The Funny Songs
I remember in the early eighties when Hibret Terit (Variety Show) used to bring some funny songs performed by the veteran Fantu Mandoye. In one skit it was he with Tshaynesh Bekele playing his daughter discussing the passing of arranged marriages and the thing called Love.
The title? “Yet Hedesh Neber?” As a solo act Fantu Mandoye also permormed, “Ehud YeEqub Tela ” and “Hamus Mata New,“ ,this song was written by the famous Tesfaye Lemma of the Orchestra Ethiopia fame. This version is a remake and doesn’t do the original justice.
Though I used Fantu Mandoye as the character that most 20 and 30 somethings would remember, the Godfather of the funny songs goes to none other than Getu Ayele. Getu Ayele started and ended his carrer at the Haile Selassie I Theatre. Getu also performed some of the funny songs with the legendary, Fikerte Dessalegn. The duo’s performances recorded live had audiences in stiches. Getu used his short stature to his advantage in some of his repetoires. Getu & Fikirte’s skits touched on jealousy, money and marriage life. Most of these songs were written and performed in the 1960s.
For your listening pleasure I’ve included some of these songs including “Yet Hedesh Neber?” and Mekonnen Abebe’s “WeTa silu teka”
With the exception of “Yet Hedesh Neber?” (The City Hall Band) the rest of the songs feature the Haile Selassie I Theatre Orchestra.
Podcast List
- Yet Hedesh Neber: Fantu Mandoye & Tshaynesh Bekele
- YeKetema Fano: Getu Ayele & Fikirte Dessalegn
- Weta Silu Teka: Mekonnen Abebe
- Setoch Gud Afelu:Getu Ayele
- Wende LaTe: Getu Ayele
Yet Hedesh Neber: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download YeKetema Fano: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Weta Silu Teka: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Setoch Gud Afelu: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Wende LaTe: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadSend this post to a friend
Thanks, EJ man. Once again, you’re just invaluable.
Setoch gud afelu is so hilarious. It is funny how the guy is complaining about setoch making all the food. We, the men today, wish we had that problem.
This is great! It just made my morning. Thanks
EJ, wonderful piece, once again man.
“Yet Hedesh Neber” definitely brought back memories
Any chance you can share the mp3? hehe.
Thank you for these.
EJ,
I honestly don’t know where you come up with all these songs from. Once again, amazing collections and my favorite one is Wende Late. Never heard it before but very amusing.
U are unbelievable! Thanks!
Amazin songs EJ!!! They “walked” me back thru some good old memories. thanxx!
Jazzy,
Just great, again! I love these songs. Thanks EJ… I’m looking forward to your next instalment.
EJ, You know I learn so much from your posts. I love, love “Setoch gud Afelu” I can’t stop laughing or listening to it.
EJ, Thanks for bringing the radio days back. on new years eve, we were all glued to the old transistor radio when Getu Ayeles songs and skits were transmited live from the Haileselassie theatr.
EJye,
You are so great !!!
Although I am sound cardLess at work, I can’t wait to get home and listen to these. I look forward to your insightful, nostalgia inducing posts.
Cheers!
FN
EJ it is all great. I love it. Thanks.
What I don’t understand is in “Setoch gude afelu” why is Getu complaining if the women are cooking all these things. Any man should be happy!
Simply, brilliant! Thanks for sharing, EJ.
Thank you EJ; brought a lot memories.
Wynee gudeee alech seteyewa…….thanks Ethio Jazzyee!! betaam amazing….tezz tezz alegn…
EJ.
I sing the song Yet Hedesh Neber to my son by exaggerating the male and female voices to the extreme and making up words to go with most of the song because I have forgotten the verbal banter between the father and daughter.
Today, for the first time, he got to listen to the real song sang by professionals. What a pleasure!
Thank you.
EJay
you know what is sad.. its sad that there is no information on the likes of Getu Ayele…
Thank god we have you…
amazing musiqa!!
Even though I don’t know much about all this music…I still enjoy hearing them. Music is definitely a world within itself with a language we all understand.
Thanks for sharing
OMG thank you so much EJ…ive been looking for the first song for the longest time. thank you…thank you:)
Nolawi, thank you so very very much for the memories
inspired by your post. Priceless. Bettam Amesiganalew!!
ooops I meant to say Ethio Jazz…
Apologies, it’s the music you posted Ethio-Jazz
that has made me forget your name
and my own..lovely lovely collection
thanks again.
Thank you Ethio Jazz, this brought back so many childhood memories, especially “yete hedesh nebere?”. Funny that I still remember it word for word after so many years.
betam hat new!
EthioJazz,
Thank you! Never heard of Getu Ayele before this date. It is good to know we had hilarious people like him (besides Fantu Mandoye) and good people like you who are sharing information that is not accessible to many of us.
So, if one may ask… what are your sources for such rare oldies?
Speaking of Fantu Mandoye, I think ‘yet hedesh neber’ has type casted him in a classic way. As recently as this year, he still plays as the the angry/old fashioned father of a youngster who is dating minamin in TV dramas.
WOW EJ…..I’m at loss for words….I agree with dinich….you ARE invaluble indeed!!!!
Hello Ethio .. are you going to respond to the comments… what the heck man?
Classic!!! Although these types of songs were common in Addis form the time of Meilek, it was Getu Ayele who reinterpreted them to suit the modern 70s. The humour is vary 70,s Addis. Fantu Mandoye, on the other hand, was the one who killed the tradition of “fanny songs”. While Getu’s songs reflecting the Arada culture of Addis. Love the dram and cheering sound of the audiences … Fantu’s style was far too simple it was more for kids. I think he wrote the song in Taje bet,….…
Eshi-so, I let the comments section run so wild its virtually impossible to respond to each one. I’m just overwhelmed by the reaction. Thank you all for the sincere comments.
Just to answer a recurring question of where I came up/got these and other gems. I’ve been collecting music in general since I was in Addis, specifically in high school. Funny thing is, I’m still “discovering” some songs from my collection some nearly 20 years later.
As for GeTu(ጌጡ)I have some more tracks of his which will appear in a second installment very soon. Some of the funniest ones are yet to come.
I would dare to say that most of the undying lyrics that are used over and over again by many artists were born in meshetabet and other places of festivities. A music incepted in Tejbet is not necessarily superficial. Fantu’s lyrics, though seemingly simple, are noteworthy criticisms of the society, one should not ignore the parody within. Frankly, most lyrics in our contemporary songs and skits are not comparable to the qenE verses of yesteryears, in terms of their literary values. Perhaps they are not supposed to be that deep, don’t know.
Besides, simple is beautiful. When great ideas and thoughts are dissected to be understandable they become quite simple. Do they lose the gist of the matter when smplified? don’t know again. Just a thought.
No! I am not playing the Tejbet tradition down. On the contrary, it has all ways been the source of inspirations for artist. I love tej. I grow in Tejbet,..
I am just saying there is comparison between Fantu and Getu….
(see) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itiig0n85VA
i missed the last podcast the first time around…WOW!!! its great!!