Ali Birra

Ali Birra (born 1950) is a famous Oromo singer, composer, poet and nationalist. He was born in Lagaharre village in the city of Dire Dawa, Oromiyaa (Ethiopia). An only child, his father is Mohammed Mussa.Fact|date=October 2007 Birra now lives in Toronto, Canada.

Early life

In his early years, Ali used to do small on-sreet business so as to support himself as a means of livelihood. When he was 13, he joined Afran Qallo cultural group which was then opreratnig unofficially to promote the Oromo music and culture. The first song that he sung on stage was called " Birra dha Bari'e" so that the people nickenamed him "Ali Birra" meaning "Ali the Spring". The Haile Selasie regime banned the group in 1965 and arrested Some of its members. Ali escaped the arrest and moved to Addis Ababa.

Life in Addis Ababa

After he settled at Addis Ababa , he was engaged in different activities along with singing. On this occasion, Ali came to know Ahmad Taqi the well known nationalist, and the latter bought for him a guitar so that Ali could sing more widely. His fame increased dramatically throughout the city. He had ability to sing in Amharic, Arabic, Harari, and Somali languages in addition to his mother tongue. This had given him appreciation from different personalities including Eyoel Yohannes, the head of Kibur Zebegna Royal Orchestra at that time so that Eyoel recruited him as a soloist singer in Oromo. Then he was hired and joined other famous singers like Mahmoud Ahmed, Tilahun Gessesse and Bizunesh Bekele. While he was within the group, he could travel to all regions of the country and shouw his talent to his admirers. He also traveled to the Sudan repeatedly and sung with well known celebrities like Mohammed Wardi.In early 1970s, at the breakout of the Ethiopian revolution, Ahmad Taqi was dead in east Ethiopia while he was fighting the government army. Ali Birra mourned deeply and sung metaphorically " Yaa Hundee Bareeda " Yaa Finxee Midhaga"(Hundee was another name of Ahmad Taqi )

Ali Birra continued his career both as a musician and a composer. He produced his first music album in 1971, being the first musical album in history Oromo music. He then added his greatest hits such as " Hin Yaadin", " asabalee", " Ammalelee" , " Gamachu" and others. In his albums, he included Sudanese songs such as " Al-Habib ween" and Harari songs such as "Yidenqal".

Out of Ethiopia

A Swedish admirer of Ali Birra, who had been a vice secretary in Embassy of Sewden at Addis Ababa, asked him for marriage. Ali agreed and married her in 1985. In 1986, She was transferred to Saudi Arabia and Ali went with her to live there. But Ali faced difficulties to live in Saudi Arabia and proceed to Sweden. Then, he lived there for two years. In 1988, he went to USA and joined The Los Angeles Arts Academy. He graduated in 1990 and released his first album out of Ethiopia in the same years. In 1992, he released his second album in 1992 he had got more fame. He also conducted many concerts and festivals in all continents including the 2005 Ethiopian new year celebration at Sheraton Addis .

Awards

In 1996, Ali was awarded The Toronto African Merits Awards.