The Greatest Ethiopian singer of all time, the legendary Tilahun Gessesse, dies at 68

Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 11:30
Crousel, Diaspora, Entertainment, Featured, General News, Sports
3,231 views
30 comments

ep-tlahun The legendary Ethiopian singer Tilahun Gessesse, 68, passed away at midnight on Sunday.

The late Tilahun passed away while he was being taken to hospital feeling serious pain. He had arrived later on same day from New York, USA, according to the artist’s family members.

In appreciation of his contribution to Ethiopian music, Tilahun received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Addis Ababa University. He has also received an award for his lifetime achievements from the Ethiopian Fine Art and Mass Media Prize Trust.

Born on September 1940, in Addis Ababa to his mother Woizero Gete Gurmu and his father Ato Gessesse Negusse, Tilahun attended primary school at Ras Gobena Elementary School in Woliso town of Oromia State.

The late artist was first hired by the Hager Fikir Association, which is now known as Hager Fikir Theater. After a few years at the Hager Fikir Theater, he joined the Imperial Bodyguard Band where he became a leading star singer.Tilahun moved to the National Theater where his success continued.

The majority of Tilahun’s recordings are in Amharic, though he has recorded a number of songs in Oromifa.

Please take a moment to express any comments, feelings regarding this topic. Tilahun touched many Ethiopians through his music a legandary singer indeed he will be missed by many. Feel free to post your favorite videos, or songs of Tilahun Gessesse.

Share and Enjoy:

Share
Delicious Digg Design Float Mixx Reddit StumbleUpon Technorati

Tags: Ethiopian legend dies, Ethiopian music, Ethiopian music legand, Honorary Doctorate Degree, Oromia State, Ras Ato Gessesse Gebrekidan, Ras Gobena Elementary school, Tilahun Gessesse, Woizero Gete Gurma, Woliso

30 Comments on “The Greatest Ethiopian singer of all time, the legendary Tilahun Gessesse, dies at 68”

Gojo wrote on 21 April, 2009, 11:59
Sad to hear we have lost an Ethiopian hero, you will never be forgetton Tilahun..god bless your soul
Teddy wrote on 21 April, 2009, 12:00
My deepest sympathy to all Ethiopian people all over the place.
Tilahun remains in our heart for ever.
Ethiopian love you more than words could express.
May God rest your soul in heaven
Teddy wrote on 21 April, 2009, 12:01
RIP Tilahun you will always be in Ethiopia’s heart
meske wrote on 21 April, 2009, 12:05
Very sad day..Tilahun is the greatest please people pray for him and his family Rest in Peace
Abeba wrote on 21 April, 2009, 12:08
Unbelievable! Telesh mote..iam very shocked to hear the sad news a great singer a great man! Long live his memories
Soloman wrote on 21 April, 2009, 12:09
RIP tilhaun i’m saddened by this news
Alem wrote on 21 April, 2009, 12:11
maybe if he was in US this would have been different, our health care in Ethiopia needs improvement.. god rest his soul in his mother land RIP
habtamu wrote on 21 April, 2009, 13:31
i have nothing to say about Dr. tilahun he was all about all ethiopian life. may GOD rest his soul in the heaven.
Lee wrote on 21 April, 2009, 13:56
Not fair!
M_Op wrote on 21 April, 2009, 16:10
This is too unfair indeed. What a wonderfully gifted man he was.

In a country that so discriminated against your ethnic group, you ascended above it all and became the greatest Ethiopian singer of all time.

RIP brother.
aster wrote on 21 April, 2009, 16:25
This is an end of an era, sory to see Tilahun go with it. He will be missed.
tamrat wrote on 22 April, 2009, 1:00
sorry to his fans. however he is not out of complains being refuse about ethiopian election
he is not hero but he is good musician that is what i feel
japi wrote on 22 April, 2009, 6:40
Unexpected news, Tele may GOD rest his soul in the heaven
titoAwassa wrote on 22 April, 2009, 9:01
Tilahun entertained our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters everywhere wherever they may be and he has been our household hero for decades putting an unforgettable spot with his defining musical mark.This extremely talented artist has left us for good now but he and his music will always remain with us and will pass for generations to come. We owe him a lot and as we say goodbye to this extraordinary man, we say thank you and my God bless him and may God give strength and courage to his family and for all Ethiopians.
kebebe wrote on 22 April, 2009, 13:07
may god bless his soul This is all because of Ethiopia……. NOOOOOOOOOOOO HOSPITALS
Thomas wrote on 22 April, 2009, 14:37
what touches me the most about the news is not Tilahun’s death by itself rather the way he died. it is so tragic, dying of not getting any kind of treatment whatsoever. his ail might be a very simple one had it been there was a doctor at hand.
wesen legesse wrote on 23 April, 2009, 0:57
I am nothing to say about Dr.Tilahun he was the symbol of Ethiopian music.beside that he hungered when the people hungered he keeps his country until his end of life. so tilahun was the way our holiday celebration, love expression,the admiration of beauty and so on….
God bless his soul
Aregash Adafrie wrote on 23 April, 2009, 1:35
I am so sorry about him. he was a wonder full ethiopian singer ,so god bless his soul .
Abebayehu Tadesse wrote on 23 April, 2009, 2:09
I touched too much when I heard the death of our renowed beloved and symbolic singer of ethiopian music. may God bless his soul in heaven.
Elizabeth wrote on 23 April, 2009, 6:07
I can’t explain about his. I am sorry. GOD rest his soul in the heaven
Elizabeth wrote on 23 April, 2009, 6:47
Unexpected news, I can’t explain about . I am sorry.GOD rest his soul in the heaven
Lulit Getnet wrote on 23 April, 2009, 6:55
I am sorry about Gash Tilahun. i am very shocked to hear the sad news a great singer a great man! may GOD rest his soul in the heaven.
qula wrote on 23 April, 2009, 8:26
He is the result of Amhara sperm and Oromo egg!!!!!!!!!!
yohannes marew(addis ababa) wrote on 23 April, 2009, 8:40
we lost our legendery musician.this is what i can say. i wish God keeps him on the right
side of the heaven.
yohan wrote on 25 April, 2009, 12:55
rest in peace brother!!!

Tilahun gessesse birth name was Dandana ayanoo, Gessesse negusse was his step father.
hello wrote on 26 April, 2009, 6:51
Ethioplanet please respect Tilahun Gessesse familly and history. where did you get the information that his step father name was “Gessesse Geberekidan”??? instead of Gessesse Negussee ?? again Gessesse Negussie was not his real father.
betty wrote on 26 April, 2009, 11:19
The person “hello” before me… what r u talkin about..who mention name “Gessesse Geberekidan” where in the article it says that..u can’t read “hello”
hello wrote on 26 April, 2009, 18:22
the person called “betty” are you blind and not normal???? read it eshi.
yonnysh wrote on 23 May, 2009, 20:01
my god rest his soul in heaven!!!! we lost a great person
prashant wrote on 24 May, 2009, 12:26
Dear sir

sir i request this information please secrate, you office lavel watching, this guy buy now one usd 12.50 bir and sold 14 bir per usd dolar

sir you chek this all company account and last years havemuch income tax and vat diposit this guy not paid income tax and vat after show loss. and all money save this cheating with ethio goverment you asking havemany company there and asking you import your shop items but not give bill who give this vat and income tax, asking havemany company with you business all is cliear,

this very secret information important FINANCIAL AND REVENUE CRIME WITH ETHIOPIA COUNTRY,

sir one indian nationalty man BHARAT SHAH daily milion dolar and other foreign currency exchange and transfer out of country unofficialy,

sir this man somany company format in ethiopia and import this man all import under invoice and revenue loss ethiopian goverment, this man last maybe 40 years in ethiopia,

sir i give you parsonal leval this information but you official lavel invastigation, and recovery goverment money i think minimum 2 milion dolar recovery,

becouset\ this man long time this business, allredy bilions dolar this man tranfer and revenue loss ethio goverment, now u send parsonal leval any froeigner exchange money then u first arrested after asking all question,

bharat shah one indian food items shop in addis near mariden hotel bole road,

i also business ethio long time, this information truely,

i proud ethiopia

prashant