Atewebrhan Segid

Eritrean musicians understood the importance of music & used it to educate, Atewebrhan Segid’s song “Aslamai Kistanay” can be remembered as exemplary. In this revealing song from the 1950's, Ateweberhan Segid conveys a highly strong and clear message to the Eritrean people advising them rhythmically to beware of the foreigner's dangerous weapon: divide and conquer. "Aslamay, Kristanay, Wedi Kolla Dega, Ne Mihri Wetsa'i ayte habo Waga. Ayte habo waga, keyt'e khun idaga!" (Muslims, Christians, high & low land citizens, don't give value to the teachings of the foreigners or you'll be up for sale).

After this song became popular late in the 1960s, Ato Ateweberhan Seghid sang this song at the National Theatre of Addis Ababa Ethiopia live on stage, which triggered the emperors loyalists and Unionist party members attacking him which led to Ato Ateweberhan Seghid loosing one of his eye. It is after this song and experience Eritrean artists started to use coded message in their songs.

This revealing song titled “Adeye Adey Jeganu, Beal Men Iyom Zetelemu” (O My Country, My country of Hero’s, tell me who are the Traitors) was sang in 1958 to express the conspiracy that took place by the emperor Haile Sellasie, the creation of the Unionist party in Eritrea, by the help of western super powers, and the UN forced federation. The song conveys the message to the Eritrean nation who are the main collaborators and what the conspiracy is

• Ghidewon Abay Asmerom The lesson from this song and Atewebrhan's songs in general is that musicians who focus on timeless national lyrics are immortal. That is why Atewebrhan is better remembered than most of his contemporaries. His songs would live to be analyzed by students of literature for generations to come. Keep it coming.

  Like · Reply · 4 · 20 February at 10:4

• Tigist Afework Absolutely wonderful memories! This brought tears to my dad's eyes not to mention the message behind the lyrics! " Pricelesss " tanx for sharing Ghidewon haway! This message is powerful indeed!!! it will mean so much too many of dad's generation whili...See More

  Like · Reply · 1 · 20 February at 11:5

• Woldu Danghish It is wonderful and sweet to listen as always. As far as I can remember this song was of the 60s not the 50s, and I was there when it was first heard in cinema Asmara with my parents. Haile Woldu

  Like · Reply · 1 · 19 February at 23:23

• Memories of the Legends & Tunes of Eritrea Qienit Elizabeth Fetwi many thanks for your comments, we understand these were hard times and can guess the reasons as to why your father might put it in a safe place! Can you please expand more on your comments? Personal stories like yours can only add and act as an information block to help all of us build a big and clearer picture of the past.

  Like · 19 February at 13:40

• Goitom Seyoum what a priceless message to our past present and future society they left us with.soooo deep in the lyrics of this music we can listen to it forever full of facts.

  Like · Reply · 1 · 19 February at 10:32

• Memories of the Legends & Tunes of Eritrea Qienit Goitom Seyoum you are right the are timeless songs that the legends have left us with, we would appreciate it if you could attempt the QieNit question of the week that is on the top of our facebook page! Why did Ato Ateweberhan Seghid wear dark shades/...See More

  Like · 19 February at 13:42

• Ibrahim Hajj beautiful
  nostalgic and inspirational.what a great musician he was.

  Like · Reply · 2 · 19 February at 09:13

• Memories of the Legends & Tunes of Eritrea Qienit Ibrahim Hajj thanks for your comments and keeping engaged with Qienit, we are only glad of your nostalgic moments!

  Like · 19 February at 13:

• Goitom Seyoum I am sure it is after he was attacked after he sang Adeye Ade Jeganu on stage live in front of Haile Selasse to pocked his eye and made blind but they never make his vision and determination blind instead they made more determined and visionary legend of history.

  Like · Reply · 20 February at 22:1

Tesfamicheal Ermias It is so amazing which i haven't had any idea about this history. What i can imagine is that how history will write about me. Life is very short to be antinational interst of Eritrea. I am comparing between the role of Woldeab Woldemariam with Keshi Dimetros, and Tedla Bayru years ago and the patriotic Eritreans verses with Eritrean's enemy pupet nowadays. The past 16 yearse have been documented all the great work by the heroes and it is going to

Yep!!! That is one of the heavy prices the real Eritreans have paid and are still paying!can you imagine how brave and intelligent they were to sing this very critical message in front of the king! That shows how brave and how ready he was to die for his principle.

Stephanos Araya At the party for his daughter's wedding, a singer for every province of Ethiopia was invited to sing, the announcer addressed the guests and said: "And now for Eritrea province, Atoweberhan Segid wil sing "Freweini Gamey", once on stage he (Abo zema hager) said: "I'm not gonna singing Freweini Gamey, I will sing "Adey Adi Jeganu". I always admire his bravery, he sang just in front of his enemies not abroad or ab meda, walking the street of his motherland with his krar as a weapon.