Probably, one of the progressive words of Amharic Slang, or so I thought.
My uncle asked me if I thought that I was only arada, he claimed arada long before you I was born. Hmmm, so there was arada’s in the sixties. For years, I saw the word used as a adjective. In reality its a noun that became an adjective; So adjective in fact that it became a noun.If I may presume, I have arada qualities therefore I am arada.
There was an Amahanglish hip hop group in Denver called Y’Arada lij. First Podcast with the chorus;
Y’arada lij…Awo…Endeza nuew…Aydel
One of original cast members of ‘Y’arada lij’ passed away a couple years ago due to a tragic car accident. His name was Sebhat, and his Amharic rap was just so rhythmic and so so Arada; with the occasional mood for Hennessey and woman.
The question of Arada being a place is of course answered in Aster Aweke version of Arada. She describes the road to Arada and sings her qualms with “Arada Lij Mewded.” A classic Aster song which I am sure most of us are familiar with.
One of my favorite singers Asnakech Worku has a song title Arada and it she depicts what it means to be a true arada. “Aradaw, ShelaTaw, Samunaw.” Perhaps the ‘Arada way’ is to deem ‘lack of money as NO obstacle.’ Second Podcast is, Asnakech Version of Arada.
Third Podcast is Tadesse Andarge's version of Arada, from the Ethiopiques Series . This one is quite similar to Asnakech version lyrically. I listen to this for the first time recently and made me think. Lyrics (gitmoch) repeat not only from song to song but also from singer to singer.
Well, I asked the few people not what Arada is but what the origins are and apparently there was something to the extent written on Media Ethiopia:
The place name for the heart of Addis Ababa or Finfine, or Sheger as some Ethiopians call it is Arada. The root word Arada is an Amharic word meaning a sloppy place that drives everyone to valley. And on this Arada for many years, even for more than five hundred years there is always a market known as Arada Gebeya or as the Oromo's call it Gaba Arda.
The market was usually on Saturdays. And the commodities come from very far places: like salt from Tigrai, lion and tiger skin from Welega, perfume and spices from Harar, fine horses from Wollo, food item and honey from Gojam, coffee and elephant task from Kaffa, lion skin and buluko from Gamo Gofa, hand written prayer books from Gondar, selected milk cows from Arsi, etc. And the market was mostly open, in the morning it was beautiful and in the evening it was dirty with dogs in the evening and hyenas fighting throughout the night over what is left, making it an easier job for the next week cleaners.
Thank you soj for finding is amazing Video of YeArada Tizeta!
Arada - Y'Arada Lij: Play Now | Play in Popup Arada - Asnakech Worku: Play Now | Play in Popup Arada - Tadesse Andarge Ethiopique 18: Play Now | Play in PopupSend this post to a friend
Nice, very nice Nolawi. Whenever I listen to traditional Ethiopian music like the two posted here, it puts me in a type of mood I can not completely describe. The closest I can come to describing the feeling is that it is a sense of calm and comfort. Perhaps it is the melody and the beat since I tend to focus on those rather than the words. I have always wondered if it is because I grew up listening to the type of music. Does anyone else feel the same?
Sorry if my comment is off the topic “Arada.” It’s the music that distracted me
Hey Nol,
First of all, Ij nestenal for this gebeta of infotainment that’s Bernos. Thank you bro. And…
Igziabher yaTnah regarding your granddad. Alas, it was a wonderful piece that jogged memories of fond times with my forebears.
Speaking of Arada, …as an addendum to the much lamented upon lore and legend and reference in lyrics, I’d like to give you something. It’s a take on the word, the sefer, the people. The essence of Arada.
It comes from one of the original y’Arada lijoch, Ato Yidnekatchew Tessema.
Scroll down to the Audio File “On Arada”.
Umm…did I mention I was born and raised in Arada?
Selam to All who read this
Oops, sorry.
http://www.tessemas.net/Audio-Video%20Archive.htm
P.S. this site is actually a treasure trove on a few things Ato Yidnekatchew and Negadras Eshete were authorities on. Peruse if interested.
The guy does not obviously know what y’arada lij means. Y’arada lij be 14 ametu kebiet aywetam. He is mixing up ye’arada lij and a gheto loser. Ye arada lij shiguT ayzi
Nice piece Nolawi. Thanks!
If you guys design t-shirts with Arada written on them, I will be the first to order.
By the way, sorry if I am off-topic but I wanted Millennium t-shirts. Is it in your plans? But we want them now – wear them now- tell the story now! Millenium t-shirts telling our history – our great kings, our literature, numbers,alphabets, diversity and cultural richness, civilisation, … you name it.
Millennium t-shirts now arada style!
Selom, thank you so much!
Dinich, what are you talking about….? the song?
Shaleq Mili shirt coming soon… join the press for more info!
Nol,
Sorry for not being clear. Yes, I am talking about the song. The singer has totally missed the definition of arada and mixing it up with a loser I think in a US context. Arada ain’t no loser. Arada has nothing to do with guns, that is typical of a rebellious teenager in the US. Arada uses milas not guns.
The shegut he is refering to is not a gun but a friend. Shegut is a guadenga of sort. SheguToche Jealousowche.. means my friends.
So, you are telling that I am actually the fara here, right?
K, got it.
call me old school, but i took offense the Y’Arada Lij’s version of arada is even in the same category of Asnakech Worku’s and Tadesse Andarge’s.
but then again, that’s just me.
wey arada…
Nolawi–love it. Whenever I hear the word,”Arada” the song that comes to mind is “Aderech Arada” by Menelik Wossenachew. The choices you have here are great.
Selom–thanks for putting up that link, its a treaure trove.
mike–I couldn’t agree more.
Ere, you guys get with the program, just because something is old doesn’t mean its good and just because something is new doesn’t mean its bad….
you guys are indeed Old School… I think y’arada lijs version is OK and progressive with the time we live in.
thanks for listening though
[quote comment="21293"]Ere, you guys get with the program, just because something is old doesn’t mean its good and just because something is new doesn’t mean its bad….
[/quote]
ere beteseQelew, ale EthioJazz
nolawi, it does not also mean that something is “progressive” because it is embellished with digital harmonica either, right, wondime?
ay mike–gedekelkegn eko…i feel you though.
….esun tewut..begna gize kere erdna…he…he..
…enjoy
ye Arada Tizeta
Thank Soj I have inserted the video in the post!
Arada bebzu yikefelal:
Hulm bezemenu arada new:
Eniem arada antem arada
Min yaTalanal besew berenda.
My observation:
Mike yesibiste arada
Nol, ye DC arada
Soj, ye piazza arada
Thank you for the song and the write up; Selom: thank very much for the link;
Arada also has a negative connotation depening on the usage; meaning Leba, Weslata; acheberbari; so do not fight over it; just my 2 cents;
[quote comment="21524"];Arada also has a negative connotation depening on the usage; meaning Leba, Weslata; acheberbari; so do not fight over it; just my 2 cents;[/quote]
Those r my idol man…when I grow up I wanna be just like them..he..he..
R.I.P Sibhat
…I think my favourite version is that of Negatua Kelkay.
“yehe ye’arada lij, gud aderegegn
Cognac alegn ena, areqe gategn…”
- amazing song.
p.s. Thank you Ethio Jazz for the link. I’ve been looking for that song for a really long time!
Rahel Yohannes’ take… http://ambasel.com/2007/03/12/rahel-yohannes-arada-lij/
if you ever are in town… come visit arada gebeya oakland california 5711 telegraph ave. we will greet you happily…
Hi, just today found this blog but I have to say that it seems nice. I totally agree with you. Have a great day, keep up the great work and I will definitely come back.