By: Fistum Getachew
One of the most renowned personalities in the modern history of arts of our country Debebe Eshetu has died at the age of 83, just a few weeks ago. Artist Debebe Eshetu is part of Ethiopian history of the last six decades with active participation in all forms of artistic ventures. Principally he was a sublime actor having studied at the tertiary level in Budapest, Hungary along with his dear friend and colleague the much missed Wogayehu Nigatu who left us all very prematurely in his early forties. Debebe Eshetu was much luckier than Wogayehu Nigatu having lived for 83 active years taking part in various activities until his last days, until practically his last breath. When he was once asked when he planned to retire, his amazing and witty answer was as usual, ‘I will have all the time I need to take rest when I leave this earth. But until then I will not stop working!’
Debebe Eshetu was not only an actor but also director, writer, presenter, journalist, translator, human rights activist and politician. He has always taken the front row in any nationalist endeavour because he loved his country even more than his children. He said before his children came his country because if he had no country, he would not have his children. Even his vocation as an artist would occupy second place because of the same reason.
First always comes his country and all the rest comes later.
The versatile artist was ‘forced’ to engage in politics when he reckoned that the ruling party EPRDF was not respecting human rights and was full of corrupt practices that dismayed him. During the famous 2005 elections that passed to the political history books of the country as one of the most controversial, consequential and arguably the most significant ever, the ultimate result was the part of the process that angered people. The background to the electoral process was graced by the participation of people like Debebe Eshetu and other prominent personalities. They joined the main opposition party called ‘Kinijit Party’, called in English the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, CUD. He was the front figurehead of the party presenting the political platform of the same every time there was an official communication to the public using the media.
After the controversy arose and the CUD officials rejected the results as rigged, Debebe Eshetu along with his comrades in the party was subjected to imprisonment for about two years before they were released owing to the pressure of the international community and allies of Ethiopia. During his detention Debebe wrote a book about his predicament and ordeal in jail called ‘the Challenge of My Conviction’, ‘Ye’emnetee Fetena’ in Amharic. After a while he fell in prison and suffered a lot but he never regretted for having taken that dangerous path where he however managed to survive. Debebe also never regretted his being involved in active politics which had the risks of imprisonment and trial. He would do anything for the sacred and moral mission of saving his country in its journey towards freedom and justice as well as progress.
Debebe Eshetu never desisted from doing what he felt was just and right no matter the risks especially when it comes to national issues. He was concerned that if people like him with all the exposure he had in terms of education, knowledge and experience around the world and reputation as an influential personality, who else would be taking the responsibility of ‘saving’ the country or arguing in its favour. Whenever there was the platform where the country’s problems and prospect s are discussed, Debebe is always there in the front row without any hesitation. He would contribute his share because he had his own vision of his country and what it deserved to have.
His legacy as an actor is massive with so many plays in which he acted both as the lead character or even a subsidiary role including in Ethiopian and foreign movies. Notably he has taken part in the famous international film called ‘Shaft in Africa’ in the seventies. Debebe has repeatedly demonstrated his talent and ability as a great actor and has become an inspiration to the youth who would like to join the profession of acting. He believed that artists had a special responsibility in society because through their work they can inspire and encourage people to love their country and save it from any form of attack because art teaches also patriotism.
For Debebe, art is very important because it serves as a vehicle of communication well accepted by those who watch it. Art has multiple facets and expressions and its role in society is immense. Arts is vast and it includes not only plays and dramas but also films, video clips, books, poetry, literature of all kinds, paintings, sculpture, music and the like. These expressions of arts are all very near to their audience and their influence is very high.
Art contributes to the growth of culture. It contributes to the exchange of cultures and thoughts, ways of life and mentalities so that there can be less mistrust among people especially in a society such as ours with multiple social backgrounds. It creates more awareness among people of various cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds. It also contributes to peace and justice. That was why some time ago when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) summoned various categories of the society for consultations on the issues of the country, he also summoned the people engaged in the arts world for similar consultation.
The premier urged them to depict in their works the issues of the country and how to go about dealing with them. People in the creative arts are capable of motivating citizens to work hard and give priority to the common good and that of country as a whole rather than engaging in selfish and harmful activities. It is to be remembered how artists were campaigning for the raising of funds for the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, GERD. The premier reiterated to them how important people of the arts and culture are because of their popularity among the public. Many times people follow what artists do and it is very easy to transmit important messages to them. Artist Debebe Eshetu was one of them and we will always remember his works of art and literature because he has left us a great legacy.
