The
services of these youth are evident everywhere in the Diaspora as well in
Ethiopia itself.
It is the fearless youth who environed the musical
genius to Teddy Afro, at the infamous Ethiopian millennium. Blessed by the
billions of stars that graced the night at the people’s stadium, where
Teddy refused to take orders from the rich and powerful who wanted to sing
for them at the Sheraton, and chose the stadium instead, Ethiopian youth
risked their lives and came to listen to the justly famous, song, “Altseralegnem”,
in which the prevailing regime was indicted and found guilty for not
delivering, for not changing, for not saying, “We can”.
All recent heroic efforts within and outside of
Ethiopia, ranging from the brilliant writings of Obang Mehto and Michael
Deribe, to the inventive Abugida, and moving on to the rising singers,
investors and scientists of the future, are flooding the media landscape.
The efforts and shining achievements of Ethiopian
youth have yet to be heralded. I for one would like to make a modest
effort of singing the names of Ethiopian youth and document their living
contributions. Most of these youth grew in tumultuous times. Some have
lived the death of their friends, their beloved and even their parents
during the reigns of the derg. Worse still, they had witnessed famines,
which took the lives of humans and cattle.
Brief was the respite they received in the hands of
the prevailing regime, during its golden beginnings. Short was their
educational joy, in the few universities and colleges, which were closed
most of the time, and when open, did not deliver much.
Yet, this resilient youth survived it all. Those who
stayed behind protested when they can and some were brutally killed for
wanting change, and standing behind the party of their hearts and put
their faith in the hands of Kinjit, which was not meant to be. Those who
left for the Diaspora, continue to work from dusk to dawn, and help those
who are fighting poverty in their beloved Ethiopia and changing lives and
realizing dreams.
Who can blame this youth for their just disillusion
with a future they yearned and the miserable political reality with which
they are now saddled. The regime continues to imprison their heroes and
icons. Their leaders however continue to write and imagine new
permutations of strategies, and new solidarities for the future of a new
Ethiopia. Salute to the Ethiopian youth, and may God continue to stir
their imagination and enrich their intelligence to bring a new Ethiopia,
in which I would like to serve as their committed servant.
Teodros Kiros (PhD)
