Teddy Afro

Teddy Afro
Teddy Afro performing live in Melbourne Australia, June 2011
Background information
Native name	ቴዲ አፍሮ
Birth name	Tewodros Kassahun
Born	July 14, 1976 (age 39) Addis Ababa
Genres	Ethiopian music
Occupation(s)	musician
Instruments	Singing
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Nahom Records
Website	http://www.teddyafromuzika.com

Teddy Afro (Amharic: ቴዲ አፍሮ^?; real name: Tewodros Kassahun, Amharic: ቴዎድሮስ ካሳሁን^?, born 14 July 1976) is an Ethiopian singer and one of the most popular artists in Ethiopia.

Teddy Afro lives in Legetafo. His first album Abugida was a milestone in contemporary music in Ethiopia, his poetic- lyrics and new ideas brought new life and light to a music scene that was on a steep decline since the 70's. His songs about Emperor Hailesilase I and the great athlet Haile Gebresilase were among the best selling and most played songs for years. His third album, Jah - Yasteseryal, was released in 2005. This album was one the most influential and controversial. Tedy afro's brilliant lyrics and the release of this album coincided with elevated political tension in Ethiopia surrounding the Ethiopian general election, 2005. His politically and socially inspired songs acted as a call for unity and peace and made the 17 years of TPLF-led government in power concerned. To suppress the patriotic feelings Afro was inciting through his songs, the government banned four of his songs including "Yasteseryal" from playing on Ethiopian media outlets. Nonetheless, the album sold more than a million copies within a few months after its release,

His fourth and most recent studio album, Tikur Sew, was released in 2012. Its lead single Tikur Sew, which is the namesake of the album, hailed Ethiopia's Emperor Menelik II as a champion for all African people, citing his feat of leading the Ethiopian people to victory at the Battle of Adwa.

Tewodros Kassahun was jailed for two years by the Ethiopian government in connection with A pedestrian's death by Kassahun's car.

http://www.tadias.com/02/18/2009/ethiopian-court-teddy-afro-guilty-over-death/