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The following is the interview was conducted by Awate Staff on Sunday August 31, 2008-09-03

You have a new message Hussien?

Yes I do. I hope it will reach to all; I would like it to be heard by people inside Eritrea and outside. My message contains a constructive criticism to the leaders inside [Eritrea] and those who claim to be outside Eritrea. The album is a message targeted to all concerned. It has central message to the people of Eritrea.

During the armed struggle, you and other singers played an important role in motivating and agitating the public; now your role seems to have diminished. Art used to be a tool of struggle, not anymore. Why do you think that is?

You replied to your own question. In the past it was a national struggle and the people participated in the struggle to liberate the land- the Eritrean people, including writers and scholars and many others were part of the struggle for the success of the national liberation project.

After the independence of Eritrea, when the Eritrean regime took power, and it slowly started to impose a gagging policy on everybody, including the artists who are part of the Eritrean people and anything that affects the people affects the artists or reflects on them. Artists are supposed to be stronger than the rest but the severity of the repression was so great that artists could not free themselves from the gagging of the regime. There was no atmosphere where artists could express themselves as they used to do in the past.

Why do you think that the regime is very much interested in dances, parties and singing which they use as a propaganda ploy? Why do you think the regime is pursuing this and why do you think it is working for them?

They are smart, To my understanding, they try to exploit the work of the artist in their propaganda to the benefit of their partisan politics. The majority of the artists inside Eritrea have been with the EPLF during the struggle era and sympathize with the regime and that makes it easy for the regime to exploit their artistic productions. I see it that way. We don’t have a margin of freedom of expression and the like to express ourselves. If that was possible, we would have challenged and contributed more.

Are you happy with the contribution of the artists of your generation?

I don’t see any significant role, with the exception of a few singers who reside outside Eritrea. We have not been able to face the regime effectively.

What do you think is needed to make the role of artists effective?

Every country is crying for change. Change comes from the self, our way of thinking, our commitment to freedom and justice should be promoted. Maybe Eritrean artists would find themselves riding this universal wave of change and be motivated to work diligently to struggle using their artistic skills.

What would you want to see from your colleagues the artists who are concerned about the situation in their country and their people; what would you like to tell them? And what are your misgivings towards them?

All those who are concerned with their people, their nation and their affinity to their people, should speak Truth and should not be afraid of anything in saying the truth. I wish everyone would be truthful and open about the injustices and the trampling on the rights of the people. We have to be truthful with ourselves and with others. I wish everyone who reads my message will not abandon the Eritrean people who struggled and still is struggling- more than the past. Even saying one word of truth is enough if one is not ready to go all the way. Just one word of truth. If everyone said a word of truth there will be enough force to rectify the situation at home.

Let’s talk about the latest CD you produced: how many songs you have there who collaborated with you etc?

This is a relatively old project. What I have said in the CD should have been said a long time ago but as they say, “Iza Akremt asherif melekteho; weiza akremt alsefih, temerada!” [Arabic expression:  if you respect the honorable, you own him; if you honor the ungrateful, he rebels against you.] In 1996, I went to Eritrea and there, honestly, the Eritrean regime received me very warmly and all the niceties made me give them the benefit of the doubt thinking that they would change by themselves and it was only a matter of time and the government is new.  But unfortunately the repression continued and I gave up after years of waiting to see a change. Then I started to prepare this CD which contains four new sonnets and three old songs and all address social, democratic and political issues.

Did you write the lyrics?

All, except for the one entitled Tiegisti (Patience) which was sent to me by someone from Asmara whose name I cannot mention. The rest are my lyrics, and I arranged the songs myself.  And in spite of some who would like to see my contribution stopped, I would like to tell you that my involvement will be greater and I will continue to contribute to the alleviation of the problems that my people face until we realize democracy, freedom and justice.

How has the CD been received to date?

So far it has been excellent. I would like to name a few colleagues who have been very supportive and have given me all the moral and material support. Suleiman, Kemal, Jemal and Yassin are the people who really supported me. As you know this is an expensive undertaking; just studios and related issues cost me 2500 pounds. I could not have accomplished this on my own. They still are standing by my side. I hope that able Eritreans would help in promoting and distributing the CD in different parts of the world. We do not have a distribution system and we are suffering because of that.