Not unusual to for singers ,in the secular world, to trace the genesis of their carrier in Sunday school choir.What is unusual is for singers to pause secular singing and swing to the realm of spirituality. Ethiopia’s famous contemporary singer -Teddy Afro- did that; did both lyrics and composition.
In the song, Teddy Afro praises the Lord for the price paid on the cross and calls out the name of the Father in Heaven yearning peace for his country: “Selam adrgiat hagerachinin” and calls the virgin St.Mary to pray for Ethiopia.”Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.” Psalms 68:31
If you happened to visit Ethiopia and been to the rock hewn churches of Lalibella, you probably can tell the domination of eccentric Drum beat and Sistra in the song indicative of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church.
From his songs, Teddy Afro’s quest to be a voice of reconciliation and harmony in Ethiopian society crystal clear – something that has been a subject of deliberate misrepresentation and misinterpretation among elites and ideologues of ethnic politics.
Politics aside, irrespective of your inability to understand the language and religious creed, the dominating drum and sistra melody is really captivating.