Many New Year concerts cancelled

The US-based Abdu Kiar and the Addis-based Betty G’s joint concert scheduled to take place at Ghion Hotel in Addis Ababa on September 10 to welcome in Ethiopia’s New Year has been cancelled. Abdu Kiar announced that he discussed with the organiser Eyoha Entertainment to cancel the event as mark of respect and mourning for the lives lost in recent protests in the country. Many other performances were also called off. Two important New Year concerts by Michael Belayneh and Helen Berhe were cancelled. Oromo singer Tsegaye Dandana called off a show that he planned to do with the Ethiopian Television in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Some other shows planned abroad were called off such as Aster Aweke and Mehari Degefaw’s Seattle concert. Abby Lakew and Madingo Afewerk’s shows in Dallas, Chicago and Las Vegas have been cancelled. “I do not want to perform on any stage as of right now while my people are dying. I will pray for peace and I believe in one love! All people should be treated equally, with the same rights, dignity and human rights,” Abby wrote on her Facebook page.
The hugely popular songwriter and singer Teddy Afro has decided to delay the release his highly anticipated album. The unprecedented wave of protests has resulted in hundreds of deaths since November.