The seasonal singer Teddy Afro does it again
By Alemayehu Seife-Selassie
Just last month the sensational singer Teddy Afro announced, during a radio interview, that he is now working on a new album that is scheduled to come out in four months' time.
Releasing three new singles earlier than the announced time was something audiences never anticipated.
Click Here to Listen all New SinglesThe new singles were first heard publicly Saturday last week on Ethiopicalink FM 98.1. “Ever since we played it over the radio on Saturday, we’ve been getting lots of requests to play it again. People even come to the station, our office and ask us for the CD,” said Birhane Negussie, the radio host of Ethiopicalink.
Birhane went on to say that Teddy dropped the CD off at their studio and they have been getting showered with requests ever since. According to him, the singles are expected to be available on CD free of charge after the sponsorship deal is finalized. Until then, however, audiences can stay tuned and enjoy them over the radio.
Click Here to Listen all New SinglesA radio DJ from Sheger FM 102.1 added how his station has also been receiving countless requests for the latest singles. The most requested of the three being Teddy’s original, Selam, which is said to be more popular in its contents. The other two are Wolo, originally created by Bahiru Kagne, and Zelesegna, a public song. One notable lyric in Selam reflects Teddy’s artistic approach, it writes, “It is better to die than live in shame. I would rather lose money than lose consciousness; I will not make money selling my pride.”
Other requests the station frequently receives include Bezawit Zeleke’s Menor and Jemeriaylew and Yismalem Berega’s Amrobish. Despite the two singles being released some time ago, they are still getting significant attention.
Teddy Afro is well-known for releasing highly seasonal sentimental singles. The single he wrote and performed overnight, Anbesa Kenenisa [a sentimental song that narrates the substitution of athlete Haile Gebreselassie by his successor Kenenisa Bekele on the 10,000 meters world Olympics], is such an example.
Teddy is most recognized for his two major hit albums: Abogida and Jah Yasteseriyal. The latter was released during the time of Ethiopia’s controversial election, five years ago. In his album title song Jah Yasteseriyal, the artist criticized the government for failing to bring change, and discussed how the public was confused from the provocative election debates. In another song from the album, he told the story of a family that was torn up as a result of the war that broke out between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Teddy’s songs, although very popular, have been banned from being played on local radios. Many DJs in clubs have said they were afraid to play the songs, despite the positive response the songs receive from fans.
Click Here to Listen all New SinglesThe controversial artist was sent to jail after he released a single that expressed the joyous mood among the public following the release of the opposition leaders. Some time later, however, Teddy was imprisoned for a hit-and-run traffic accident. Despite shady evidence, he was found guilty and released in less than two years. After his release, the artist gave a press conference explaining his intention to perform a concert in Addis Ababa. However, he declined to comment on whether or not he had been forced to refrain from singing songs critical of the government. Teddy performed a successful concert for a large audience at the heavily-guarded Addis Ababa Stadium. Though he was, though, subject to criticism by some for refraining from singing his more controversial lines.
Click Here to Listen all New SinglesEthiopianReporter
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