Tessema Eshete was born in Minjar town, Ethiopia, on July 27 1876; to his mother Woleteyes Habtu and his father Eshete Gube. He attended the then customary church education in the court of Ras Mekonnen Woldemikael in Harrar, where his father was a performing AZMARI (singer/instrumentalist). The father’s profession was among those treated with contempt in the Ethiopia of those days. This backward attitude went to the extent that the very name “AZMARI”, of the skilled musician/singer was considered and practically used as a degrading insult. Thus, unlike the respectable social status and the financial benefits our current day musical celebrities are entitled to; the "AZMARIS" in the days of Tessema Esthete’s father, were unjustifiably humiliated and subjected to life in poverty.
Following the death of his father on a date not registered; Tessema was transferred to the orphanage in the Palace of Emperor Menelik in Addis Ababa. Apart from these, not much is known about the father and even Tessema Esthete's youth years. In fact, all the reference documents and photo collections of Tessema Eshete and his family begin from after his voyage to Germany in 1900 Ethiopian Calendar, or 1908 Gregorian calendar. There is therefore no photo of his father who died a few years before Tessema traveled to Germany, but one of a few photos of his mother is attached to this link.
Links to other interesing photos from Tessema Eshete's historic collection
Tessema was selected by Emperor Menelik to be trained as the country’s first Automobile driver and mechanic and sent to Germany with the Emperor's German advisor Mr. Arnold Holtz. As can be seen in the links at the bottom of this page; the then rare exposure to European civilization had brought about a versatile Ethiopian and a proficient jack of all trades, who registered significant achievements in extremely diverse activities.
He was a singer/instrumentalist and the first Ethiopian and may be even African to have his music and songs recorded on Disks. These historic disks were recorded during his stay in Germany from 1908-1910. On his return to Ethiopia, the money he earned from the album of seventeen double sided 78 RPM shellac disks earned him wealth and fame unseen before by an "AZMARI". For nearly three decades thereafter, his were the only disks available in an Ethiopian language. The second set of Ethiopian disks by Ferede Gola and Negatwa Kelkay were recorded by Milan based "COLUMBIA"; during the short-lived Italian occupation of the country from 1936 to 1941.
The historic significance of Tessema's disks as a turning point in correcting the long-held unjustified contempt for musicians and singers in Ethiopia cannot and should not be understated. More significant on this issue was the bold decision of the then forward-looking Ruler "Lij Iyassu", (the heir to Emperor Menelik) who in a landmark departure from tradition knowingly elevated the AZMARI to the prominent Government position of head of Ethiopia's Posts and Telegraph, first with the Rank of "Enderassie" or “on my behalf”, and then with the Rank of Minister. This unique appointment while Tessema Eshete was still selling his disks was understandably offensive to the then powerful Aristocracy. Therefore; while respecting the foresight of the young progressive Ethiopian Ruler who through this appointment transmitted a clear educative message to the establishment that it was no more birth, but merit, that qualifies an Ethiopian to the position of a Minister; it is also important to acknowledge the subsequent political price he paid!!
Iyassu's Council of Ministers in 1916:
-
Bitwoded Haile Ghiorgis: Prime Minister. (He was the first Prime Minister for the country)
-
Fitawrari Habte Ghiorgis: Minster of War.
-
Kegnazmatch Beyene Yimer: Minister of External Works.
-
Tsehafe Taezaz Afe Work: Minister of the Pen.
-
Afe Negus Tilahun: Minister of Justice and Interior.
-
Azaje Metaferia: Minister of the Palace.
-
Bejirond Yigezu: Minister of Finance.
-
Azaje Gizaw: Minister of Works.
-
Kentiba Wolde Tsadik: Minister of Agriculture.
-
Tessema Eshete: Minister of Posts and Telegraph. .
Not surprisingly, when Iyassu was deposed on 27 September 1916; it was only the Country’s first Prime Minister Bitwoded Haile Ghiorgis and the Minister of Posts and Telegraph Tessema Eshete; who were removed from the Council and put under house arrest. All the other Ministers who shared the view of the coup plotters that Iyassu was a threat to their birth-right maintained their Ministerial positions in the new Government; albeit only for a few months, until the new de facto ruler Crown Prince Ras Tefferi dismissed them all with the exception of the powerful Minister of War Fitawrari Habte Ghiorgis.
Tessema Eshete's well documented other noteworthy diverse activities and his unique accomplishments which deserve proper study and official recognition by our current historians, include:
-
He was a renowned poet and a wit blessed with the unique ability of expressing his views on complex issues, in amazingly simple, but, elegant and often humorous Amharic language. This peculiar style makes his poems distinct and easily identifiable. Further to their immense contribution to the development of the Amharic literature; these poems contain valuable clues to Ethiopian Political history of his days. They also transmit everlasting educational messages on subjects of utmost importance; on the need to fight corruption, on the need to work for the transformation of the country's farming from seasonal rain dependent to irrigation, on the underlying causes of the trade imbalances between his country and the developed World, on the double standards of the big Colonial powers in the then league of Nations and on the sensitive issue of Ethiopia’s water politics. He also used his poems to remind Ethiopians of all ethnic and religious groups to look beyond these differences and unite for the good of their common country; to work hand in hand towards the development of the country's potentials.
-
He was a sculptor
-
He was a linguist. He spoke Amharic, Oromifa, Harari (Aderigna), Arabic, French, Italian and German.
-
He profoundly believed in, and promoted the right to freedom of religion at a point in time when belonging to any other than the Coptic Orthodox Christian church in Ethiopia was disadvantageous at best, and dangerous in most cases. In this connection, his successful effort to ensure freedom of worship to followers of the Roman Catholic Church within the territory of the Ethiopian Kingdom had earned him deserved recognition and a Medal Award from the Vatican Pope in the year 1916.
-
He was in charge of the successfully accomplished works for the HORA BISHOFTU HOTEL which was built as part of the additional accommodation facilities for European dignitaries invited to attend the Coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie in October of 1930.
-
He was an indefatigable explorer who drove his Willy's Jeep to remote parts of the country until age 82. It was during these explorations that he identified the site and tirelessly reminded time and again the construction of the Hydro Electric power Generator until it was eventually built and named Qoqa Dam. Explorer Tessema Eshete also discovered and developed the Boku Steam Bath and the Sodere swimming resort among others.
-
He was an accomplished hobby photographer. He photographed and preserved several rare historical photos of Ethiopia and Ethiopians; from the early to the mid 1900s.
-
He was a unique Ethiopian entrepreneur for his time; who launched the first large scale commercial farming for cotton in Awash, sugar cane in Wonji, fruits and vegetables in Awara Melka and Bishoftu; and also started the unpeecedented first TAXI Company in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The history of the disks
With this question at the end of a presentation to the Society of Friends of Ethiopian Studies, Professor Pankhurst started the
successful search for the disks (Video)
Two years later, the disks were discovered by Dr. Wolfgang Bender, at the same institute where I made the presentation.
Preface by Dr. Wolfgang Bender
How much does the family know about these historic disks?
Link to the audios and photos of the historic disks
Selected poems one (Audio)
Selected poems two (Audio)
The need for unbiased history