Last night I attended a concert by Teddy Afro. I think I'd heard the name maybe once before K mentioned going. The concert was being held at the Ghion, so I imagined a nice little crowd in one of the ballrooms or something. Imagine my surprise when we started seeing cars parked on the road on the other side of Meskel Square. We ended up walking a kilometer to the show, which was outside, in front of a cast of several thousand ardent fans. I had purposely dressed light in expectation of being inside a packed, hot indoor venue. Yikes. I wrapped my scarf tighter and we got a drink and waded into the crowd. We saw K's roommie and various associates. The crowd was at least 99% Ethiopian. In the dark we didn't stick out like light bulbs.
The warmup act was a DJ dressed in L.A. gangbanger kit, including the sideways hat. How is it that gangster rap and pro wrestling are our big entertainment exports? Yeesh. After much ado, smoke bombs, laser flashes, and the band playing a loooooong intro, Teddy himself strutted onto the stage wearing... a black business suit complete with folded pocket square. Huh? Teddy is a great entertainer, really playing to the crowd with a big smile and many mentions of Addis Ababa and its various neighborhoods. He played for about 1/2 an hour and then took a break. I thought only bar cover bands did that. A comedian performed for about 15 minutes, who was apparently funny. Teddy reappeared in jeans and a Haile Salassie T-shirt. He continued his ultra-accessible mix of reggae, funk, and Ethopian/Amharic music. It's no wonder he's so popular. Even though I didn't understand a word of it, the beat had us dancing to every song. (My legs are sore this morning, from that or the gym, one.) The sound system was top-notch and even 1/2-way back in the crowd the bass notes had my pants legs rippling.
At Teddy's second break it was waaaaay past my bedtime and we decided to head out. So I don't know how long Teddy played. Anyway, it was good music, a fun and welcoming crowd, and warm enough if you kept dancing.
Hey Marc, ...Out from lurkng. I want to tell you I like your blog. And Denise's too. I Miss Addis a lot.
Your "The world comes..." entry was hysterical! And bro, I do hope you now have a calendar that has G.C./E.C. dates. Converting dates shouldn't be that complicated.
Keep blogging.
Posted by: Selom | November 18, 2007 at 12:03 PM
Yes, Teddy is THE ALL TIME best Ethiopian vocalist.
I have seen his excellent videos at the Ethiopian Portal website,
http://www.EthioPortal.com
Posted by: Mimi | November 22, 2007 at 01:04 AM
Just wanted you to know that aside from his great beats, there is a more significant reason Teddy A. is so appreciated ... and it is for his lyrics that so flies in the face of the present day ethio-political hypocracy in such intensely poetic way that it is difficult to simply get used to his songs. His words overlap in 2 to 3 meanings.... at once... over and over... He is more than a singer for many Ethiopians - and he is more than the hero that he is - he is a symbol, eventhough this sounds cheesy, of their hope against one-rule state of government at present... so when they see him they see everything that is the best in themselves... you ought to have his lyrics translated at soem point - you will understand text books about the people... I should know as I am one...
Posted by: Betty | November 26, 2007 at 07:53 AM
Glad it all went good! Its usually hard to hear good sound on a concert in Ethiopia. I mean no big sound system there for a major act like Teddy. I heard they flew in the late Bob Marley's personal sound enginner for this concert. Go Teddy!!! Going international...!!!!!
Posted by: Tim Rogers | November 27, 2007 at 06:58 PM
hi tru nwe ktlbte adnkike nne
Posted by: hiwote | December 25, 2007 at 02:48 AM
IIIIIIIII love u Teddy Afro God bl u and i love the teruth
Posted by: abiy | June 13, 2008 at 03:13 PM
wow! what can i say in every place where music is opend teddy is the first and always choosen teddy showed his voice is too much intersting .you can find aflavour in his soundsds i like dahlak,lemanlemash,j yasteserial,lemen-yihun,musica hiwote,balderasu,taric-tesera,bobmarey,besemayu-gari,lambadina,monaliza,bati,400love and 400tizta,twinse,bati,seleme,abebayosh...wow this show he isn`t a musician only.But also a prophser,dr,scientist
Posted by: kelile | November 27, 2008 at 07:18 AM
wow! what can i say in every place where music is opend teddy is the first and always choosen teddy showed his voice is too much intersting .you can find aflavour in his soundsds i like dahlak,lemanlemash,j yasteserial,lemen-yihun,musica hiwote,balderasu,taric-tesera,bobmarey,besemayu-gari,lambadina,monaliza,bati,400love and 400tizta,twinse,bati,seleme,abebayosh...wow this show he isn`t a musician only.But also a prophser,dr,scientist
Posted by: kelile | November 27, 2008 at 07:19 AM
yesterday, he was sentenced for 6 years in jail for somehting that he didn't do nothing, the guy is innocent,
Posted by: meysaw kassa | December 06, 2008 at 02:22 AM