View source for Endegna

{{Short description|Ethiopian girl group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Endegna
| alias             = Yegna (2013–17)
| image             = File:Endegna.png
| caption           = Endegna performing at [[Addis Ababa University]] for their film ''Yegna'' (2015)
| image_size        = 280px
| origin            = [[Addis Ababa]], Ethiopia
| years_active      = {{hlist|2013–2019|2020}}
| genre             = [[Music of Ethiopia|Ethiopian music]]
| label             = {{plainlist|
* {{interlanguage link|Hope Music Entertainment|am|ሆፕ ሚውዚክ ኢንተርንቴንመንት}}
* {{interlanguage link|Minew Shewa Entertainment|am|ምነው ሸዋ ኢንተርንቴንመንት}}
* {{interlanguage link|Admas Music|am|አድማስ ሚውዚክ}}
}}
| current_members   = {{plainlist|
* Teref Kassahun
* Lemlem Hailemichael
* Zebiba Girma
* Eyerusalem Kelemework
* Rahel Getu}}
| past_members      =
| website           =
}}
'''Endegna''' ([[Amharic]]: እንደኛ), previously known as '''Yegna''' ({{langx|am|የኛ}}), is an Ethiopian [[five-piece]] [[girl group]], originated in Addis Ababa. The group gained prominence after releasing two singles, "Abet" (2013) and "Taitu" (2014). Their earlier lyrical contents reference [[Women's empowerment|female empowerment]] and opposition towards [[violence against women]]. After the successful hit "Fikir" in 2019, the group sought solo career, starting from Rahel Getu. They were once reunited with the promotional song "Yeabay Zemen Lijoch" for the [[Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam]] in 2020.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Yeabay Zemen Lijoch by Endegna (Yegna) from Ethiopia|url=https://popnable.com/ethiopia/songs/295363-endegna-yegna-yeabay-zemen-lijoch|access-date=2020-06-12|website=Popnable.com|language=en}}</ref> However, they resumed solo career afterward.
Their legacy contributed the formation of new teen [[vocal group]] called Yegna. They debut a television show ''Yegna: The Story Of All of Us'' in 2019.
==History==
=== 2013–15: Formation and early years===
The 5-member group was formed in April 2013 as part of the internationally funded Girl Hub scheme, which also operates in [[Nigeria]] and [[Rwanda]]. The group members are Teref Kassahun (nicknamed Melat) Lemlem Hailemichael (Mimi), Zebiba Girma (Emuye), Eyerusalem Kelemework (Sara) and Rahel Getu (Lemlem). Each member of the group has a different stage persona and nickname. Melat's character is that of the city girly princess, Mimi's that of the tough swaggering streetwise girl, Emuye is the vivacious music-lover, Sara the quiet studious one and Lemlem the steady maternal type.
They produced  music videos and performed on Ethiopian radio in a weekly drama and talk show for young women, addressing issues such as forced marriage, isolation and teen pregnancies, broadcasting on Sheger FM in [[Addis Ababa]] to a population of some 20 million. Their first live performance was at the [[Ethiopian National Theatre]] in May 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.girleffect.org/news/2013/05/yegna-radio-show-gives-ethiopian-girls-a-new-voice/ |title=Loud & clear: Radio show gives Ethiopian girls a new voice |accessdate=2013-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216220933/http://www.girleffect.org/news/2013/05/yegna-radio-show-gives-ethiopian-girls-a-new-voice |archive-date=2013-12-16 |url-status=live }}</ref> The group claim statistically significant change in knowledge, attitudes and behaviours though their work.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.girleffect.org/media/3343/160609_marketingyegna_wave3factsheet_final_tag.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617094621/http://www.girleffect.org/media/3343/160609_marketingyegna_wave3factsheet_final_tag.pdf |archive-date=2017-06-17 |url-status=live }}</ref>
After the success of their debut single "Abet" featuring Haile Roots in 2013, they released the second single, "Taitu", in 2014, with collaboration with singer [[Aster Aweke]]. [[Taytu Betul|Taitu]] was an Ethiopian queen consort in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8avCvatwY7Q |title=Taitu- Yegna featuring Aster aweke |via=YouTube |accessdate=2013-12-15}}</ref>
Following their career, they released self-titled film ''Yegna'' in April 2015. In this film, Yegna desire to achieve success musical profession. They wander in [[Addis Ababa University]] for [[music competition]]. In final scene, they sang "Sima Belew" where spectators and judges paid attentively on them and finally they won a contest. Singer [[Munit Mesfin]] has been a cameo appearance as a judge. "Sima Belew" subsequently used to tribute the Ethiopian Christians who were slain by [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIL]] militant group on 19 April 2015.<ref>{{Citation|title=Yegna movie drama - Full Length የኛ ድራማ|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5bopnbRwQs|language=en|access-date=2021-12-21}}</ref>
===2018–19: Endegna, on hiatus and solo career===
In 2018, the group changed their name to Endegna, with release of new songs "Leman Biye" on 8 June 2018, "Ho Blen" for [[Ethiopian New Year]] on 6 September 2018 and "Fikir" on 9 February 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mefthe.com/endegna-fikir-ፍቅር-new-ethiopian-music-2019-official-video/|title=Endegna – fikir {{!}} ፍቅር – New Ethiopian Music 2019 (Official Video) {{!}} Mefthe.com|date=2019-02-15|website=mefthe.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>
The group saw a brief breakup in mid-2019 to pursue their individual career. On 28 February  2019, Rahel released "Tilobegn", Zebiba released "Gerager" on 8 August 2019, Lemlem released "Gedam" on 18 October 2019, Teref released "Demo'Na" on 28 February 2020 Eyerusalem released "Menagn" on 17 July 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Menagn by Eyerusalem Kelemewerk Insights|url=https://popnable.com/ethiopia/songs/494500-eyerusalem-kelemewerk-menagn/insights|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Popnable.com|language=en}}</ref>
===2020–present: "Yeabay Zemen Lijoch" and solo career perpetuation===
In May 2020, the group announced that they were reunited and would release another single called "Yeabay Zemene Lijoch" for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which was released on 22 May 2020.<ref name=":0" /> The group fate is still unexplained, but rather they prefer to continue their solo career in the meantime.
On 4 September 2021, Rahel released debut album called ''Etemete'', making her the first member from the band to release album.<ref>{{Cite web|title=iTunes Top 100 World Music Albums 2021|url=http://www.popvortex.com/music/charts/top-world-music-albums.php|access-date=2021-09-10|website=PopVortex|language=en}}</ref>
==Members==
* Lemlem Hailemichael (lead vocal)
* Teref Kassahun
* Zebiba Girma
* Eyerusalem Kelemewerk
* Rahel Getu
==Other ventures==
===UK state sponsorship===
In January 2017, the UK's Secretary of State for International Development [[Priti Patel]] announced that following a review of the band's £5.2&nbsp;million [[Department for International Development]] (DFID) funding there would be no further financial support given by the UK taxpayer.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38538631 |title=Ethiopian girl band Yegna's funding axed by UK |work=BBC News |date=7 January 2017}}</ref> DFID affirmed their commitment to empowering women and girls but cited concerns about the effectiveness and value for money of the aid.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/update-on-dfids-partnership-with-girl-effect |title=Update on DFID's partnership with Girl Effect – News stories – Government of the United Kingdom}}</ref> In response, the managing organisation [[Girl Effect]] pointed to the impact of Yegna on millions of people in Ethiopia; illustrating this by quoting a girl in Amhara as saying: "Everything that Yegna stands for – peace, support, friendship – has changed my outlook on life and made me feel proud to be a girl."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.girleffect.org/what-girls-need/articles/july16/august-launch/a-statement-from-girl-effect-about-yegna-and-our-work-with-dfid/ |title=A statement from Girl Effect about Yegna and our work with DFID |access-date=7 January 2017 |archive-date=18 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218042833/http://www.girleffect.org/what-girls-need/articles/july16/august-launch/a-statement-from-girl-effect-about-yegna-and-our-work-with-dfid/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Legacy==
Following their name change to Endegna, a new group called Yegna was formed in 2019. They debut TV drama series called ''Yegna: The Story Of All of Us'' on 17 March 2019. The series principal actors includes Blen Alem (as Lomi), Tirhas Gebru (Fikir), Tsedenia Lemma (Tsega), Betelehem Sherefedin (Hana), and Tsinat Terefe (Alem). The plot involves around group of teens lives in rural background; it also shows their friendship and teaches about [[Human rights in Ethiopia|gender equality]] and seeks to educate countryside people. Similar to Endegna, the group aimed at music and to form a band.[https://m.imdb.com/title/tt10262204/]
==Discography==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+
|-
!Title
! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" | Release date
! Collaborating artists
|-
|"Abet"
|2013
|Haile Roots
|-
|"Taitu"
|2014
|[[Aster Aweke]]
|-
| "Leman Biye"
| {{starting date|2018|06|8|df=yes}}
|  –
|-
| "Ho Blen"
| {{starting date|2018|09|06|df=yes}}
|  –
|-
| "Fikir"
| {{starting date|2019|02|09|df=yes}}
|  –
|-
|"Yeabay Zemene Lijoch"
|{{starting date|2020|05|22|df=yes}}
|Various artists
|}
==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+
|-
!Title
! scope="col" style="padding:0 8px;" | Release date
|-
|''Yegna''
|{{starting date|2015|4|16|df=yes}}
|}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/the-spice-girls-of-ethiopia/ The Spice Girls of Ethiopia]
* [http://www.matermea.com/blog/yegna-ethiopian-girl-band Yegna Ethiopian girl band] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725061929/https://www.matermea.com/blog/yegna-ethiopian-girl-band |date=25 July 2019 }} ''Metermea'' Retrieved 24 April 2018.
* [http://www.girleffect.org/media?id=3057|title= The making of Girl Hub Ethiopia's Yegna]
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Ethiopian musical groups]]
[[Category:Ethiopian women singers]]
[[Category:Girl groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2013]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Feminists]]
[[Category:Vocal quintets]]