Music Across the Border

Music transcends social, cultural and political boundaries. I have seen this in my country. Bahir Dar is a small town, located 400 kilometers from Addis Ababa (the capital city of Ethiopia). Bahir Dar is a town surrounded by Lake Tana and rich with astonishing history of civilization and the flourishing of Christianity in 330 AD. The town is also rich with archeological remaining and uniqueness of its culture. Many tourists are in love of the richness this place provides. The central part of the town during the night bestows a safe haven for those who are hungry of its music. Cluster of little houses across the streets pour their melodies from their doors and windows. Who can resist running-off from this? These houses are shelters for anyone who is in love of their music, anyone. For nationals, for foreigners they grant their astonishing melodies. The dancers wear the traditional cloths that are white and colorful at their tip. The drums and the vocals are food for soul. Of course the dancing style is energetic and needs basic training. Who cares, anyone in the room can try and have fun.

On one occasion I was in one of those houses with my friends; a foreigner who even doesn’t understand the language, the words, and the difficult dancing style was in the middle having a great time with the musicians. It was then I realized that music doesn’t have boundaries. Nowadays it is really common to find at least two or three foreigners in those houses; I guess the music has a feeling of belongingness. The foreigners also accustomed of eating the traditional foods and drinks that are not easily adaptable for anyone who is an outsider.  

While I am within the milieu of Ethiopia, on April 1993 part of an Ethiopian province Eritrea had a referendum held for independence. Later in 1998 a border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea aroused. It was during this time that there was massive displacement of people from both countries. Those Eritreans who lived for a long time in Ethiopia were transported and moved to Eritrea, and the same was done on Ethiopians who had lived in Eritrea. The people in the two countries however, were tide-up with culture, blood, and marriage. Those who were displaced, their soul start searching for their belongingness. Only music has the guts to transcend those hostile situations between the two countries. Music that is released in those countries surges and reaches those souls. Musicians are the only ones who have the courage and valor to sing about the love that bonded the two nations. I heard that no one is allowed to hear any Amharic music (Ethiopian Language) in Eritrea, but for the people who endures the love of Ethiopia and her music, this is a tale of the full. It reminds them the wonderful memories they had with their brothers. It shows their resiliency and emotional attachment for the country they are attached with. I hope as music crossed those hostile boundaries, we all one day will cross the delineations sketched by our dictators. One day this will be history and we will unite as one nation as we were.