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
