Yemane Baria

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Yemane Baria bigraphy, stories - Eritrean singer

Yemane Baria : biography

c. 1940 – 1997

Yemane Ghebremichael (commonly known as Yemane Baria), was a well-known Eritrean songwriter, composer and singer. Not confined to musical pursuits, he was also heavily involved in Eritrean politics. He died of natural causes in 1997 .

Biography

Yemane’s exact date of birth is unknown but it could have been in the 1940’s or 1950’s. At the time of his death, some say he was 49 thus placing his birth in around 1948.Yemane’s songwriting strove to reflect what he perceived to be Eritrean experience during the Eritrean War of Independence. His songs were dotted with stories of love, journey, hope, immigration, and liberation. In 1975, he was jailed for the perceived political interpretation of one of his songs.

A few years after the declaration of the independence of Eritrea, Yemane moved to Asmara and continued to release albums that reflected the new era of hope and national prosperity, with a mixture of Eritrean and Latin melodies. He also sang about the people involved in the movement towards Eritrean independence, and the sacrifices of that movement.

Yemane was also known as the ‘Eritrean caretaker’,http://www.ehrea.org/Yemane%20Barya.htm due to his reputation as being of a generous, down-to-earth nature, and for sharing his place with newly arrived Eritreans. He is known for having helped many Eritreans adjust to diaspora life in Sudan and move to better places in the Middle East, America, Europe, etc. He was also reputed for his artistry and mastery of Tigrinya, the most widely used language in Eritrea.

Albums

Yemane’s albums included:

  • Wedebat Adey
  • Asmera
  • Zemen,
  • Meskerem,
  • Nasenet,
  • Delay Selam,
  • Aykonen Oromay,
  • Wegihaya Meriet,
  • Mesob Ade.
  • Ab Kulu Gobotat
  • Nay Mekabir Bitsotey
  • Tezkoneley,
  • Anbibeyo Debdabeki,
  • Ab Sidet Zeleka,
  • Kemeleki Zefkireki,
  • Yikielo Eye Ane,
  • Gual Hagerey,
  • Bisirah Tegedide,
  • Chira Feres,
  • Mealtat Newihuni,