World! What's Wrong With You?

Modern Eritrean history, especially history of the armed struggle, can be read from the revolutionary and folk songs that emerged over the years. Each moment in the struggle was depicted in songs. Unlike songs in similar struggles of the world which are mostly agitational, Eritrean revolutionary songs are also chronicles of historic events. ’The Eritrean Struggle in Songs’ is a major documentary work that needs to be done before many of the artists and fighters who know the stories pass away. Dr. Tekeste Fekadu in his book “From Nakfa to Nakfa” cites songs that emerged during the liberation of Nakfa and Strategic Withdrawal.

Right now, Eritrea is at a stage when Ethiopia refused to implement the decision of the Border Commission. The world, consisting of the U.N and the guarantors of Algiers Agreement refuse to take action against Ethiopia. Two of the songs that came out during Independence Day celebrations in 2004 reflect the frustration and anger of the Eritrean people at the inactivity of the world community. These songs are not lamentations of the weak and meek. Rather, they are expressions of solidarity, anger, and rededication to go it alone, and to all extent, as in the past. The words in those songs challenge the world to live up to its avowed standards of justice and rule of law. To enemies of Eritrea, the songs assert that national resolve is heightened with the crisis and not dampened. Friend and foe alike should understand the depth of Eritrean resentment about Ethiopia’s belligerence and the world’s acquiescence, now as in the past. Talk about history repeating itself. Poor Santayana, nobody is listening to him.

Elsa Kidane’s, song is titled “intay guda”, lyrics and musical composition by Habtom Yemane. The other song is “Cobra” by Bereket Mengisteab, vocalist, composer and writer. The CD is “Selected Songs of Independence Day 2004”, distributed by Awget.

I have presented “intayu guda” in Tigrigna (using Tigrigna and Latin alphabets) with an English translation so people who do not read or speak Tigrigna can understand the message. As much as possible, I used direct translation not to lose the flavor and expression, in the process. This song is a masterpiece and will join the ranks of the old revolutionary songs in the annals of Eritrean struggle for independence and sovereignty.

My greatest appreciation and thanks to Elsa and Habtom.

The song is also nice to listen to. I hope the written lyrics will help you appreciate the song better. It is a song that evokes deep emotion and sentiment. It keeps on reverberating in your mind long after the player has stopped. If you find yourself humming it unconsciously, then you got the bug. Shakespeare would have switched ‘love’ for ‘love of country’, and would have said about this song “If music be the food of ‘love of country’, play on, give me excess of it”.

Bereket's "Cobra" is coming soon.

iza Alemna intay’yu guda, intay’yu guda
Haqi ktsemE msnbada, msnbada
demey bzara kfess, Ageb keytbl tImet
nmrmasey ktr'i Ayna kefita tqWamet
lomndomo zbelet tbel, aymuwaget aymasasel
ab merietey aleni mesel.

ab geza'e ristey ab Adey, s'an bftHi zfered
ayreaKindo tmali hzbey merietey knedd
zemed azmadey, welodoy nab kulu maazen ksded
sendeldel kbl kgadel, AQeb qulqulet kwerd.
tezarebi …. tezarebi …

n’medebesta n’desdes gizie yeblkn dyu Alem
kndi medHanit knkn, Hmam hibkyo nHmum
sr’Ate qebrey kSwaE, qdmi mumatey knger
mesiluki'mber Alemey, bSnAtey’ye znebr
Hade Hazi … Hade Hazi …. tariK aleni znger

yiaKlekindo Alemey aytQSEni bigoneS
Hluf bedelki keyzkr aytmlesni nab dHrit
aya zeybley nbeyney SemSem bereKa deqise
Hasot tenkolki T’Hise
BQlSmey’ye negise
anti Alem …. Ayne-swur aytKuni zelealem

Alem alatni hagerey Alemey
semay alewando nay beyna semay
AAlemkum Hazu ayttenkfuley
keleKun msmotkun nsa iya natey.

What is wrong with our world, what is wrong with it
It gets startled to hear the truth
When my blood was flowing like a river, it closed its eyes so not to condemn the act
When expecting my demise, it opens its eyes
Now, say what you may, I am not going to argue or stoop down
I have my rights on my land

In my own land and country, for lack of justice
You saw it yesterday, my land and people torched
My kith and kin, an entire generation, exiled to all corners
Suffered the slings and arrows, ups and downs, of a torturous struggle.
Speak out … Speak out ….

Oh world, you have no time to comfort the bereaved or to cheer up the joyful
Instead of medicine and care, you give illness to the sick
My death was to be announced and my obituary told before I died
Not so quick world, I survive by my perseverance
I have a history to tell.

Enough is enough my world
Don’t punish me unjustly
Don’t take me back to yester years lest I remember past injustice
I was alone without a big brother or succor
Ventured into the wilderness and braved it
Shattered your lies and evil acts.
I got my independence by force.
>Oh world, don’t be blind forevermore

I have a world, my country is my world
Its has a sky, its own sky
>Stay in your own world, don’t touch mine
It will be mine, as long as I live and after I die.