For Mesay, The Sky Is Not the Limit

“My father loved my work,” said Mesay, reminiscing about his childhood in the forested mountains of Gojam. His work was in the field with the cows. “I carried food for the cows; the load was bigger than my own weight.” “I used to sing warrior songs in the mountains when I worked the cows.” At the age of 16, Mesay left his family and trekked to Addis Ababa. Penniless and failing to find his one known relative in the city, he spent his first night in Addis Ababa on a street near Mercato.

From mountains of Gojam to the streets of Addis Ababa, was the first leg of Mesay’s journey. Where do you find Mesay now, 14 years later?               

Fendika, of course! Behind the kebero drums, next to the sound board, by Melaku’s side during the DJ session, on the dance floor during Azmari nights. There are nights when Mesay does ALL of these within the stretch of a few hours.

But Mesay’s journey has taken him away from Fendika to many places around the world: Italy, France, the U.S., Norway, the Netherland, Austria, Switzerland, India, Qatar, Israel, UAE, Morocco, Hungary. He might be shy to speak English, or to sing his childhood songs; but he is not shy to get fast and furious on the kebero drums anywhere in the world. Watch out! Fire on stage! But as soon as the concert is over, Mesay switches to quiet, focused work mode: packing up gears and instruments, making sure all costumes are back in the suitcase.

“Mesay understands we are working for Ethiopia, not our egos. If he believes in something, he gives it his life.” Melaku has implicit trust in Mesay, “We can communicate without speaking, just with our eyes. I love his honesty, his patience, and his groundedness. He’s not about competition, and he’s always willing to give space to others.”

Melaku is referring to the competitiveness of the music field, and the scarce opportunity of touring abroad. Many Ethiopian musicians and dancers run away when they get a chance to perform internationally. Few Fendika artists have done so. They have Fendika as a home to return to. The love they feel at Fendika pulls stronger than the seduction of any “rich” countries.

Familial love aside, Mesay also finds in Fendika a university of lifelong learning. 13 years ago, when he started working at Fendika, he was a bar man and a cashier. But soon he would become a dancer, then a drummer, then a soundman, then a DJ, then Fendika’s archivist, and now Fendika’s very own YouTuber! Mesay never stops learning.

Quiet with kind eyes and an open smile, Mesay has a knack in identifying the right people he can study with. He learns fast through keen observation and sheer willpower. “He will not sleep until he figures something out.” Melaku attests. Some of the learning might be a little easier than others. Having grown up in Gojam, he already had a great Gojam eskista in his body. He learned other kinds of dances at Fendika with Melaku. “He learns by dancing by my side, and by asking me questions. I explain things, but I do not teach him how to dance to the counts. I teach him to dance to his heart, his soul.”

Learning to be a sound man is a different story. Currently Mesay is the one who takes expert care of the sound equipment, and who makes sure Fendika concerts have professional acoustics. He learned by watching the former sound man at Fendika. He would take pictures of the cables, to remember what each of them does and where they are supposed to go. He practiced by himself during the day in Fendika. “I didn’t even understand what positive and negative meant.” After getting shocked more than a few times, he figured things out. “Even now, I’m not a very good sound man,” says the humble Mesay.

Melaku begs to disagree. He depends on Mesay in many ways. “At first, I was just happy to meet my cousin! Then I was amazed by all that he has learned. When I needed a dancer, he became a dancer. When I needed a drummer, he became a drummer. When I needed a sound man, he became a sound man. When I’m frustrated with others, he’s the one who I can shout with.”

The love and learning are mutual. Mesay is a man of few words, but you can tell from his eyes where his respect lands. On Mesay’s first trip to the U.S., for 2016 globalFest in New York City, Melaku was impressed that Mesay started documenting their travels with videos, in addition to putting on great performances at one of the world’s biggest music festivals. Melaku taught Mesay about how to interact with Americans, “Say ‘thank you’.” “Don’t be shy all the time. Foreigners don’t understand our shyness.” “It’s considered rude if you do not finish your food.” “Small, small things like that. Cultural shocks.”

Among all of the work and learning he does, Mesay is most at home with the kebero. Again he taught himself by apprenticing with a professional drummer in Fendika, learning and substituting by night and practicing by day. Melaku speaks of Mesay’s drumming: “I love his taste with the drum: his soul, style, character, creativity, feels, and visuals. He’s still learning and absorbing all the music that happens at Fendika. I tell him if I think he has room to improve, but I also tell him when I’m proud of him.” Now Mesay tours the world with Fendika and Ethiocolor, and collaborates with Jeroen Visser and the Ex on the kebero drums. “It’s my dream to represent Ethiopia with my music.” Mesay is already living his dream. But his journey has just begun.

Mesay with roots in the mountains of Gojam, if you are a tree, you have grown many branches of learning. Melaku is one of many people who are lucky enough to watch you grow into an amazing tree of artistry and integrity. Your potential to learn and to love will have no limit. You will be grounded in the land of Ethiopia, and you will reach for the sky. But remember, the sky is NOT the limit.