Zikr’e Wegayehu

ETV’s January 10th “Qidame Meznagna” had a special program on Wegayehu Negatu. Based on a booklet published a few months [or years] back to commomerate the Artist’s 25 years of acting career, the program was a buffet of variety, variety (anybody remembers that show?). There were .. letters and poems written in reverence to “YeMedreku Waarka” by Haddis Alemayehu, Fekade Azeze and the likes; interviews with friends/colleagues Tekle Desta and Fikadu Teklemariam, along with photos and videos of Wegayehu performing on stage.

Being one of the many Ethiopians who fall in love with “Tibeb” at an early age after seeing “Wegish” perform in “YeAbQyelesh Nuzaze”, and one who still holds a grduge against Debebe Eshetu for his alleged involvement in the actor’s death, I ofcourse were interested. I gave etv2 a call yesterday afternoon to ask where i could get the said booklet. “It’s a re-run” the friendly secretary of the “program kifil” told me with surprise, “the guy who did the program has left the company long ago. I’m afraid there is nobody who could help you”.

We hung up the phone, with me suggesting they update their website and she recommending I contact Biherawi Theatre for more info. Biherawi Theatre’s phone hasn’t been working so far.

My Google search, on the other hand, proved more fruitful. The Legacy of Wegayehu Negatu is one of the few articles the colorful online magazine, Blen Grafix, did. If you don’t know who Wegayehu Negatu is, check it out. If you do, herebelow are photo stills, and a 15 second poor quality video from “Wanaw TeQotatari”, to remind you the golden days for Ethiopia’s theatre and the man who personified it.