Brief history of Tessema Eshete's
78 R.P.M. , shellac disks.
In the year 1900 (Ethiopian Calendar), Emperor Menelik the Second sent Tessema Eshete to Germany; as can be seen on the passport the Emperor issued to Tessema and the two other Ethiopians who traveled with him, they were all sent for education. Nonetheless, due to circumstances not yet known; in addition to accomplishing his main mission; Tessema also used his two years stay in Germany, to record these historical first Ethiopian and may be even African; music disks.
Why and how did he record these disks? Was it his own idea? Or, was it pre arranged for him by his sponsor, and Menelik's German advisor; Mr. Arnold Holtz? The latter seems more likely, as Tessema would not know neither about disks, nor about publishing contracts with studios, at this point in time.
HMV had paid Tessema Eshete Seventeen Thousand Reichs Marks (German currency at the time) for the seventeen disks, but I have misplaced or lost the document that shows this transaction. Some German experts doubt that such a huge amount was paid to Ethiopian songs; however, Yidnekatchew Tessema's interview with Ethiopian Radio 22 years ago and while he still had the document, confirms my figure.
( Listen to the interview/ Amharic)
I assume this huge amount was invested to impress Emperor Menelik, who Mr. Holtz knew, was very much fond of such products of European civilization. I also assume it was after these disks that the Emperor and his rich country men imported Gramophone players.
Tessema Eshete's diary, which could have clarified these and all other unanswered questions is missing. His son Yidnekatchew Tessema remembers reading the diary when he was a child, but more than half a century later, when he authored his father's "Sem ena Worku Tessema Eshete", the only two vivid recollections he had of this missing diary were one verse at the beginning and another at the end of the diary.
The Amharic verse at the beginning reads as follows:-
Tsafibigne yilal yeh debter
Af awteto yeminager
Be Menelik Hager
The meaning is; This note book asks to be written on, it has the ability to speak, in the country of Menelik.
The Amharic verse at the end reads as follows:-
Tessema Eshete Addis Abeba
Be Addis Alem Geba
The Wax or Sem here is:- "Tessema Eshete returned to Addis Abeba via the town of Addis Alem"; ( Addis Alem is a small town about 60 Kilo Meters west of Addis Abeba).
The Gold or Work here is:- Addis Alem means the new world; thus, in this context, "Tessema Eshete retuned from the new world, of civilized Germany, to Addis Ababa.
The only relevant documents, I have on these disks now, are, the passport for the travel to Germany (Enlarged Passport), a souvenir photo in a Berlin studio (Berlin Photo), an invoice (The Invoice), and packing lists dated September 20 1910 and showing shipment of the disks to Tessema; for himself, for Astatkie and for Dejazmatch Tefferi of Harrar, later Emperor Haile Sellassie the first. (The Packing List).
Apart from these, there is still a lot we need to know about the history of these disks; to this date, we can not say for sure if the first disks were BEKA -RECORD, HMV, or ODEON. The exact dates of recording as well as the studio that recorded the first disks in Germany, are still not known.
These disks, have brought wealth and popularity to Tessema; thereby dramatically changing his life standard, as well as his status in society. During the last years of Emperor Menelik, he was in charge of palace cars and trainer of the drivers. When Menelik passed away in 1913, Tessema became a loyal friend to the heir, Lij Iyassu. He was subsequently appointed, first, Director of the hot springs in Addis Ababa, and then Enderassie ( On my behalf ), of the office of Posts and Telegraph with the title of Minister.
Following the deposition of Lij Iyassu on September 27 1916, Tessema became the only one from Iyassu's ten members cabinet, to be exiled for seven years, in Jimma town, South West of Ethiopia. Interestingly, all the others, with the exception of the Prime Minister, Bitwoded Haile Ghiorgis, whose end is still a mystery, maintained their posts for a few months, until they were also banished to provincial administrations by the new Crown Prince and leader of the Coup D'Etat, Ras Tefferi Mekonnen. The only untouchable Minister at this point in time, was the powerful Minister of War, Fitawrari Habte Ghiorgis.
Despite the exile and property confiscations, by now poor and powerless Tessema, continued to write a good number of Amharic poems (Wax and Gold), exposing the intrigues that brought about the end of Iyassu, and the plots on the convenient temporary figure head, Empress Zewditu. Though popular among the wider public and especially the supporters of Iyassu and Zewditu, the revelations caused him further arrests and harassments. However, he lived and died loyal to the his Master Lij Iyassu. This is why even the history of his disks remain suppressed.
Although, I myself as a child remember, piles of these historical disks, in Tessema's bathroom, not a single Album was found after his death in October of 1964. The son, Yidnekatchew Tessema had a five minutes cassette recording of the songs; but, despite all his efforts, he never found the Albums which were still mysteriously missing, when he passed away on the 19th of August 1987. Nonetheless, it is the cassette he left behind that finally led to the search and discovery of the only known Album at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies.
The family is very grateful to:-
· The Institute of Ethiopian studies, for preserving the ODEON edition of sixteen of the seventeen historical disks.
· Professor Richard Pankhurst and his wife Rita, for their assistance in the search and eventual discovery of the disks.
· Dr. Wolfgang Bender of the Mainz University; who in addition to discovering the disks and digitalizing the songs, is still researching the history.
· Ato Teshome Desta, who spent months, trying to get the best out of the ageing disks and transferring them to Digital Audio Tapes.
The lyrics in some of these 100 years old songs are:-
Testimony to the freedom of expression at the time of Emperor Menelik the second. Prior to his departure to Germany, Tessema was a poor Ethiopian receiving support from the orphanage of Emperor Menelik, nonetheless in one of his songs, he fearlessly says, that the Emperor loves his power and would not give it to any body. He had also questioned Ras Gugsa's hidden intention, in his marriage to Menelik's daughter, Zewditu. Having touched such sensitive subjects, he was still able to return to his country and live in peace!!
He was also free on religious issues; although most of his songs are from the church, he also praised the Prophet Mohammed in one. This could be attributed to his childhood in predominantly Muslim Harrar, but still the content of this specific song is a huge surprise, especially coming from an Orthodox Christian.
His Mastery of the Amharic language is also evident, nearly all the songs have "Sem", meaning Wax or direct meaning, and "Work", meaning Gold or hidden message.
The following brief audios of his son Yidnekatchew Tessema and his trusted secretary Ato Mekasha Wolde Meskel do give some insight on the life and works of Tessema Eshete, but not much on the disks.
Yidnekatchew on his father 1 /Audio Amharic♫
Yidnekatchew on his father 2 /Audio Amharic♫
Yidnekatchew on his father 3 /Audio Amharic♫
(The late Ato Mekasha Wolde Meskel was the Secretary of Tessema Eshete for 52 years; i.e.. from 1905 to 1957 Ethiopian Calendar)
Hope this preface by Dr. Wolfgang Bender would shed more light on the history of these disks.
There is much more we need to know about these disks; further research and official CD reproduction of the songs is of paramount importance to the history of early Ethiopian, as well as African music recordings.
Tadele Yidnekatchew Tessema
The historic Passport with which the three Ethiopians, Astatkie,, Tessema and WoldeTsadik traveled to Germany in 1908. One Passport was issued for three; second names of the passengers were not mentioned, photos were not attached and the Passport was issued by the Emperor himself!!
T
Souvenir photo of the three Ethiopians in a Berlin Studio, with their sponsors Mr.& Mrs. Holtz.
Tessema returns to Addis
Tessema returns to Addis.
The disks, have brought wealth and popularity to Tessema
The Pankhursts.
Dr.Wolfgang Bender, with his antique Gramophone.
Ato Teshome Desta at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, working very patiently to get the best out of Tessema's disks.
The studio in the Mainz University.
