- Title: ETHIOPIA: Ethiopians mourn the death of reggae star Eyob Mekonnen.
- Date: 21st August 2013
- Summary: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (AUGUST 20, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PICTURES OF EYOB ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS WEEPING VARIOUS OF FRIENDS SEATED AT NIGHT VIGIL EATING NUTS / DAGMAWI ALI, MUSIC PRODUCER TALKING WITH FRIENDS (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic) DAGMAWI ALI, MUSIC PRODUCER SAYING: "He sang only reggae and in his own style which earned him popularity among the Ethiopian youth and as a result of this, his friends and colleagues gave him the nick name Bob and they often refer to him as Eyob the Bob." VARIOUS OF OTHER REGGAE ARTISTS AT WAKE (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic) LEUL DEMELESH, FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE SAYING: "Listening to Eyob's songs and lyrics, it feels like reading the pages of the Bible. They have the power to shape a generation. I sometimes think that the next generation after 50 or 60 years will be marvelled by his songs and wonder how it was at this time. Look at his songs; he starts by saying, "I am awake" and then finish by saying "I long to see tomorrow..." But he has gone away without realizing those dreams and plans."
- Embargoed: 5th September 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ethiopia
- City:
- Country: Ethiopia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA7KNIQ0BRHI4ZW2DSXQDC9N5MU
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- Story Text: Friends, family and fans of popular reggae singer Eyob Mekonnen gathered at his home on Tuesday (August 20) two days after he died at a hospital in neighbouring Kenya, where he was receiving treatment following a stroke.
A social media initiative dubbed: "Let Us Pray for Eyob Mekonnen" was set up on Facebook by his fans soon after he suffered the stroke, to raise money to transfer the artist to Nairobi.
Mekonnen's music was a unique mix of traditional Ethiopian sound and reggae and his fans praised his way with words in songs like, "Yewnetwan new" meaning "she is genuine".
Women dressed in black and white traditional Ethiopian robes wept at his home as they prepared for the funeral which was held on Wednesday (August 21).
Many Ethiopian musicians called his death a "great loss" to the music industry.
Fans and colleagues even likened him to the late reggae icon, Bob Marley, said music producer Dagmawi Ali.
"He sang only reggae and in his own style which earned him popularity among the Ethiopian youth and as a result of this, his friends and colleagues gave him the nick name Bob and they often refer to him as Eyob the Bob," he said.
Mekonnen's career started with the group, Zion Band, playing night clubs and doing opening acts for more established artists. The 37-year-old musician has toured Europe, USA and Canada.
But it was his first album titled, 'Ende Kal' in 2008 that earned him real success and gained national acclaim.
His friends say he was a "principled man with a positive attitude" and was "deeply religious".
"Listening to Eyob's songs and lyrics, it feels like reading the pages of the Bible. They have the power to shape a generation. I sometimes think that the next generation after 50 or 60 years will be marvelled by his songs and wonder how it was at this time. Look at his songs; he starts by saying, "I am awake" and then finish by saying "I long to see tomorrow..." But he has gone away without realizing those dreams and plans," said Leul Demelesh, a artist and friend of Mekonnen.
Mekonnen was working on completing his second album for release in January when he died. He leaves behind a widow and two children, one of whom is adopted. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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