Saturday, August 31, 2013

Remembering Ebbisa Addunya



Over the last two decades, the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s reign saw an unprecedented killing, torture, and harassment of those who dared to speak truth to power.

Seen as a threat to their power, the Oromo, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, paid a hefty price. Oromo students were dismissed from institutions of learning in large numbers, Oromo artists were either killed or forced into exile, thousands continue to languish in prisons across the country and many others lead a life of exile in their own homes.
One notable artist, Ebbisa Addunya, stands tall among many others who perished while fighting for greater Oromo rights. Ebbisa was a young vocalist who won the hearts and minds of his contemporaries. On August 30, 1996, Zenawi’s security forces assassinated Ebbisa at his own house in Finfinne. Following his tragic death, in its

October/November 1996 report, the Oromo Support Group, a UK-based Human Rights group described the incident as follows:
Oromo nationalist singer Ebbisa Addunya and his friend Tana Wayessa were shot dead by government gunmen on August 30th. They were at Ebbisa's home in the Shiromeda area, No 094, Higher 13, Kebele 01, north of the American Embassy in Addis Ababa, when gunmen burst in. Eyewitnesses claim the bodies were dragged from the house and put in a Land Rover with a government license plate.

The security men who carried out the murders first cleared the street. Residents who looked out of their houses after the gunfire were told to get back indoors. The bodies were recovered next day from the morgue at Menelik II hospital. Following the incident, Ebbisa Addunya's uncle was called to see the Chief Security Officer of Addis Ababa. He was told that Ebbisa's killing had been a mistake and that the target had been Tana Wayessa.
The eldest of five siblings, two brothers and three sisters, Ebbisa was born and raised in Dembi Dollo, in Western Oromia, Ethiopia.
For the enormous debt that my generation and I owe him, I dedicate the following poem to Eebbisa Addunya as we remember his legacy on this date. He was a young visionary whose message often wake me up in the middle of the night and make me ponder, “what have I contributed to end a century long suffering of East African people, particularly, the Oromo, if not yet how can I contribute?”
Ebbisa set a very good example of the difference one person can make. He used his talent to raise awareness about the trials and tribulations of Oromo people in such a way that even after more than a decade and half his words profoundly touch our hearts. He left us a matchless legacy. On August 30th, I want to see the thousands of martyrs who paid the ultimate price for my freedom through Ebbisa’s eyes.
Not lucky enough to witness how you looked
And asked what your plans were
For the people and country that you dearly loved

But for sure
I know well enough
To never forget you

Ebbisa,
You are not here with us today
But your sprits have been
And will forever be
Because…
You left us with an everlasting memory
But I don’t understand why…
Why would someone commit such a horrible crime?
 Not lucky enough to witness how you looked


And asked what your plans were
For the people and country that you dearly loved

But for sure
I know well enough
To never forget you


Ebbisa,
You are not here with us today
But your sprits have been
And will forever be
Because…
You left us with an everlasting memory

But I don’t understand why…
Why would someone commit such a horrible crime?
A heart-wrenching act
Taking you from home
In the middle of the night
Kill and drag you down the street?
What a cruel, coward
Heartless and ignorant act

But why?
Was it to stop the just cause of 40 millions?
Or to frighten us not to speak up like you did,
And extend their colony over our land
Holding onto power forever
Reign as king of kings again
And look down on us? 

Too late,
Had they known
How ahead of them you were
And the most brave of your generation
Well prepared for anything
Anything!
For the just cause you believed in
Imprisonment
Torture
Or even giving life

Ebbisa,
You left us with a wonderful realization
Fighting for one’s right
Dying for a true cause
And praying to God (Allah)
To help during hardships

And you had a wish
To see Oromia freed
Before leaving earthly life
Like you did it here through your song
“Yaa biyyoo na hin waaminii
hanga bilisummaa ija tiyyaan argutti”

No worries Ebbisa
Though you are not here to see
God has shown us some signs
Signs of your prayer
Just a few days ago
God spoke to us
Touched us with his invisible hands

And said,
Don’t cry when they hurt you
Don’t feel unhappy with me
Because you don’t have power
To protect yourselves
Leave your sorrows to me
And I will show you
How the powerful one breaks
How the powerful one cries

Ebbisa,
Now sixteen years after you rest
Despite division
Lack of coordination
And focus
The sun is about to shine on Oromia
Your message still drives us
Rings in our ears
Makes us restless
Helps us fight
For freedom and justice
You are always remembered
But today, August 30th
It is special one
Dear Eebbisa, may your soul REST IN PEACE!
A heart-wrenching act
Taking you from home
In the middle of the night
Kill and drag you down the street?
What a cruel, coward
Heartless and ignorant act

But why?
Was it to stop the just cause of 40 millions?
Or to frighten us not to speak up like you did,
And extend their colony over our land
Holding onto power forever
Reign as king of kings again
And look down on us? 

Too late,
Had they known
How ahead of them you were
And the most brave of your generation
Well prepared for anything
Anything!
For the just cause you believed in
Imprisonment
Torture
Or even giving life

Ebbisa,
You left us with a wonderful realization
Fighting for one’s right
Dying for a true cause
And praying to God (Allah)
To help during hardships

And you had a wish
To see Oromia freed
Before leaving earthly life
Like you did it here through your song
“Yaa biyyoo na hin waaminii
hanga bilisummaa ija tiyyaan argutti”

No worries Ebbisa
Though you are not here to see
God has shown us some signs
Signs of your prayer
Just a few days ago
God spoke to us
Touched us with his invisible hands

And said,
Don’t cry when they hurt you
Don’t feel unhappy with me
Because you don’t have power
To protect yourselves
Leave your sorrows to me
And I will show you
How the powerful one breaks
How the powerful one cries

Ebbisa,
Now sixteen years after you rest
Despite division
Lack of coordination
And focus
The sun is about to shine on Oromia
Your message still drives us
Rings in our ears
Makes us restless
Helps us fight
For freedom and justice
You are always remembered
But today, August 30th
It is special one
Dear Eebbisa, may your soul REST IN PEACE!

No comments:

Post a Comment