Oromo singer Dereje Degefa, renowned for his politically charged protest songs, tragically lost his life on May 29, 2023, in Sululta, a town located just 30 kilometers from Addis Ababa. While returning from the capital that evening, he found himself caught in the crossfire between armed militants and local security forces.

Dereje’s close friend, Tamrat Bekele, shared the details with the BBC, stating, “There was an armed confrontation between militants and local security forces when Dereje reached his home. Then they summoned him. Nobody knows who. Dereje protested, saying that he had done nothing wrong. He was killed in the middle of this.”

Tamrat further adds such incidents are not uncommon in this area. “Two individuals were killed in a similar manner in the past.”

At the time of his untimely demise, Dereje was working on an upcoming album. He leaves behind two children.