Addis Ababa- January 24, 2012- Teddy Afro has now become more controversial than a beloved singer. Every news paper and magazine published seems to have some sort of story about the singer. Writers are even arguing on several matters including his personal and professional life.  He happens to make it on the cover of almost all magazines published in Addis.

The singer, who props up the emotions of many for his 2005 album about election, unity and the love of the country, was unable to make a new album for many reasons. However, he did manage to come up with several singles loved by many and questioned by some.

Teddy manage to make it to the head lines, especially after being imprisoned for killing a pedestrian by running over in the middle of the night. He was found guilty and that was, where the magazines and newspapers got top news of their entire history. Since, his arrest was criticized for being politically motivated; the private media went crazy on the matter in a ways that looked obsessive.

Even after he was released, the matter kept to be a topic for many. Still, Teddy is a cover story and issues related to him are discussed more than any other issue in the country. Nowadays, many are asking if we are having too many of him. Of course, Teddy has music’s that managed to be on the top of the market and loved by many. He is one of the few who used his talent to be a voice for the voiceless. However, the audience seems to be bored reading about a man they wish he could make music instead of becoming a topics of controversy by columnists who seem unable to write about anything but him.

What makes the stories about him more tedious is the fact that they are opinions of the authors. Most of them do not ask his opinion or doesn’t seem to have any connection with him at all before writing stories about him. For example, when writing about his music they do not refer to his or other professional’s opinion and the bottom line of the stories is he is better than other singers, or sometimes worse than others. The comparative analysis, now and then is annoying. Recently, a magazine called Life was comparing Teddy with Aster Aweke. The two, according to some are totally different and incomparable. It seems like, having a picture of Teddy on the cover has a great market value and the content of the stories do not matter at all.

The excessive discussion about him also raised the expectation of his fans. Therefore, many want to hear a song that is inspired and original but most importantly unique. That is where the question on his singles over the years came about.

If Teddy actually likes to become a topic of discussion rather than a singer is a question. Some might argue that he does enjoy the attention, since every now and then publicly involve him self in matters that manages to make him a headline. However, as an artist, with all the attention he got on matters unrelated to his actual career, some are suggesting he should make his music side by side and satisfy the real needs of his fans.

Teddy recently announced he completed an album and it is ready to be released. However, sources are suggesting the album is delayed because some of the songs have been stolen and released on social Medias.

By Seble Teweldebirhan