Tilahun Gessesse

Lore & Background

Tilahun Gessesse was born on 27 September 1941 in Waliso to Gessesse Negusse and Gete Gurmu. He attended Ras Gobena Elementary school, where his interest in music grew despite his grandfather urging him to focus on academics. The school principal, Shedad, encouraged him to pursue music in Sudan, but Tilahun instead followed advice from artists of the Hager Fikir Theatre to go to Addis Ababa. He dropped out of school at age 13 and attempted to travel to Addis Ababa on foot, but was caught and returned. He then hid in the back of a loaded truck to reach the city.

In Addis Ababa, he was first hired by the Hager Fikir Association (now Hager Fikir Theatre). He later joined the Imperial Bodyguard Band, becoming a leading star singer. After an attempted coup d'état in December 1960 by the Imperial Bodyguard, he was arrested and imprisoned for a time. He later moved to the National Theater, where his success continued. His tenor voice was considered the best Ethiopian pop voice of the 1960s.

Recordings from the 1970s and 1980s raised large sums for famine victims. Most of his songs were in Amharic, with a few in Oromo. In 1975, he released the LP *Tilahun Gessesse* on Amha Records. Starting in 1983, he worked with The Walias to re-record older LPs under Misrach Music Group. His early recordings predate 1970; singles and EPs include “Tiz Alegn Yetintu” (1970) with Mulatu Astatke, “Kulun Manqualesh,” “Min Libejegn” (1972), “Aykedashm Lebe” (1974), and “Yikir Yibelatchew / Leyito Blaskerew” (1974).

Reader's Guide

Tilahun Gessesse's significance lies in his status as one of the most popular Ethiopian artists of the 20th century, with a tenor voice that earned him the nickname 'The Voice' during the 1960s Golden Age. His recordings during the 1970s and 1980s raised large sums for famine aid, demonstrating his social impact. He received an honorary doctorate from Addis Ababa University and a lifetime achievement award from the Ethiopian Fine Art and Mass Media Prize Trust. Despite a life-threatening stabbing attempt in 1993, he continued recording, including albums with Ethio-Grooves Records that expanded his audience outside Ethiopia. His death in 2009 prompted a state funeral attended by about one million Ethiopians, with condolences from the prime minister and president. Posthumously, an unfinished project started around 2003, 'Kome Limerkish', was revealed in 2010 and released as an album in 2021. His legacy is noted as unmatched in the Ethiopian music community, with enduring influence on modern Ethiopian music.

Did You Know?

• Tilahun Gessesse was nicknamed 'The Voice' during the 1960s Golden Age of Ethiopian music.
• He raised money for aid during the famines of the 1970s and 1980s through his recordings.
• He survived a life-threatening slash to his neck after a stabbing attempt on Ethiopian Easter Sunday in 1993.
• His funeral in Addis Ababa was attended by about one million Ethiopians, including government officials.