"nurturing and strengthening cultural diversity through music and the arts."  

Tilahun Gessesse Tribute at the Evangadi Restaurant and Lounge on Friday April 23, 2010.

 

Batuki Music Society in association with Afrosonic Entertainment presents a Tilahun Gessesse Tribute, on Friday April 23^rd, 2010 at the Evangadi Restaurant and Lounge located at 1220 Danforth
Avenue.  The tribute will feature a live music concert featuring the finest cast of Ethiopian musicians in Toronto, performing a selection of songs by the legendary Tilahun Gessesse, the ‘Voice of Ethiopia’.

 

The concert will feature singer Ermias Assebework, saxophonist Girma Woldemichael, keyboard player Gezahegn Mamo, drummer Daniel Barnes and bassist Waleed Abdulhamid. DJ AfroSonic will be spinning the best of Ethiopian music between the sets. 

 

Net proceeds from this concert will be donated to the People to People Canada organization.  P2P Canada is a non-profit charitable organization that assists orphans in Ethiopia and also helps raise awareness for HIV/AIDS.  For more information please visit:  www.p2pcanada.org.

 

Tilahun Gessesse is considered the ‘Father of Ethiopian music’ and the ‘Voice of the last 3 generations’.  He sings about everyday life and human affairs with themes of love, peace, justice, famine, war, friendship, etc.  His songs have expressed the thoughts and desires of generations of Ethiopians.  They also deal with the country’s history and major episodes that have happened in it like the 1960 coupe d’etat, 1973 famine, and the 1974 Revolution.  By singing about the famine in Ethiopia, Tilahun endeared himself to his people and brought much attention to the cause.  His songs helped define the contemporary history of Ethiopia.  He was much more than a singer, a giant in the eyes of his people. 

 

In his early days Tilahun started out in the Hager Fikir Theatre and went on to become a lead singer in the Imperial Bodyguard Band.  Tilahun also performed in the National Theatre where his tenor voice was regarded as the best Ethiopian pop voice of the 60’s.  He sang for Haile Selassie on three occasions.

Over the years Tilahun made many recordings and in the 60’s and 70’s helped raise huge sums of money for aid famine victims.  The majority of his recordings are in Amharic, but he did also record in Oromo.

He received an honorary Ph.D. from Addis Ababa University, in appreciation of his contribution to Ethiopian music.  He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ethiopian Fine Art and Mass Media Prize Trust. 

 

Tilahun passed away as a result of complications from diabetes on April 19^th, 2009.  He was honoured with a state funeral and about 1 million Ethiopians, including government officials and entertainers, gathered in Meskal Square.  

 

Tickets are  $15.00 advance, $20.00 at door, available at Soundscapes (572 College St.), African Drum & Art Crafts (618 Dundas St. West), Blue Nile Restaurant (1260 Danforth Ave.), New Bilan Restaurant (183 Dundas St. East), P2P Canada office (104 Cedarvale Ave.).                     

Doors open at   8:00 p.m. / Showtime: 9:30 p.m.

 

Info:  www.myspace.com/batukimusic www.p2pcanada.org

www.afrosonic-ent.com

 

 Batuki Music Society gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council.