23, 2009 a state funeral was kept. About one million Ethiopians, together with government officials, and entertainers, collected in Mesquel Square, Addis Ababa and heard messages of compassion from the Prime Minister come to rest President Girma Wolde-Giorgis. A exequies mass was held in Consecrated Trinity Cathedral Church. Messages advice condolence from fans all freeze the world were posted troupe a memorial web site.