Mother of Eritrean soul, Tsehaytu Beraki, dies

Tsehaytu Bereaki, September 1, 1939 - May 25, 2018 (79) RIP

Mother of Eritrean soul, Tsehaytu Beraki, dies

By Tesfalem Araia | BBC Tigrinya

Legendary Eritrean musician Tsehaytu Beraki has died in exile in the Netherlands at the age of 79.

Regarded as the mother of Eritrean soul, Tsehaytu was a trailblazer for female musicians in the Horn of Africa – shaking off the conservative outlook of society in the 1960s.

In the region, she is on a par with her contemporary African pioneers such as South Africa’s Miriam Makeba and Tanzania's Bi Kidude.

Dubbed the “Sunshine of Eritrea”, she sang in Tigrinya and was a renowned player of the kirar, a bowl-shaped lyre.

She started her career aged eight, playing in local bars.

A singer, songwriter and dancer, she released several albums about love and politics – especially during the height of the Eritrean struggle for liberation.

Some of her memorable hits include Mejemerya Fikri and Abashawel.

Watch some of her performances:

"exile"? Are you kidding? Wow, Tsehaytu Beraki was interviewed this year, January 27, 2018, on #Eritv & her biography was broadcasted live everyone to see (https://t.co/zqUQK3M5hE). Why spreading fakenews? #BBCTigraway is spreading many unverified stories abt Eritrea. Enough! pic.twitter.com/On9IVPZvNa

— #VisionThroughToil (@DahlaKib) May 25, 2018

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