Artistic products created with the inputs of various artists usually get the chance of climbing to popularity. Especially when it comes to songs recreated from their traditional beats mingled with modern musical instruments, the impressions they leave on their audience is usually moving. They have the ability to rekindle memories of the elderly at the same time keep the youth move with the music. Various works by Adem Faid Amer appear to have features similar to what is stated above.
Adem Faid Amer, a very well-known singer in the Nara language, has been awarded for his songs selected among the top ten lists during the occasions of National Festival of Eritrea. His songs have the touch of traditional beat wonderfully accompanied by modern musical instruments. Produced mostly in singles, his songs usually good reception appeal by audiences.
This notable singer – Adem Faid Amer – said that he was born in a village called Emerdwar near Haikota around 1962. After the federation between Eritrean and Ethiopia was dismantled, he recalled that his family found it better to move to Geluj as the plundering and burning of villages as well as killings by the then Ethiopian regime persisted. Nara ethnic groups leading their lives as a sedentary society, families could own numerous heads of cattle; similarly, Amer grew up in a family that owned a lot of cattle.
Although Amer got the chance to study till grade 2 in Geluj, he couldn’t continue beyond that as the medium of instruction was in Amharic and the political situation was not stable. While still young his father passed away and he decided to give his back to Geluj and head to Kessella. There he lived with his cousin. He continued his education in Arabic for a couple of years but again, he had to take another big decision of his life – to join the armed struggle for independence.
Amer stated that he had no idea about the Eritrean struggle until the time he heard of a fierce fighting at Jebel Nam, a place near Geluj. Though he decided to join ELF in 1976 while still he was very young, he admitted that his political consciousness was still very limited. It was in the struggle that he widened his political awareness.
In the same year, he sang on stage for his first time; however, Amer had sung and played his rababa (a traditional string musical instrument) from the age of 12 years old. As young as that, his talent with that musical instrument was so excellent that many singers older than him used to keep him near them so that he would play for them.
These singers, who also had some influence on him, are Hamid Abdella, Mussa Saleh, Wedelbab, Wedebellai, Ibrahim Sherif and Adem Ibrahim. Except for Adem Ibrahim, whom Amer considers as the first Nara singer, the others sang Tigre and Hidareb songs. Therefore, Amer grew up playing Tigre, Hidareb and Nara songs equally well. His talent then culminated to a point where he would be able to play different songs and beats of the three Eritrean ethnic groups.
Amer said that although the Nara people had a number of traditional songs played during various ceremonies such as weddings, there were no singers who had taken up singing as their profession. That is why he considers Adem Ibrahim to be the first Nara singer as he had always been singing on various occasions especially in small towns.
The first song Amer sang on stage was after the liberation of Tessenei in 1976. He sang the song to mark the victory of the Eritrean struggle at that time. Some parts of its content go as: “On this victory day, let’s continue our fight united as one; our flag has risen high, we will continue till Asmara like that....”
After staying with ELF for some years, Amer joined EPLF in the second half of 1980s. He was then assigned to the Central Cultural Troupe. From then on he devotedly worked in music. He said he likes to initiate his songs from traditional ones and then beautify them with some additional musical instruments. For that matter, the melodies and beats are so delightful for they give a touch of both traditional and modern elements.
Ever since independence, Amer worked with the tradition musical group that was then known as Sibrit Eritrean National Cultural Troupe. Working with this cultural troupe, he has produced a number of works that could typify traditional Nara songs that are usually accompanied by dances pertinent to them.
On the occasion of Festival Eritrea 2003, his song “Higelo” was one of the ten best list ranking 7th. This song was timely as it was about the border ruling given by the border arbitration court. It stated that the people of Eritrea would have nothing to worry about from then on. In this song Amer indicates the important role played by Elias Tesfazion. Two years on – 2005 – his work “Jawir” was awarded 5th rank; it reveals how the enemy across the border is and that the people shouldn’t give it any chance to undermine the nation’s sovereignty. Kahsay Ghebrehiwet, Artistic Director of Sibrit Cultural Troupe, also assisted him in the composition of the music for this song.
The most popular and widely acclaimed song Amer produced is “Agenai”. Amer said that this song was inspired from a question he was asked in Libya when he went there with Sibrit Cultural Troupe for shows. The question was: “Who are you? Which country do you represent?” By way of answering that question he came up with the song “Agena” meaning “We” followed by “are Eritreans”.
Abdella Osman Kiar, a judge in Gash-Barka region, and Assenai Idris Thomas composed the melody and lyrics respectively. He also made final retouchings in the lyrics and melodies to make it presentable. With the help of Fekadu Meles – a saxophonist – the work was finalized and was awarded 6th rank in Festival Eritrea 2006.
On his visit to Gogne in 2008, Amer with Alamin, a colleague of his, attended a wedding ceremony. There, they met a woman playing the drum and both got impressed with her songs. Taking their time they asked the woman to sing a song they found very interesting; and they practised it having it recorded on tape right away. It was a folksong titled “Wrid Ara” which is about herding, agriculture, rainy season, cattle, barns, fighting bulls…; in general, it is about country life at a prosperous season. He, therefore, recreated it and Kahsay also arranged the music for it. That also didn’t miss a place in the top ten list of Festival Eritrea 2008 raking 6th.
Last February, Amer still found himself looking back at Nara folklore as always. While attending a course at the Nakfa School of Social Sciences, he came across a hero named Raya Agaba who led his people to fight various invading enemies from both Ethiopia and the Sudan. Those invaders had massacred the Nara people and looted its properties and cattle. Raya Agaba – who lived about two centuries ago – stood against these cruelty and killings. He organized the Nara people and was able to lead them in the fight with courage.
At the end of the course, Amer rehearsed the song “Mery” that was sung for Raya Agaba over 180 years ago. It had never been sung for such a long time; but the time came for it. He then presented it in the graduation ceremony with some additions to it. Going beyond that graduation ceremony, in the nick of time for the celebrations of 2009 Independence Day, he met up with Yoel from Admas Studios to make music for the song. With Yoel and Yosief’s (40) assistance, “Mery” was ready in a very short period of time. It got the honour of opening the Official Independence Day Celebration at Asmara Stadium. It also won the first prize with doubled with another Tigrigna song at Festival Eritrea 2009.
Amer stated that he always wants to reflect national beats in his songs. Everything he does sprout from folklores that survived for long in the embrace of the people. He added that, of course, so as to make them appealing to his audience (even if they may not understand what the lyrics are meant), he depends on additional modern musical instruments. As Amer Faid is keeping alive folklores that are fading away due to the development of modern music, he could be considered as an exemplary artist.
