Alula was born in a
small village in Ethiopia called Alemaya which means: “a
place where you can see the world.” Alula’s mother
was Jewish and his father was Christian. Tzadik was taken at
birth from his mother because of her religion and did not know
he was Jewish for the longest time. Alula was teased by kids
and elders at the Christian orphanage. But Tzadik never forgot
his mother. He found her, and lived with her learning Hebrew
songs and prayers. Alula’s music is an expression of
the many disparate strands of his life. His songs have Hebrew,
Amharic, Latin and German musical influences overlaid by American
hip-hop and reggae. He speaks eight languages and sings in
over ten. Alula also plays twelve musical instruments including
the piano, guitar, bass, drums, harmonica and kirrar, a harp-like
instrument that dates back to the time of King David.
Alula became a pop star sensation in Ethiopia in the mid-’80s
with the hit song "Sentahehu," named after his original
Jewish first name, and the name of his son. After his song
hit big, Tzadik landed in prison for a year for playing a
song at his concerts called "Mr. President," which
was taken to be a protest against Communist dictator Mengistu.
Tzadik went free in 1991, when the Communist government was
overthrown in a coup d’état.
Fearing that he would be jailed again, Alula left Ethiopia
by foot to Sudan, then continued to Egypt and flew to Washington,
D.C. He lived in New York and in Berkeley before coming to
Los Angeles.
Alula says his transition to life in this country was quite
easy. While he had no trouble fitting into American society
as a Jew, it was a little different for him as an African.
“As a Jew, actually not, because you know nobody could
see my faith, but everybody could see my face. So you know,
sure, in America there’s this black and white thing,
you have to accept that, there’s a differentiation.
But with faith, though, nobody could see what I am, so I had
no problem.”
Alula continues to write songs and even scored "God and
Allah Need to Talk," an interfaith-themed movie. He shows
his gratitude for the freedom he enjoys as an American Jew
with a monthly mitzvah, performing for Jewish inmates and
recovering alcoholics. He also loves playing on the Third
Street Promenade in Santa Monica.
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I feel like a member
of a family. It is my first time to ever pray Jewish music in
a Christian home. Nashuva is musical, spiritual, fun. It brings
me so much joy and when I look out I see joy and smiles in the
faces of everyone in the congregation. That makes me feel good.
I love working with Rabbi Naomi Levy. She is a powerful Rabbi,
very kind and patient. I love seeing the beautiful kids at
Nashuva.
It means so much to me that at Nashuva people are doing good
deeds for needy people. I was also once a needy person in
my life. The truth is: everybody is a needy person because
no one is complete in love. No one is complete in health.
No one is complete in spirituality. We all need help. At Nashuva
people come to help one another.
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