Ethiopia's iconic resistance singer Nuho Gobana dies
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Loading... - Fanaka Ogutu
- 24 Jan 2022
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Ethiopians are mourning pioneering musician Nuho Gobana, who has died aged 74 after a long career that saw him produce timeless classics, including many songs urging the Oromo people to find their strength and unite to demand change.
The Oromo ethnic group, despite being Ethiopia’s largest, was marginalised by successive Ethiopian rulers until Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power a few years ago.
Nuho had been ill for some time – and when his fans realised the seriousness of his situation a few months ago, they bought him a house in Adama, east of the capital, Addis Ababa, where he died on Tuesday night.
During the Marxist military dictatorship of the 1980s, the musician left Ethiopia, living as a refugee in a number of countries including Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, and Canada.
”Back then, Nuho was doing songs to empower his people. His music was easily memorable,” his long-time friend and notable musician Elemo Ali recalls of their life in Saudi Arabia.
Another of his friends, Abdo Alisho, has spoken of how powerful his songs were: “They made you love your country. Nuho lived for his people.” Read More…
