Toto Adefris on ‘Comedy’ in Addis
By Alemayehu S/Selassie and Tibebeselassie Tigabu
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Wendwosen Adefris a.ka. Toto Adefris, has been known for his active participation in promoting Amharic language over the internet for more than a year. Writing his renowned “Abet Enjerachew Sitafit” series, he has earned his fame over Facebook the twitter amongst Ethiopian communities, internet fans. A father of two- that has lived in the United States for over two dozen of years- Toto has always yearned for writing. Yet, his daytime job and his other life as an insurance company employee didn’t allow him to continue with his passion fulltime.

As this writer came back to Ethiopia for a second time in 28 years, he has been invited for a standup comedy at the Pushkin Russian Cultural Center and Club Alize by Addis All Around -a website that promotes the city and informs people on what is out in the cultural sector. Toto’s show was held this Monday at the Pushkin and Tuesday night at the Club Alize. A Diaspora writer on standup comedy night is never a regular scene, and the Russian Cultural Center has filled up within one hour at 5:30 pm. The show was presented a couple of days after the renowned Ethiopian comedian Kibebew Geda’s perceived full house reception and warm applause at the Addis Ababa Hilton, what has made the audience exiting for more. But it did not take long to notice that Toto’s show did not get the warm applause as much as Kibebew’s.

At the show on Monday the hall was filled with lots of literary and poetic figures that are well known for their acting, writing and directing skills. For the writer of “Abet Enjerachew Sitafit”, the night was meant to be ideal. Yet the standup comedy show he did was a bit offensive as SSI observed.

Perhaps the show was meant to be staged at a late hour for a warmed up audience, or more reserved from the vulgar jokes. But it has been one show that has raised eyebrows. Yet, as this newspaper had a talk with the visiting author, here is what he had to say about it. “I am not a comedian. Some times my jokes are not even funny to me. There are some internet fans that think that I am funny. But I am not a comedian. I have appointed my self as Amharic writer. But when the opportunity came to me to have a standup comedy, I could not let it go.  I do not mind if I did it wrong or if I did not know how to do it”, says the 49-year-old artist.

Toto states that he has taken self-censorship on his show last Monday and he states that he did that to give it a little class. “I could not call the sex organs by their names on the show.” he states. Knowing what the turn out was going to be at first, Toto prepared the whole show, but he never expected such a promotion and attendance. Hence, he was surprised to see the promotion of his show and posters all over town. “The way they promoted me was professionally handled and I was scared. But I knew it was a blessing that came to me after my first visit to Ethiopia 17 years ago.”

As some spectators claimed Toto’s jokes were extremely vulgar. In regards to these comments here is what he had to say, “If I was shy, I would not be talking about prostitution”. The organizer of the show, Abera Tariku, from Addis All Around stated that he has seen Toto rehearsing and that he was much better backstage. But his stage fright shaded a bit of his charm.

Toto himself admits that his jokes are not understood by most of the viewers. Coming on stage with a puck-card the show has its style associated with that of David Letterman’s Show in a more vulgar aspect. The vulgar taboo themes were however something difficult his audience to palate. “I have seen some of the audience which found the jokes funny but they were timid to laugh.”

Comparing Toto’s response with Kibebew Geda’s comedy night at the Hilton Hotel last Saturday was iconic. Returning from a show in America, Kibebew made a joke stating that in his trip he has found the way the audience in America was laughing was very weird: “Perhaps I should have given them a course on how to laugh before I start”, he stated. It will not come as a surprise when Toto explains in the vise versa. Toto states that he has found the show a success “there is no negative publicity.” He explains his reasons for saying so.

The show in Club Alize was dominated by younger spectators that have gone there for the night entertainment. On the show there were other entertaining guests such as the Masinko player Yisak Moges and a featured DJ, which have been claimed to outshine Toto. The organizer of the show states that Toto did not manage to meet the expectation of the audience, as he was even more nervous from the feedback he got from the Pushkin show. 

“We chose Toto to have a show here in Addis following his endeavor to promote Amharic language and his creative writings on the website. He had over 3500 fans over Facebook and twitter.” Abera says explaining the reason for choosing Toto for a stand-up comedy show in Addis.

“I have always fallen in love with Amharic! I have been writing and posting Amharic writings over the Facebook and twitter. I have found lots of fans and critics for a year now.” Working to promote a language that is based in East Africa was not an easy task in America for this self-acclaimed author. But he states that he is not in the mood for giving up. As many Ethiopian children who live in Addis Ababa are struggling to express themselves well in Amharic, Toto’s attempt to revive the language around the world sounds noble. But dealing with Diaspora children, who find very little nurturing when it comes to the language, has been hard for him as well. Two of his children are not speaking Amharic and could serve as an example in this regard. “Most parents are too busy working and their children spend their days at a daycare center. By the time they get home, they will be too tired. At times even when the children grow up, they tend to resist the language. It is difficult. There are very few children that search their roots and try to study the language.” as Toto explains. Most of the Diaspora people are more concentrated on the politics than the preservation of their language.

The author states that he does not want to get into Ethiopian politics, but he does not mind the use of vulgar themes now and then. “I have received comments where by I was told that I am a grown man and I should not be talking of such vulgar themes. I do not know what to say to such comments.” Toto’s theme is reflected in his writing as well. His famous writing “Abet Enjerachew Sitafit” is a metaphorical writing as well (Oh! How great her ‘bread’ tastes), and does not refer to the words as the title sounds either. Toto hopes to see his writings turning into a proper book or used for a movie script in the near future. And the coming back home to his county has kindled his sprit to do more than just that. The reading of his texts over the FM radio station in Addis Ababa made him proud.

“I remember when I was a child, we did not have a TV, and I used to listen to the drama very closely to the radio. And I could only imagine someone from a very remote part of Ethiopia listening to my play over the radio… that is like a million dollar for me.” he expresses his dream.

As far as stand-up comedy goes, Toto states, that it was not his dream at all, it was an opportunity which he have used. “If you invite me again and pay me a lot of money of course I could not refuse. I remember the resistance I went through to write ‘Abet Enjerachew Sitafit’, and when you compare the warm welcome I received here in Ethiopia, it brings tears to my eyes. I am going to write better.”

For a visiting Ethiopian, the trip to Addis has been a rewarding experience on its own. “I have seen lots of constructions, and it is overwhelming. The vibrant youth that I see in the different art scenes is great.”

Working at an insurance company in the United States, Toto is a supervisor at the estimation department of the fire insurance sector. After studying math at the university, he has worked in that department for 13 years, after he rejoined the company from two years of service and stopping working. Owning a mini grocery store in Seattle for four years, Toto has tried his life as a business man before going back to his insurance job.