Abyssinia Business Network /ABN/ Special Edition 2020

Father of

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Vocalists

Ali Abdela Keifa

nd

2 YEAR NO 24ልዩ እትም 2012

/Ali Tango/

Special Edition 2020

www. abyssiniabusinessnetwork.com

Special

Edition

Ethiopia 50.00 birr , USA 5.00 $ , Europe 5 .00 Euro , South Africa 25.00 Rand , Kenya 500 Sh ,UAE 10.00AED

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Abyssinia Business Nework ልዩ እትም 2012 Special Edition 2020

Ali Tango:

Father of Vocalists

One of the popular music recorders in the heart of the capital Addis Ababa was Keifa Records of Ali Abdela Keifa aka Ali Tango who had helped several Ethiopian young and talented vocalists unleash their potential. Ali had produced LPs and cassettes of famous singers like Tilahun Gessesse, Muluken Melesse, Hirut Bekele, Bizunesh Bekele, Ali Bira, Getachew Kassa, Getachew Gadissa and Aselefech Ashine. He also did record and distribute the first and consecutive albums of renowned artists like Aster Awoke, Hamelmal Abate, Neway Debebe, Aster Kebede, Hibist Tiruneh and many more vocalists.

ABN Edito-in-Chief AklileTsige speaks to Ali Abdela Keifa who has been in the US for about 23 years and got back home a few months ago.Aklile, moreover, presents voices of different Ethiopian singers and a French music promoter Francis Falceto on Ali’s professional career and personality.

June 19, 1942 .Jimma town of the ancient King Jifar located in South-West of Ethiopia. An Ethiopian mother from the Oromo community and a Yemeni father gave birth to a baby boy named Ali Abdela Keifa.

The little boy left Jimma and moved to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa where he lived at the village called ‘Talian Sefer’. Ali was sent to Yemen community school to study Arabic language. After completing his Arabic study he joined Menelik II School. Ali was found of playing football and was good at defending and striking. His excellent performance had led him to play for a locally established football club-Mesfin Harar Football club and Menilik II School Football club.

The young football player, Ali had also the opportunity to play for the then famous football club-Saint George football club. “I just recall St. George’s football players like Fiseha Woldeamanuel, Netsere, Zewdie …err- Mengistu Worku and Shewangzaw joined the club when I was about to leave the club.” Ali said.

Although Ali didn’t play for the Ethiopian National Football Team, he managed to train his younger brother, Ahmed Buker who was a popular and good football player of the then Ethiopian National Football Team.

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“

It’s really unforgettable that my mom has sold her golden belt so that I could start a business of my own.

”

Abyssinia Business Nework ልዩ እትም 2012 Special Edition 2020

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Ali and Business

The 14-year-old Ali joined the business world when his step-father used to send him coffee from Jimma to Addis Ababa. Ali was running this business for several years before he kicked off his own business. His mother’s amazing and wonderful sacrifice to help Ali start his own business has rarely been unheard of. “It’s really unforgettable that my mom has sold her golden belt so that I could start a business of my own.” Ali recalled.

With the start-up capital his mother had given, Ali embarked on importing and distributing solely canvas shoes branded ‘Chipolini from the then Asmara province to Addis Ababa.

After having been sole distributor of this famous product for about six years, Ali changed his business to an agent for the distribution of Sony products such as radio, tape recorder, television and Sony cassettes.

While trading these Sony products Ali was operating on a recorder with reel tape and cassette player. Once upon a time someone has asked Ali to sell the recorder for 3,000 birr credit, and Ali said ok. Nevertheless, the person was not willing to pay back his debt. Fortunately, Ali who was aware of the person’s address went to one of the shops the person was running.

Photo by Ethiopiques

Realizing that the person was unable to give the 3,000 back, Ali negotiated to own one of the three shops, which had been known as Calypso Music Shop. He owned it, paying additional 3,000 birr, and renamed it, Tango Music Shop.

After having taken Calypso Music Shop, he discovered various LPS of English, Italian and French languages. This was a moment that instigated Ali to take part in the music recording business.

Once upon a time Ali paid a visit to Wabi Shebele Hotel where Getachew Kassa was playing his song entitled ‘tizita’ translated as nostalgia-a song that switches from slow beat to fast beat. Ali was highly impressed by the spectators shouting ‘once again!’ ‘once again!’. This was also another moment that motivated Ali to whole heartedly get into music recording.

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Although Ali wanted to record Getachew’s music, Getachew had already signed an agreement with Amha Eshete of Amha Records to record his debut under the title ‘tizita’. Ali made attempts to persuade Getachew Kassa to come to terms with his provided that Amha would not record the music. However, as per the agreement he had made with Amha Records, Getachew managed to have his album recorded and released.

Ali’s first recording came with a vocalist named Alemayehu Borebor whose album entitled “belaya belaya” was recorded with LP-Ali them kept on recording greatest hits of various male and female vocalists, including Getachew Kassa, Seyoum Gebreyes, Muluken Melesse, many more singers.

Ali had produced mesmerizing hits of vocalists and helped them be popular and lovable. Queen of Soul Music Aster Aweke, is amongst those musicians.

One sunny day in the afternoon Ali was recording instrumental music played by Walias Band. The music composer proposed the importance of three female vocalists featuring in between the melodies and rhythms. Hence, some people brought Aster Aweke to studio where Ali was recording.

Photo by Ethiopiques

Photo by Ethiopiques

K aifa recording

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While Ali was recording the instrumental music entitled ‘Che’ belew’, he has identified unique voice that would be on the top of Ethiopia’s music history, voice that many lovebirds meditate with and voice that hits the global music arena. He anticipated that this girl would be one of the most popular vocalists both at home and overseas. He wanted her to work with him, and she happily accepted Ali’s request. Ali and Aster then signed an agreement that the latter should closely work with the former for unlimited time.

Although Keifa Records produced Aster’s first debut entitled “እትቱ በረዳኝ”, it had not been successful and popular. Realizing the failure, Aster Aweke decided not to keep signing. Nevertheless, Ali had tried to rise up her spirit and motivate for a go-ahead. He managed to gather better

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“

Many vocalists requested me for album recording so that they could be famous and popular

”

poems and lyrics and get her with Wubishet Fiseha. He then availed a studio at her residence located at Addis Ababa Bole so that both vocalists could exercise and do rehearsal for nearly eight months. Unlike the first album, Aster Aweke’s second album jointly voiced with Wubshet Fiseha and produced by Keifa Records had received good appreciation and popularity among listeners. With the unlimited business deal, Ali could manage to produce five consecutive albums of Aster Aweke. Unexpectedly Aster turned her back to Ali Tango and moved to Electra Music Shop without the consent of Ali Abdela.

“Aster, you signed a long-term agreement with me. Why do you now refuse to work with me? I asked her. But she was not willing to be positive with me. So I had torn the paper in front of her, and said you can go!” Good Luck! She then became very popular both at home and at the international level. We never met. She never called me.” Ali lamented.

Ali Tango has also produced six songs of the late vocalist honorable Tilahun Gessesse with three separate LPS. He, moreover, produced albums of Bizunesh Bekele, Hirut Bekele, Alemayehu Eshete, Hailu disassa, Gemechu Etana, Ali Birra and many more, putting them in the top list of Ethiopian music history.

There was a vocalist who was pleading for songs recording, standing at the gate of Tango Music Shop and holding and old

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hand bag. This man had spent his childhood playing songs with locally formed music band Afrenkelo in Dire Dawa. He’s still famous for introducing Oromo music. Ali Birra.

Once upon a morning Ali Abedela Keifa called the man who was usually standing at the gate of Tango Music Shop, and told him that music in Oromiffaa was not hot cake like Amharic music, otherwise, he would go bankrupt. After repeated coaxing, Ali Birra managed to convince Ali Keifa to accept his request. Then Ali Birra gave Ali Tango the master album which he fully completed the composition done by different music players. Ali duplicated and distributed Ali Birra’s debut includes songs entitled ‘Amalelele...”, “Eshururu” and “Eyadini”.

Ali Birra’s debut distributed by Keifa Records gained incredible recognition and popularity. As a result, it was distributed to various

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parts of the country, including Jimma, Gojam, Gondar and Addis Ababa.

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“Many vocalists requested me for album recording so that they could be famous and popular. But I declined for he or she is naïve and unfit to make album. Then they kept saying that they didn’t want money for their work; they wished to receive visa from embassies because most of vocalists who had worked with me have got visas and left for USA and Canada.” Ali Keifa stated.

Ali came to get acquainted with Neway Debebe when he was wondering to know the writer of “finchitua” album of vocalist Tsehaye Yohannes. Ali then learnt that the Song writer of the album was Neway Debebe, Tsehaye’s colleague at Ras Theatre.

Heading directly to Ras Theatre, Ali met Neway Debebe and asked

“Why did you sell such a wonderful music to your friend?” “No! He’s my friend. I sold it for I was in trouble.” “What do you do now? Are you a vocalist or a song writer?” “I am both a writer and singer.” “What do you sing about?” “Sir! I do have ten songs which I have kept for four years. I talked to many producers, but all refused to record my music, saying I have got a very low pitch voice and cannot play love songs.”

Ali asked Neway to give him his works which were composed with traditional musical instruments. Ali has taken Neway’s cassette to his home and attentively listened to it. Having been impressed by the music Ali anticipated how beautiful, soothing and wonderful this music would be when composed by Roha Band. Ali then met Neway and told

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him that he had decided to record his music.

“How much shall I pay for your music?” “Of course, other recorders proposed 1,000 birr, so you pay me 1,000 birr.” “I won’t give you 1,000 birr. I will pay you 5,000 birr” said Ali.

Neway was overwhelmed by Ali’s

decision. Ali has quickly introduced Neway to Roha Bank, and began exercise. However, Neway couldn’t be compatible with Roha Bank. He made them annoyed, distributed and tired for he didn’t have experience with modern music band.

Ali and Dawit Yifru of the Roha Bank had managed to split Neway’s original song entitled “Eshet Belahugn” into “Eshet Belahugn” and “Yetkimt

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Regarding Hibist Tiruneh Ali said the following:

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Abeba”. Still the training continued, but Neway made members of the band get bored and angry since he was unable to go in line with the rhythms and beats of the band. Neway had also got frustrated and decided to run way.

“Ali, I better stop doing the music.” “Why?” “I cannot cope up with the Roha Band.” “No! You can! There’s nothing impossible. You just get on to my car!”

Neway and Ali headed to Roha Bank Studio. Ali told members of the band that Neway’s music was good enough to be composed and insisted them on playing his music. Moreover, he expressed his

readiness to pay them additional 5,000 birr from the previously agreed similar payment.

Neway’s debuted was released following an exhausting effort exerted by Ali Keifa. Significant number of music shops in Addis Ababa began to flock to Tango Music Shop to buy and distribute the album, which unexpectedly gained popularity all over the country. Neway Debebe has become very famous and joined Ethiopian celebrities list.

Ali had produced Neway’s second and third albums entitled “Ma’ebel” and “mebreq” consecutively, and Neway suddenly and unexpectedly left Ali.

“Hibist first came to me when she was 13 with a friend of her brother, who pointed out that I had produced music for many singers and helped them became popular. He reiterated that Hibist was blessed with wonderful voice. But I asked them whether that very young girl could sing love song or not. In another day her father came and begged me to unleash his daughter’s potential and talent. When he told me that her name is Hibist, I wanted to know the meaning of her name. He told me that Hibist means bread, and she remained his bread, his hope and vision. Then I had to record her debut and distribute across the country. I made her population, and left my country later.”

After having contributed significantly to the country’s music development father of vocalists in Ethiopia, Ali Abdela Keifa faced life in convenience in the mid 1990’s. This led him to leave the country and the profession he loved.

Ali, this time round, doesn’t have the will to divulge the pressure that made him go into exile in the USA. He prefers to remain silent regarding this issue. However, the insiders have partially disclosed that Ali was unexpectedly compelled to leave his coffee trading at Jimma due to trade conspiracy, unfair trade competition and some sort of security threat against his life.

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Though Ali has lived in the US as US citizen, life was not as easy and comfortable as he had expected earlier. It was all monotonous, disgusting and meaningless.

“I have really been in grief and discomfort for the last 23 years. I was usually dreaming of combing back home. The previous Ethiopian government political system was inconvenient for me. But now the Administration of Abiy Ahmed (PhD) appeals to me. I find it a promising political system, and I got back home” said Ali.

Ali has got married to his longtime friend from his birth place, Jimma town, and becomes a father of a beautiful son and a daughter. He’s unwilling to mention anything about his previous marriage and family affairs.

Today the 77-year-old Ali Abdela Keifa appears to be a very strong man, elegant and optimist to carry out activities he has been anticipating. Although he was made to leave his homeland, he’s in love with the country as usual.

“I’m madly in love with my country Ethiopia. I paid visits to Europe, United States and other countries. I gained US citizenship, but I don’t have a country I can be interested and happy rather than Ethiopia. Nevertheless, I have lost all my properties and belongings that I had kept with my sweat. I’m now emptyhanded. I don’t even lose hope…. I have got a woman who I had taken care of; her name is Rahel. She has planned to organize an event on acknowledging, honoring and recognizing my contribution to the development of the country’s music industry. I look forward to receiving blessing this event would bring in to me.” Ali stated

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If lucky, Ali wants to resume the professional career he gave up 23 years back, following contemporary ways of organizing concerts and technologicallybacked music production.

Devoted his life for the development of Ethiopia’s music, young and talented vocalists, executing various social responsibilities, and supporting different individuals in good and bad times, Ali Abdela

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“I’m madly in love with my country Ethiopia. I paid visits to Europe, United States and other countries. I gained US citizenship, but I don’t have a country I can be interested and happy rather than Ethiopia”

Keifa today need the support of his friends, relatives and colleagues as well as citizens at large.

Furthermore, he wants to spend the rest of his life working on his interest especially music production and presentation. People both at home and worldwide would undoubtedly extend their support to this legend for it’s our deep-rooted and popular culture to be a friend in need.

Ali finally expresses his deepest gratitude for the following friends, colleagues and relatives who managed to organize a recognition and honorary event for acknowledging his contribution to the country’s music development and for being solid foundation for most Ethiopian vocalists:

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