Yehunie Belay

Yehunie Belay (Amharic: ይሁኔ በላይ (December 9, 1961) is an Ethiopian singer/musical writer/entrepreneur who is regarded as one of the best cultural performers of his generation. Just at an early age, his exceptional musical talent got first exposure in the local kola Dega Damot regional talent group. It was in this group that Yehunie Belay expanded his musical repertoire, learning among others, the unique styles of the shankila ethnic group. In fact, Yehunie’s artistic talent was discovered at early age before he joined the Gojjam Gish Abay Cultural Group with whom he is famously known for.

His first album, “yagere Lij Bal Game” was a hit, but it was his second back to back hit album “Ere Ney Gibe Gibe” that earned him a spot among Ethiopia’s renowned folk singers. Starting from his first public debut in 1987, artist Yehunie Belay has risen to become a cultural ambassador of Ethiopia and Ethiopians performing to his fans throughout the world. In addition to his single hit song titled “Yegodelegne ale-Bezoro” that was released in 2011, he has released six albums to his credit.

Early life

Yehunie Belay was born to his Father Mr. Belay Melese, who was is a farmer and a patriot defender of the people, in the western part of the country known as Gojjam while his mother Mrs. Tadefalech Eneyew was a simple house wife who raised and took care of the three children including Yehunie Belay. Yehunie attended his early education in what is called Kes Temheret Bet in his area from the age of 4-7. Then he joined Fenote Selame Kedamawe Haile Selassie Elementary School and further completed his secondary school in the year 1987 from Damote Comprehensive Secondary high school. Meanwhile, Yehunie’s musical talent started at early age. He started developing his singing talent back then participating in kids’ musical group just at a tender age of 9. His love for traditional music added to his exceptional musical talent gave young Yehunie a chance to join and grow in his musical rank. He later became to be known as one of the best singers in his generation. All these achievements came as a result of his hard work, dedication and patience developing and mastering the art of music. To become & turned into an excellent & finely tuned musician as he is right now, Artist Yehunie Belay has to go through a refinement process of different hierarchical stages beginning at Kebele (local) level, Woreda (district), Aweraja and finally to Kifle Hagre (state) level. Artist Yehunie Belay is also best known for his other gifted qualities as a Music writer, a musical drama creator (Antoyewa), as a musical coordinator and group leader. Artist Yehunie developed all these professional capabilities through long years of hard work, learning and his dedication to his musical career.

Early Professional career

Artist Yehunie Belay with Gishabaye group 1986 at Baher Darr Satduim.

Yehunie Belay’s professional musical career started in 1987 when he was recruited into the Gojjam Gish Abay Cultural Group, a professional troupe that was touring Ethiopia through out the 80's and 90's. It was after his very first televised musical performance of Antuyewa (a dramatic musical act that was so authentic and original to traditional music lovers of Ethiopia), that Yehunie Belay put his great mark in Ethiopian music. His fame extended farther into the Ethiopian Community of the US, Europe and the Middle East.

Present day Yehunie Belay

After Yehunie moved to the USA in 1993, he released yet other hit albums like Alo-lulo in 1994, Kuku Melekote in 1999, Be-Be Kefilaw Ser in 2001, Yeman Nesh Wubetam (Zegelila) in 2004, Yehunie Belay Classics in 2007 and Zengena in 2008. In the year of 2011, he released a single hit song titled “Yegodelegn ale-Bezoro”.

Yehunie Belay is not only a singer, but also the executive director of The Ethiopian Yellow pages Inc., a Washington DC based online & yellow pages book publication and also Editor in chief of Bawza, an Amharic English online newspaper publication. Yehunie seizes every opportunity to devote his time to promote the interests of the Ethiopian community in Washington DC. The young Ethiopian folk singer and entrepreneur, Yehunie Belay is a devoted family Man for whom his country, family and profession stand before everything.

Artist Yehunie Belay presenting his Album Kuku Melekote to Secretary of State / Former Senator Hillary Clinton in September of 2000

Besides the respect he commands as a performer through this family owned publication, artist Yehunie Belay shoulders much responsibility for promoting the interest of Ethiopia and Ethiopians, especially those in the motherland. He even contributed to the senatorial campaign of the former first lady and Senator Mrs. Hillary Clinton. In the meeting he had with Mrs. Clinton, he presented one of his hit CD's titled “Kuku Melekote” also reminded her to keep Ethiopia in her heart once she takes her seat in the US Senate. In her personal thank you response letter dated September 15, 2000 from the White House, Mrs. Hilary Rodham Clinton highly appreciated Artist Yehunie’s “Kuku Melekote” CD gift and stated her pleasure meeting him in person.

Artist Yehunie’s musical fame and exceptional talent has taken him to almost every states and major cities in the United States of America and Canada. In addition, he has also staged musical performances around the world in countries like Germany, England, Sweden, France, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, the Middle East and Africa.

Discography

  • Zengena |Feker Sound| Released : 2008
  • Yehunie Belay Classics |Feker Sound| Released : 2007
  • Yeman Nesh Wubetam (Zegelila) |Y.T.F. Productions| Released : 2004
  • Be-Be Kefilaw Ser |Y.T.F. Productions| Released : 2001
  • Kuku Melekote |Y.T.F. Productions| Released : 1999
  • Alo-lulo |NT, Inc.| Released : 1994

Humanitarian Contribution

Fenote Selam Church: Not forgetting his roots, Artist Yehunie Belay in the year 2005 contributed a big sum of money for the renovation of Fenote Selam Church. Yehunie Belay being very close to his identity as a child of the Ethiopian Orthodox church has also performed in the Washington DC orthodox event organized by famous Ethiopian artists in 2004.

In May 2011, after 24 years (6 years in Bahir Dar & Addis Ababa and 18 years in USA) since he left his hometown of Fenote Selam to pursue a higher excellence in his musical career, Artist Yehunie Belay was back for a good cause. Now it was the time for him to finally get connected with his roots.

As artist Yehunie’s visit coincided with a Bazaar held by the town of Fenote Selam, his coming news increased the town’s jubilation attracting more crowd not only from the town of Fenote Selam but also thousands more from the surrounding vicinities. Artist Yehunie Belay was on stage performing for his fans consecutively for two days. The crowd was thrilled beyond imagination whistling, chanting and clapping all the way as their hero entertained them with what they love the most-his musical performances. The goal of “Fenote Gojjam Bazaar” was to raise money for the town’s infrastructures such as public roads, schools and so on. Within the two days of Artist Yehunie’s performance, more than thirty thousand (30,000) people attended the event and a huge sum of money was raised as a result. Because of Artist Yehunie’s love and dedication to his hometown of Fenote Selam and the high significance of the Bazaar to him personally, he flew all the way from USA to be there with a short notice covering all expenses himself.

Habtu Negatu (Anemote): When the talented Washinte Player (better remembered in the Gishe Abay Theatrical musical show Antoyewa) of the Gish Abay Musical Group/ Yehunie’s colleague and good friend became homeless in Addis Ababa, Artist Yehunie was the one among few who gave a helping hand to bring Anemote back from homelessness into a decent life that he deserves. Unfortunately, Artist Habtu passed away untimely death in the year 2010.

Croatia Embassy: Artist Yehunie Belay also instrumental role in the 2010 Charity event that was initiated by the Croatian Ambassador her Excellency Kolinda Grabar-Kitrovic to help orphans in Ethiopia. On this event, Artist Yehunie performed along with Grammy Jazz Artist and Jazz Superstar Ski Johnson. Artist Yehunie on this occasion contributed his musical CDs to be sold on the event and the proceedings to be donated for the good cause. In his role as Editor-in-chief of Bawza Newspaper- an online Ethiopian news network, Artist Yehunie is always involved solving social issues and problems that are closely associated to his Ethiopian community. Through Bawza Newspaper, Artist Yehunie advocates on issues of social importance sharing his life time knowledge and experience with fellow Ethiopians. Major Appearances In the Year 2007, Artist Yehunie Belay was interviewed by Voice of America’s (VOA) African Beats program host David Vande. In the interview that lasted around 45minutes, Yehunie Belay talked about his musical career, his family life and other related issues. Artist Yehunie was also on air (to pass a message of condolences representing Ethiopian and African singers) with Voice of America, when the King of pop music-Michael Jackson passed away. In his remark, Artist Yehunie passed his message of condolences to the family of Michael Jackson and to the family and fans of Honorary Dr. Artist Tilahun Gessesse (the King of Ethiopia Music) who also passed away that same week.

Other appearances of Artist Yehunie Belay include:

  • Special guest at Haile Gebresellasie’s residence
  • CNN coverage on little Ethiopia
  • Tom Joyner’s son, Oscar Joyner wedding
  • Live Performance 2011 at Fenote Selam, Gojjam Ethiopia

References