Hachalu Hundessa

**Hachalu Hundessa** (Oromo: *Haacaaluu Hundeessaa Boonsaa*; Amharic: ሃጫሉ ሁንዴሳ;1986 – 29 June 2020) na he be an Ethiopian singer, songwriter, den civil rights activist. Na Hachalu play a significant role insyd de 2014–2016 Oromo protests wey lead to Abiy Ahmed taking charge of de Oromo Democratic Party den Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, den subsequently he cam turn prime minister of Ethiopia insyd 2018.

## Ein life matter

Na dem born Hachalu Hundessa insyd Ambo insyd Oromia Region, Ethiopia, to Gudatu Hora den Hundessa Bonsa insyd 1986. De son of Oromo parents, na Hundessa grow up singing insyd school clubs den tending cattle. Insyd 2003, at de age of 17, na dem arrest am for taking part insyd protests. Na dem imprison am at Karchale Ambo for five years wey dem later release am insyd 2008. Na he marry Fantanesh Demisse, plus whom he get two daughters. Na Hachalu be a lifelong member of de Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

## Career

Na Hachalu compose den wrep chaw of de lyrics of ein first album while na he dey insyd prison. Na dem release de album, *Sanyii Mootii*, insyd 2009. Insyd 2013, na he tour de United States wey he release ein second album, *Waa'ee Keenyaa*, wich na be de #1 best-selling African music album on Amazon Music. Na Hachalu reveal say na he dey work on ein third album, *Maal Mallisaa*, a week before ein death. Insyd 2021, na dem release de album on de anniversary of ein death.

Na Hachalu ein protest songs unify de Oromo people, wey dey encourage dem make dem resist oppression. Na dem closely link ein songs plus anti-government resistance during de 2014–2016 Oromo protests. Na ein ballad "Maalan Jira" (What existence be mine) concern de displacement of Oromo people from Addis Ababa. Months after dem release de single insyd June 2015, na protests wey dey oppose de Addis Ababa Master Plan occur thru out de Oromia Region. Na de song cam be an anthem give protesters as well as one of de most viewed Oromo music videos.

Insyd December 2017,  naHachalu sing at a concert insyd Addis Ababa wey raise funds give 700,000 Oromo wey na dem be displaced by ethnic violence insyd Somali region. Na dem broadcast de concert live by Oromia Broadcasting Network.

Na Hachalu ein songs capture Oromo hopes den frustrations. According to lecturer Awol Allo, "na Hachalu be de soundtrack of de Oromo revolution, a lyrical genius den an activist wey embody de hopes den aspirations of de Oromo public."

## Murder den aftermath

Na dem shoot Hachalu on de evening of 29 June 2020 at de Gelan Condominiums insyd Galan town, on de outskirts of Addis Ababa. Na dem take am to Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital, wer na he die. Na thousands of mourners gather at de hospital, as police use tear gas to disperse crowds. Na dem shoot two people dead wey na seven odas injure during de singer ein funeral. Filenbar Uma, a member of de opposition Oromo Liberation Front insyd Ambo, describe security forces wey dey shoot as "people wey na dem keep dem from going" to de funeral.
Na dem drive Hachalu ein casket into de stadium insyd Ambo insyd a black car, wey be accompanied by a brass band den men on horseback. Na dem later bury am at an Ethiopian Orthodox church insyd de town, in accordance plus ein family dema wishes. Na de police arrest chaw chaw suspects in connection plus de murder. Na Hachalu report he dey receive death threats, wey dey include insyd de week prior to ein death, wen na he give an interview to de Oromia Media Network.

Na Hachalu ein death spark protests thru out de Oromia Region, wey lead to de deaths of approximately 160 people. At demonstrations insyd Adama, na dem kill nine protesters wey na dem injure anoda 75.  Na dem shoot two people to death insyd Chiro, while na protesters insyd Harar topple a statue of prince Makonnen Wolde Mikael. On 30 June 2020, na dem destroy a statue of Emperor Haile Selassie insyd Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon, south-west London, by Oromo protestors. Na chaw people wey komot Ethiopia ein ethnic Oromo group say na dem be oppressed under Haile Selassie ein reign. Na dem kill Hachalu ein uncle insyd de clashes. Na rights groups say na dem kill three protesters by security forces, while a doctor insyd Dire Dawa town say na he treat eight people plus gunshots wey be fired by security forces make dem disperse protests.

After de murder of Hachalu ignite violence across Addis Ababa den oda Ethiopian cities, na Abiy hint, widout obvious suspects anaa clear motives for de killing, say na Hachalu fi be murdered by outsyd forces dem set out to stir up trouble. Na an Egyptian diplomat respond by saying dat Egypt "get nothing to do plus current tensions insyd Ethiopia". Na Ian Bremmer wrep insyd a *Time magazine* article dat Prime Minister Abiy "fi just dey look for a scapegoat wey fi unite Ethiopians against a perceived common enemy".

## Discography

* *Sanyii Mootii* (2009)
* *Waa'ee Keenya* (2013)
* *Maal Mallisaa* (2021)

## References


## External links