Cultural Post #2

[Melale Hailu]

When I was completing my first cultural post on music and Oromo culture, I was in the comments of the youtube song that I wrote about and one of the top comments was that Oromo artists are the heart of the Oromo people. Therefore, I wanted to focus this cultural post on Haachalu Hundessa, an Oromo-Ethiopian singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist who was assassinated three years ago. I doubt that you would ever come across something in regard to the Oromo people without coming across Haachalu Hundessa. Despite being a charismatic hero in the eyes of many (mine included), Haachalu carried a voice that literally would bring people to tears. When I traveled to Ethiopia this past summer, I would not go a day without seeing a three-wheeler taxi (bajaj), which has taken over the country (they are everywhere), without Haachaluu’s face plastered inside and/or outside the taxi. In the Oromia region, in particular, his music would persistently play from stores and restaurants at every corner. Haachalu Hundessa was born in Ambo, a growing town in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. At the age of 17, he was arrested for five years for taking part in protests. This was in 2003, just a year before Ethiopia's then administration engaged in violent human rights abuses in an effort to consolidate their power and corrupt the ‘elections’ they said would take place Haachaluu’s entire first album was composed and written during his time in prison. This album was titled Sanyii Mootii, translating into the royal lineage/race. His second album titled Waa’ee Keenyaa, meaning ‘About Us’ received never before seen recognition reaching the #1 best-selling African music album, suggesting that his music transcended beyond the Oromo or Ethiopian people. Unfortunately, Haachalu was not able to finish his final album titled Maal Mallissa (What is ought to be done) nor see the reaction it garnered across the globe as he was killed a week after revealing that he was working on it. The album was then released on the one-year anniversary of his death, inciting an emotional response from the people. I remember the day of his death as if it was yesterday. I remember my father calling my mother to deliver the news, quietly wiping away tears. On the other side of the ocean, my grandmother and her neighbors all left their house, wailing on the streets as if someone they personally knew had passed. This all is a testament to Haachalu’s revolutionary impact and influence. Hachalu’s life and work illustrated his courage, passion, and talent. He was not just a singer, but also a cultural icon and a political activist. His music inspired and mobilized people across Ethiopia and beyond, and his death was seen as a major blow to the Oromo movement and the struggle for democracy and human rights in Ethiopia. In just about anything he did he was able to capture his people's aspirations, fears, plight, culture, and values. Hachalu Hundessa was a remarkable individual who used his music to champion the cause of the Oromo people and to demand justice and equality in Ethiopia. His life and legacy are a testament to the power of music as a tool for social change, and to the resilience and creativity of the Oromo people in the face of adversity. While his death was a tragedy, his memory lives on in his music and in the hearts of those who continue to fight for a more just and inclusive society in Ethiopia and beyond.

[Yanran Li]

Hi Melale! Your post was great! It's truly inspiring to read about Haachalu Hundessa's incredible journey and how he became an emblematic figure for the Oromo people. His music and activism have left an indelible mark on Ethiopian culture, and it's heartwarming to see how deeply he connected with his people. Thank you for sharing this insight into his life and impact; it reminds us of the power that music and art hold in promoting social change.