A Song of Love from Esuyawkal and Noha

Esuyawkal my oldest son is 6 years old. Noha my nephew is 8 years old. Last Friday (August 14th), they sang Dr. Tilahun Gessesse’s song about how important it is to love, and to take care of our country. “Everything we enjoy is because of our country. We have a home because of our country. We live a full life because of our country.”

I am saddened by the ethnic problems and political issues in the country. Ethiopia is a big country, rich with resources. Historically we have been an example of freedom in Africa. We have our own alphabet. And scientists found evidence of earliest human lives here. People have lived together for centuries despite differences, religious or ethnic. Muslims and Orthodox Christians live peacefully together in Ethiopia. People of different ethnicities marry each other and build families together. But now we have issues. We seem to have forgotten our history.

I am especially disturbed by some of the footage of diaspora demonstrations that shows very young children shouting “Down with Ethiopia!” In my whole life I have never heard anything like this, let alone from innocent children. That is hurting me a lot. The children don’t understand what they’re saying. Their hearts are pure, but they can be taught, to either love peace, or to shout at the “Other.”

That’s why I teach my children this song about love, about Ethiopia. The song is from Dr. Tilahun Gessesse. He passed away, but his work has never died. Before COVID-19, in Fendika’s live concerts, performers and audiences together would sing this song together. Many Ethiopian people get really emotional when they hear this song.

For one week, Esuye and Noha spent a small part of each day to learn the song. They listened to Dr. Tilahun’s original song and wrote down the words themselves. I am so proud of their writing! I sang with them whenever I had time. My big thank-you goes to Emebet. She helped and guided them a lot.

The children are the future. I don’t want my children, the future generation to fight each other, to think in small-minded ways. Our grandfathers and grandmothers prayed for the entire humanity, for the peace of our planet, not just for themselves or for their own groups. They were not yet poisoned by the individualist way of thinking. We need to listen to our ancestors while imagining our futures.

But the children also have a lot to teach us. With the song, I’m impressed with the their timing and confidence. The first time they practiced with the Ethiocolor musicians they were surprised. They were not expecting a live band behind them! But they held their own with their rhythms; the musicians followed and supported them. Esuye showed the rhythm through his whole body, and Noha showed it through his vocalization. They knew the song so well inside that they were never thrown off by the extra elements of live musical accompaniment. They have different voices, different personalities. But together they make beautiful harmony. After they sang, they observed the rest of the concert carefully and gave me critical feedback. They are my teachers.

Esuye and Noha are very happy to receive congratulations from friends and families. They are already asking me what the next project is. I told them, “If you want to perform again, you will need to learn to play an instrument.”

My hope for their future is for them to find their unique selves, their confidence, and to live life to the fullest. When we don’t know who we are, we are lost souls. If they live fully doing what they love, their happiness and joyfulness will help others, too. They can be good examples, in loving other people through their own strengths.