Jan 22/08
Eritrea Week: Tsehaytu Beraki
Madlib is easily my favourite hiphop DJ and MF DOOM is one of my favourite MCs. The release of Madvillain’s first album on Stones Throw, Madvillainy, was a major musical event for me. I can’t wait for their new album.
What does this have to do with Eritrean music? I knew that I recognized the sample on Madlib’s remix of Madvillain’s track, Figaro. It’s a classic tune by one of Eritrea’s most famous musicians, Tsehaytu Beraki.
Tsehaytu Beraki is famous for both her singing and krar playing. (The krar is a stringed Eritrean instrument used in much of the traditional and popular music there.) She was originaly discovered by Tewelde Redda, who you’ll hear tomorrow, and soon became a big star both in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Eventually the worsening political situation in Eritrea forced her to flee the country in 1988. She ended up in Rotterdam, Holland.
Over the next ten years she stopped recording until she was “rediscovered” by Dutch producer, Terrie Ex. He built her a new krar and recorded her music for a couple years. The result is a record double-CD release, Selam. It’s on Terp Records, the same place you’ll find the late late Mohamed Jimmy Mohamed, who I saw at Banlieues Bleues a couple years ago, Konomo and Ethiopian sax player, Getachew Mekuria.
The earlier Beraki track I’ll post today is off the fifth Ethiopiques compilation, Tigrigna Music. Tigrinya/Tigrigna is a language spoken by the Tigray-Tigrinya people in Eritrea. It’s one of the most widely-spoken language in Etritrea, and the Tigrinya people make up a large part of the population.
One thing I’m confused about are the similarities/differences between those from the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia and the Tigrinya people in central Eritrea. I understand that the dialects they use are quite different, but do both people have a common heritage or should the distinction be made, historically and ethnically speaking, between the two? In other words, if today’s political borders didn’t exist would Ethiopian Tigrays and Tigrinyas in Eritrea be the same people living in a shared region?
Anyway, back to the music. The first track by Madvillain appears on Stones Throw 101, their 10-year celebration compilation mixed by another old favourite, Peanut Butter Wolf. The second from Ethiopiques 5, and the third from Tsehaytu Beraki’s Terp Release, Selam.
You can see her playing on YouTube here. There’s also more info on her and plenty more about Eritrea in general at this great site.
Madvillain - Figaro (Madlib remix)
Tsehaytu Beraki - Mhdjhmhrya
Tsehaytu Beraki - Atzmtom Keskisom
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
the ex again! She rediscovered by th member of “the ex” dutch rock group! i heard about this guys played with getatchew mekuria & this was not great! I find & listen the ex as is - full crap, like i may decide!
in this case seems like danger passed )) tsehaytu trax is not spoiled (mayb a little with electric gitar accompanying on ur trak (or i hear wrong this is not only krar)) in any case i wish dutch good guys & ethio lovers don’take instruments in hands if they r not self-confident in jazz music.
http://bennloxo.com/archives/2006/04/14/when-world-music-goes-wrong/
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Atzemtom Keskisom -They offered their bones
They paid their sacrifice with their bones
the Eritrean people are victorious and brave
The Eritrean people are powerful and brave
they struggled hard to save their country
Our people are the sea, our revolution is fish
they struggled long, that is it, that is it
thanks to them the nation is restored
Charge to the sea, who did it help?
as long as the Eritrean people exist
they will not give away their country
Mothers wailed, the men danced a war dance
the shanks of our children smashed the enemy
Here he is, the one who is humble
Here he is, the one who is proud of you
The people of Eritrea, they are the one
they will not surrender its inheritance
they will not surrender their bones and land
The brave and powerful people of Eritrea
never complained they were tired or bored
for 30 years they shed their blood
January 22nd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Sorry for going a bit off-topic but some words on The Ex: they are indeed quite active in engaging in all kinds of musical collaborations (one of the most interesting and musically succesful was their project with avantgarde cellist Tom Cora who unfortunately died some years ago).
They are absolutely an acquired taste but I think the CD they made with Getatchew Mekuria is actually pretty nice, the combi works pretty well on several tracks so worth a listen. And thanks to them a lot of people in the underground/anarcho/punk/etcetera get in contact with music they otherwise would probably never start listening to!
Oops, I guess I gave away my dutchness here..
Great theme week Matt, thanks!
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:33 pm
One thing I’m confused about are the similarities/differences between those from the GERMAN SPEAKING region in SWITZERLAND and the GERMAN people in GERMANY. I understand that the dialects they use are quite different, but do both people have a common heritage or should the distinction be made, historically and ethnically speaking, between the two? In other words, if today’s political borders didn’t exist would GERMAN SPEAKING SWISS and GERMANS in GERMANY be the same people living in a shared region?
-How about uniting all German speakers in one nation, under one leader? Ooops, someone tried that one…
Eritreans are Eritreans, Tigrayans are Tigrayans. Leave it at that.
If you want information on the political situation between Eritrea and Tigray you should read this: http://home.planet.nl/~hans.mebrat/eritrea-ethiopia.htm
Back to the music:
Wedi Tukul, one alltime favorite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJP2bFfZu1A
and Wedi Tukul back in the 80s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYDSqETvRCs&feature=related
Wedi, meaning “boy/son of” is roughly similar to the Algerian “Cheb” in usage. In case you wondered about all the Wedis in Eritrea.
Wedi Tukul (real name Tekle Kiflemariam) means The Son of Tukul, his village.
Wedi Tuquabo (Yohannes Tuquabo) is the son of his father Tuquabo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=autKFskZVnw
And if there’s a “wedi” there’s has to be a “gual” (girl/daughter of). Here’s Gual Ankere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMyNY3N4ZNs&feature=related
April 9th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
good job bro kepp it up.
yonatan