Ali Bira and Kemer Yousuf need no introduction to Oromo communities around the world. Living in exile for over two decades, they have both been compared to Maria Makeba of South Africa for stirring hopes of freedom with their music among millions in Oromia and beyond. Music being a central part of the Oromo struggle against past and current oppressive Ethiopian regimes, Ali and Kemer acted as constant reminders of the events in their homeland.
But unlike Maria Makeba, these icons of the Oromo nation have decided to reconcile with their people’s enemy – the Ethiopian regime – before the freedom they once sung for and raised hope about among the Oromo arrived.
Ali decided to reconcile with the TPLF government in September 2005 following Ethiopian elections in the same year and while the world was in the middle of condemning the TPLF government for stealing elections by intimidating, detaining and murdering hundreds Oromos and others.
Kemer followed suite three years later and flew back to perform in Finfinnee (Addis Abeba) a couple of days ago (November 2008) hot on the heels of mass arrests, “disappearances” and mistreatment of Oromo nationals (Read Amnesty Intenational Urgent Action Request Here) including his popular fellow singer Zerhun Wedajo whose where about is unknown.
Much has been said on and off the Internet about Ali Bira’s and Kemer Yousuf’s visits to Ethiopia to perform there. To my knowledge, not since Leencoo Lataa’s visit to Ethiopia (purportedly to have Ibsa Gutema released from TPLF dungeon) has any Oromo’s visit there generated such a heated debate among our people. Opponents have painted them as traitors and sell-outs. The old adage “everyone can be bought” is heard a lot in reference to the two singers. Supporters, on the other hand, see no issues or concerns with what they have done and argue that their critics’ concerns are misplaced.
Why such a controversy over two singers’ visits to, and performance in, their home land?
No serious person can dispute Ali’s quasi-legendary status when it comes to Oromo music. That he got Oromo music going when the going was tough needs no reminding for any serious observer of Oromo cultural renaissance. Neither is Kemer’s stature as a popular and very much loved Oromo singer is contested by anyone I know. Ali’s and Kemer’s love for the Oromo language and music is beyond dispute. That much is known and beyond debate as far as I am concerned.
Ali Bira had won some ethnic music award, along with other African singers in Canada, in or around 1996. The awards were given out to the winners by ambassadors (to Canada) of their respective native countries. Ali is said to have refused to receive it from the then Ethiopian ambassador, and was given the award by the then mayor of Toronto. I have checked out this story with brothers living in Toronto who confirmed it as accurate.
Rumor has it that Kemer Yousuf was offered hundreds of thousands of dollars by the TPLF government on various occasions to return to, and perform in, Ethiopia which he rebuffed bluntly, often disdainfully. It is said that he refused to succumb to financial enticements by the powers that be in Ethiopia mindful of the political benefit the current rulers of the country would rip from his appearance there.
That was then and this is now.
[...] Original post by thisisby.us [...]
Thought I might share the following. According to Jimma Times In Today’s Ethiopia,Teddy Afro more Oromo than Kemer.
Here is the comment I posted on OA blog regarding this whole ordeal.
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I like to begin my comment by expressing my deepest admiration and respect for these Oromo icons. Secondly, both of these musicians are going to face the music. Some in the diaspora are really angry at them while millions of Oromos in Oromia would love to see them perform right there in Oromia. I don’t know why everybody is up in arms at them while our target should be TPLF. They went back risking incarceration and worse not to sing for wayyaannees but to our people who are their main audience.
So in my opinion, they are not traitors – they are brave nationalists!
A response to one of the anonymous commenters who quoted me:
I don’t know why you are saying he is showing solidarity to OPDO when in fact he hasn’t said or done anything to that effect. He said things have changed. No one can deny that fact. He didn’t say things are better now; all what he said is there is change. Change could be for better or for worse.
When the tide rises, some people prefer to stay away from the ocean while others ride the tide. People like you and me are nowhere near the ocean while these guys are out there riding the tide by entertaining our people.
Everyone knows the circumstances our people are in but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to hear patriotic, encouraging, calming, motivating songs. An example about African Americans’ life in the past comes to mind when I think of the power of music. They used to sing blues while picking cotton when their slave masters were exploiting their labor and doing a lot of crazy stuff. So don’t tell me Oromos in Oromia are not happy to see these great artists.
I don’t know on what conditions these guys went back home and I don’t think you know either but you are just speculating rather a pessimistic view of yours. Qamar is going with a Canadian journalist for a reason so stop dismissing and tarnishing their name with your unfounded accusations!
Let’s just hope he will put on a good show and come back safe!
I don’t know where in that article you see rosy picture of the present day Ethiopia being painted. You guys are reading what is not written. The article talks about the awful things that happened in the past and as you said it is mute about what is going on under the current dictatorship. Everybody knows TPLF’s dismal human rights record and I think the writer has good reason for not mentioning it in that specific piece. Qamar was also very diplomatic in his innuendo by using the now famous word in the whole wide world thanks to Obama.
Change!
Another thing that you’re ignoring is who in his right mind criticizes the government when they are going to Ethiopia? If they do that, it is considered nothing short of a suicide mission.
Why didn’t I hear any outcry when Ababiya Aba Jobir, Lencoo Lata and others went back? Why all of a sudden are you guys holding musicians to the same standard as politicians? These individuals are entertainers and not politicians; so you should treat them as such!
As entertainers, they need to make money. Expecting them to sing for free while you wouldn’t do that yourselves is hypocritical to say the list. Let them go and sing! How often do Oromos in Oromia get to see their favorite artists? Do they have to wait a life time to see one good show or should they all take the next flight to US or Canada? I don’t think Ali Birra, Qamar or Saliha are going to sing kumbaya over there. I think they know well the situation our people are in and they are over there to ease the pain by the therapeutic sounds of their music.
We have no evidence at this point to call this recent development a sad development. For all I know, they might be doing what you guys are suggesting but at this point in time you shouldn’t be outright dismissive without gathering enough information. This culture of praising folks one day and ostracizing them the next day is not going to get us anywhere.