|
Segum! Segum! Segum! Bitsai "Mishalefka eyu erefti"
There are a few songs in our lifetime that will
always remain
engraved in our hearts, soul, and brains and they often have to be
very meaningful as well as have some great Lyrics and composition in
order to remain within our minds for a very long time. We are talking
about the types of special songs that can be passed on to many
generations.
One such song for the Eritrean people is a song
known as "Segum"
and ever since this song "Segum" came into my life I can't stop but
to
sing it and listen to it and get inspired by it almost on a daily
basis. I can't seem to get enough of it and it continues to this day
to inspire me to be the best that I can be and to remind me never to
forget that every day I breath, eat, drink and think Eritrea while I
also fulfill my daily obligations as an individual. "Segum" can be
defined in many terms but its ultimate message is "to continue to work
hard" to keep moving on like our warsai's and yikealo's are currently
doing and have done in the past.
The song should not only be an inspiration for one's
love of
nation but to also to build and help develop it into becoming a long
term dynasty and a civilization that will contend with other powerful
civilizations. I want to say to all the people involved in the making
of this song, thank you for saying what most Eritreans who love their
nation always wanted to say in a beautiful way with the traditional
Eritrean spirit.
When I was younger listening to English songs I was
inspired by
many great artists and lots of popular songs, however one band that
had America and the west inspired is known as "Survivor" they
inspired
millions of Americans with one very popular song known as "Eye of the
tiger" from the movie "Rocky 3" theme song. As a very young
three
sport athlete (Soccer, Wrestling, Tennis) I know weird combination
especially for an Eritrean-American, it inspired me to listen to it
while working out and getting in shape as that was what the song
intended to do in the movie "Rocky 3".
The song also inspired millions to go to the
Gymnasium and get in
shape as well. It also was used by many high school, college and
professional athletes, motivators, CEO's and on and on to inspire
people. The point I am trying to make is that songs and music can make
a tremendous difference in the way you approach your life. You become
inspired and you think in a way that the words in your favorite songs
can help you as an individual who is committed to a certain cause. You
get transformed and if you are a part of a mission that must be
accomplished, the process becomes more exciting rather than
challenging.
During the recently held 4th YPFDJ conference in
Europe (Holland)
this song became the theme of the event that inspired hundreds of
youth from all over the world. It was a way to energize and empower
the participants and left a long term feeling that "Segum" should
be a
song that needs to be intertwined with the long term visionary strong,
conscious & patriotic youth movement.
Click below at the end of this post to hear "Segum" along with some
pictures put up by a strong, conscious, and patriotic youth on you
tube.
The journey may be long but the struggle must always continue. And
bitsai Tedros Hagos in this incredible song "Segum" says so many
things that are very meaningful. I will avoid trying to translate the
whole song as I would not do it justice, I would like to express a few
lines that really make me proud to say loud and clear, Eritrea is the
land of the can do people.
The song starts of saying, "Gena eyiu, Gena
eyiu, Gena eyiu, Gena
eyiu eti guzo" one way of translating it is "it's not over, the
long
trip is not over" but the meaning as I feel it in my heart is
comparable to a quote from the great Pan Africanist leader Amilcar
Lopes Cabal that says "The struggle is a long and difficult one.
Therefore, mask no difficulty, tell no lies and claim no easy
victory." This quote happens to be also a favorite of another
bitsai
in Eritrea who has been using it as his signature ever since I have
known him. You know who you are…..
Again I will only pick certain lines for the sake of
my feelings
and expressions in writing this post, even though the whole song is
absolutely incredible. The next line that caught my attention goes on
to say, "Wishtawi Tzegaka, Nihka Aberabro" I mean who could have
said
it better, possible translation can be "Your Pride within, lift up up
your inner strength" I mean the translation does not do it justice in
English, but the message is loud and clear.
"Teluqoka fetsim, aytigedes bziterefu, gibuka
giber,
aytitsebatseb bizteankefu" which can be said in many ways of which one
way is "deliver your message, don't worry with those who are left
behind, do your duty, don't look back on those who have failed to
fulfill their duty" you know those negative people who always have
something negative to say about Eritrea, you all know who I am talking
about.
Towards the end of the song, when it turns into Dirb or (Double Pump
as I always like to call it) the words are magical and can't be
expressed with the same emotion as that of the singer,
segum bitsai,segum bitsai
segum bitsai, segum bitsai
segumu bitsot
Here below is a part of the song that needs to be remembered and
emphasized as the meaning is way to deep for any human.
MISHALEFKUM EYIU EREFTI (it is after you have passed away, that you can rest)
GIDEKUM FITERU (Create your contribution!)
MELKIENGNA KIREMTI (A beautiful winter which is a time of season more
applicable to Eritrea and the horn of Africa region)
This encouraging song, helps out IMMENSELY when one
needs to get
motivated!! I listen to it in the car every day and have even made
several copies so that I can always have it at a moment's notice.
Every time I hear it, I get OVERWHELMED, with JOY and INSPIRATION!!
This tune is both, Timeless AND Priceless!!
Tedros Hagos has also come up with other quality
songs!!
including the popular "Tewolide nadeye" alongside Dawit Shilan and
other artists, as well as "URURU" along side Yosef and a beautiful
Somalian song alongside another great female voice Feruz. He also
sings in a popular video film "Hadanit" a song called
"Tslegleg Eluni"
which is like a lullaby for singers or an anthem for love.
However when Tedros uttered the words and those who composed the music
came up with "Segum" they transcended it, merely into a
"unique song"
as far as I am concerned...It's been an inspiration ever since I heard
it on clips on ERI-TV when it was used for a segway to a feature about
the development and the miracles that this young nation of ERITREA
continues to achieve. I am sure quite a lot of people feel that way.
Just click on this link below for the Tigrinya words and the actual
song from Meadna.com whom I would like to thank for providing there
respected website.
http://www.meadna.com/assets/Segum-Lyrics/segumpage.htm
Most people have seen it but I felt like this was an
important
message and because this song inspires, and it became my duty to share
it again and again as songs like this only come once in a life time.
Not to say there are not other songs that can equally be fascinating
and inspiring without mentioning them but the message of this song is
endless and can go beyond this generation and continue to leave a
legacy for the youth of Eritrea as well as every sector of the
Eritrean society and an entire nation that rose like a phoenix from
the ashes and has become a classic example of the term "Against all
odds".
See blow also with pictures from 4th YPFDJ Conference in Holland.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6585163811213198316&q=segum&ei=AfoZSJa5DY6qrgLKmcDzBw&hl=en
Zelalemawi zikri nswtana
Awet N'hafash
Mike Seium
http://www.meadna.com/assets/Segum-Lyrics/segumpage.htm
|
|