Eski Leyew | እስኪ ልየው

Meaning

tizita-infused breakup song that weaponizes Amharic’s grammatical gender. Helen’s use of feminine verb conjugations (leyew instead of leyu) creates a rare female narrative voice in 90s Ethiopian pop. The chromatic krar riff embodies the “musical weeping” tradition of azmari lamentations. Lyrics like “Let time separate us” (እስኪ ለየው ዘመን) invert the usual tizita nostalgia, rejecting memory’s comfort. The 7/4 time signature‘s instability mirrors the post-Derg societal dislocation of 1995 when recorded. A revolutionary feminist text disguised as lovelorn ballad.

Song Credits

Who is Helen Berhe ?

Explore her journey, music, and lasting impact on Ethiopian culture.

Scroll to Top