{"id":15761,"date":"2026-11-08T03:56:17","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T03:56:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tewnet.com\/index\/?p=15761"},"modified":"2026-11-08T03:56:17","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T03:56:17","slug":"tilahun-gessesse-discography-albums-songs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tewnet.com\/index\/15761","title":{"rendered":"Tilahun Gessesse (\u1325\u120b\u1201\u1295 \u1308\u1220\u1220) Discography: Albums, Songs and Career Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n

Tilahun Gessesse (\u1325\u120b\u1201\u1295 \u1308\u1220\u1220) was an Ethiopian singer known for his tenor voice. He died on 19 April 2009. Sources differ on his birth date in September 1940, as discussed below. English Wikipedia<\/a> says he was nicknamed “The Voice” during Ethiopia’s musical golden age in the 1960s.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

He sang first at the Hager Fikir Theatre in Addis Ababa, then with the Imperial Bodyguard Band, and later at the National Theater. His Philips and Amha singles from the early 1970s, the Ethio-Grooves reissues of the 1990s, and \u00c9thiopiques 17<\/a> on Buda Musique in 2004 keep that work in print.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This page lists his albums and key singles by year, with labels and catalogue numbers from the Discogs<\/a> record database and from Ethiopian Music DB<\/a>. Song titles appear in Amharic script only where a cover or label printed them. For the band that backed him on a 1986 cassette, see our history of the Walias Band<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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\"Portrait
Tilahun Gessesse in March 2006 (Wurzel, Steffen \/ Wikimedia Commons<\/a>, CC BY SA 3.0<\/a>) [file photo]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

Tilahun Gessesse at a Glance<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

English Wikipedia says Tilahun was born in Waliso, then in Shewa, to Gessesse Negusse and Gete Gurmu. He attended the Ras Gobena school there, left for Addis Ababa as a teenager, and joined the Hager Fikir Association, now the Hager Fikir Theatre.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Amharic Wikipedia<\/a> spells his name \u1325\u120b\u1201\u1295 \u1308\u1220\u1220 and places his early years between Addis Ababa and Waliso. French Wikipedia<\/a> and MusicBrainz<\/a> give his birth date as 29 September 1940, two days later than the English page. These are secondary reference entries, not independent verification of either date.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

After the Hager Fikir Theatre he became a leading singer with the Imperial Bodyguard Band. Wikipedia says he later moved to the National Theater and appeared before Emperor Haile Selassie. The BBC headline of April 20, 2009<\/a> read \u201cEthiopian emperor\u2019s singer dies\u201d.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

French Wikipedia says he also sang with the Ibex Band and the Walias Band. The Ibex Band’s work with other singers of that era is covered in our page on the Ibex Band and the Roha Band<\/a>. A cassette with the Walias Band is listed below. He is not named among the singers on the Walias 1981 United States tour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A Note on Amharic Titles<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Amharic titles on this page come from record and cassette labels as listed on Discogs. The 1975 Amha long playing record (LP) prints his name as \u1325\u120b\u1201\u1295 \u1308\u1220\u1220. When no Amharic source was found, we give the Latin spelling only.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We do not add our own English translations of song titles. Where a Discogs entry prints both scripts on a cassette J card, we show both. \u00c9thiopiques 17 uses the French style spellings printed by Buda Musique.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Tilahun Gessesse Albums and Compilations by Year<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Year<\/th>Title<\/th>Label and number<\/th>Notes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1975<\/td>\u1325\u120b\u1201\u1295 \u1308\u1220\u1220 (Tilahun Gessesse)<\/td>Amha Records, AELP 110<\/td>LP, pressed in Greece; eight songs<\/td><\/tr>\r\n
1985<\/td>\u12a0\u1295\u127a \u120d\u1305 \u130e\u1348\u122c (Anchi Lij Gofere)<\/td>Z Music Shop, cassette<\/td>With the Central Command Band, per Discogs<\/td><\/tr>\r\n
1986<\/td>\u1325\u120b\u1201\u1295 \u1308\u1220\u1220 \u12a8\u12cb\u120d\u12eb\u1235 \u1263\u1295\u12f5 \u130b\u122d<\/td>Misratch Music Shop, cassette<\/td>With the Walias Band<\/td><\/tr>\r\n
1992<\/td>Tilahun Gessesse Vol. 1 \/ Vol. 2<\/td>Ethio-Grooves, MCD 1181<\/td>Two disc set of new recordings of older songs; also on cassette<\/td><\/tr>\r\n
1995<\/td>Wegen Alegne<\/td>Ethio-Grooves, EG95 1<\/td>CD compilation of new recordings of older songs<\/td><\/tr>\r\n
1999<\/td>\u12a0\u1295\u12f3\u1295\u12f5 \u1290\u1308\u122e\u127d (Andand Negeroch)<\/td>Ethio-Grooves, EGS5955<\/td>CD; also a cassette on Sima Electronics<\/td><\/tr>\r\n
2004<\/td>\u00c9thiopiques 17: Tlahoun G\u00e8ss\u00e8ss\u00e8<\/td>Buda Musique, 82266 2<\/td>Seventeen Philips era tracks; compilation<\/td><\/tr>\r\n
2008 (Discogs; Wikipedia: 2000)<\/td>Greatest Hits<\/td>Ethio Sound, ES 116<\/td>Compilation; Wikipedia dates this to 2000<\/td><\/tr>\r\n
2016<\/td>Sima!<\/td>Mississippi Records, MRP 030<\/td>Vinyl compilation drawn from \u00c9thiopiques 17<\/td><\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sources: Discogs, Ethiopian Music DB, Buda Musique and English Wikipedia. Discogs also lists undated Ambassel and shop cassettes, including \u12a0\u12f3\u12f2\u1235 \u12e8\u1325\u120b\u1201\u1295 \u1308\u1220\u1220 \u12d8\u1348\u1296\u127d and \u12a5\u1295\u1246\u1245\u120d\u123d. Heavenly Sweetness later pressed Ethiopian Urban Modern Music Vol. 4 with his tracks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Where the Sources Disagree<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

English Wikipedia gives his birth date as 27 September 1940. French Wikipedia and MusicBrainz give 29 September 1940. Amharic Wikipedia uses Ethiopian calendar dates. Neither date is treated here as independently verified.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Wikipedia dates Greatest Hits on Ethio Sound (ES 116) to 2000. The Discogs entries for ES 116 and for a Nahom Records edition both give 2008. The table records both dates. The discrepancy remains unresolved; it does not establish an earlier pressing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Imperial Bodyguard and National Theater Years<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Tilahun’s first steady stage work was at the Hager Fikir Theatre. Wikipedia says he then joined the Imperial Bodyguard Band and became one of its star singers in the 1960s. After an attempted coup by the Bodyguard in December 1960, Wikipedia says he was arrested for a time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

He later moved to the National Theater. Wikipedia says his tenor was regarded as the leading Ethiopian pop voice of the 1960s and that he appeared three times before Emperor Haile Selassie.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Most of his recordings are in Amharic. Wikipedia says he also recorded a few songs in Oromo.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Philips and Amha Singles, 1970 to 1976<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

His earliest dated seven inch singles on Discogs come from Philips Ethiopia in 1970. Yehagere Shitta \/ Ebo Lala<\/a> carries the Philips number PH 100. Arrangements on several of these sides are credited to Mulatu Astatke, with players from the Addis studio circuit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Other 1970 Philips sides include Tiz Alegn Yetintu \/ Emnete (PH 101) and Sithed Siketelat \/ Yefikir Tizita (PH 103). In 1973 Philips issued Kulun Manqualesh \/ Alegntaye<\/a> as PH 168. Discogs lists many more Philips numbers through 1976, among them Aikedashim Libe \/ Yene Mastawesha (PH 217), Tchuheten Bitsemu \/ Ine Negn Woy Antchi (PH 216) and Siko Menor \/ Ballen Iniwekibet (PH 221).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In 1975 Amha Records released his LP titled \u1325\u120b\u1201\u1295 \u1308\u1220\u1220 (AELP 110<\/a>). The Discogs tracklist gives eight songs: Hebret, Bezu Gizie Alefe, Agul New, Megnot Eko Helme New, Derese, Feker Betwan Serta, Kasegnesh and Kanchi Gar Kalhone. The same year Amha also pressed the single Sew Manen Yimeslal \/ Sima (AE 940). Kaifa Records issued at least two Tilahun singles in 1975 (KF 13 and KF 14).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

These Philips and Amha sides sit in the same Addis recording world as the Ibex Band sessions that made Mahmoud Ahmed<\/a>‘s 1970s albums, though Tilahun’s main 1970s credits on Discogs are with Philips studio groups rather than as an Ibex bandleader album.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Famine Benefit Recordings<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

English Wikipedia states that recordings he made in the 1970s and 1980s helped raise large sums of money for famine victims. The claim is attributed there to EthioMedia reporting at the time of his death. We repeat it only as Wikipedia’s summary of that reporting. We found no separate catalogue list on Discogs that labels specific benefit discs by title.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cassettes with Walias and Later Shop Labels<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Discogs dates \u12a0\u1295\u127a \u120d\u1305 \u130e\u1348\u122c<\/a> to 1985 on Z Music Shop. The J card lists ten Amharic song titles, including \u1218\u120d\u12ab\u121d \u1218\u1295\u1308\u12f5 and the title track \u12a0\u1295\u127a \u120d\u1305 \u130e\u1348\u122c. Credits name the Central Command Band.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In 1986 Misratch Music Shop issued \u1325\u120b\u1201\u1295 \u1308\u1220\u1220 \u12a8\u12cb\u120d\u12eb\u1235 \u1263\u1295\u12f5 \u130b\u122d<\/a>, Tilahun Gessesse with the Walias Band. The master tracklist on Discogs is in Amharic only: \u12e8\u121d\u1295\u1303\u122d \u120d\u1305, \u12a8\u120c\u1208\u1205 \u12e8\u1208\u1205\u121d, \u1300\u1228 \u134d\u1245\u122d \u1260\u1215\u130d, \u12e8\u1323\u1274 \u1240\u1208\u1260\u1275, \u1270\u12ed \u12a0\u1273\u1260\u1233\u132d\u129d, and five more titles on side B. English Wikipedia says he worked with the Walias from 1983 under Misrach Music Group on new recordings of older songs. Our Walias Band<\/a> page covers the group’s history; it notes that the 1981 United States tour featured other singers, not Tilahun.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ethio-Grooves Reissues in the 1990s<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

After time in the United States, Ethio-Grooves Records released Tilahun Gessesse Vol. 1 \/ Vol. 2<\/a> in 1992 as a two disc set (MCD 1181). Wikipedia describes these as new recordings of older songs with players such as Abegasu Kibrework, Fasil Wuhib, Teddy Mak, Theodros Mitiku and Yared Tefera. A cassette edition of Vol. 1 prints Amharic titles beside Latin spellings, including \u12e8\u12a5\u1294 \u121b\u1235\u1273\u12c8\u123b (Yene Mastawesha) and \u121e\u1293\u120a\u12db\u12ec \u1290\u123d (Monalisaye Neshi).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Wegen Alegne<\/a> followed in 1995 on Ethio-Grooves EG95 1, a ten song CD. Andand Negeroch<\/a> came in 1999 as Ethio-Grooves EGS5955. A matching Ethiopian cassette spells the title \u12a0\u1295\u12f3\u1295\u12f5 \u1290\u1308\u122e\u127d and lists Amharic track titles such as \u1210\u121c\u1273, \u12a0\u1218\u120d\u12ab\u127d \u1323\u1275 and \u12a0\u1295\u12f3\u1295\u12f5 \u1290\u1308\u122e\u127d.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u00c9thiopiques 17 and Later Compilations<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In 2004 Buda Musique released \u00c9thiopiques 17: Tlahoun G\u00e8ss\u00e8ss\u00e8<\/a> as catalogue 82266 2. The release notes reproduced by Discogs describe seventeen tracks under an exclusive Buda Musique license from Tilahun in agreement with Philips Ethiopia. This is the release note\u2019s licensing claim. The booklet notes are by Francis Falceto. Recording dates in the notes run from 1970 to 1975.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Bandcamp<\/a> and Discogs tracklists, in Buda’s spelling, are:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

  1. Seqo M\u00e8nor<\/li>
  2. Lantchi Biy\u00e9<\/li>
  3. Y\u00e8n\u00e9 Felagot\u00e9<\/li>
  4. Kulun Mankwal\u00e8sh [70]<\/li>
  5. Tchuhet\u00e9n Bets\u00e8mu<\/li>
  6. Ayk\u00e8dashem Leb\u00e9<\/li>
  7. Tezal\u00e8gn Y\u00e8tentu<\/li>
  8. Seth\u00e9d Sek\u00e8t\u00e8lat<\/li>
  9. S\u00e8lamtay\u00e9 Yedr\u00e8s<\/li>
  10. B\u00e8y\u00e8t N\u00e8w M\u00e8ng\u00e8du<\/li>
  11. Kulun Mankwal\u00e8sh [73]<\/li>
  12. Al\u00e8gntay\u00e9<\/li>
  13. Y\u00e8hag\u00e8r\u00e9 Sheta<\/li>
  14. S\u00e8w N\u00e8w Y\u00e8tch\u00e8k\u00e8n\u00e8<\/li>
  15. En\u00e9 N\u00e8gn W\u00e8y Antchi<\/li>
  16. Y\u00e8n\u00e9 Mastaw\u00e8sha<\/li>
  17. Ras-hen Betcha<\/li><\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \r\n