Biography
My name is Addisu Wayma Hunde. I was born in Adiya Suphe Rural Village, Sayo Nole District, West Wallaga Region,Western Oromia. I was born from a farmer family. My mother is Bidiktu Gemechu Dinsa. I was born in 1973 (1980 G.C). I am the eldest of the four boys and four girls born to my parents.
When I was old enough to go to school, I went to Haro Gondiyo Primary School where I attended until sixth grade. I attended seventh and eighth grade at Dabaso Junoir Secodary School. I attended grade 9 and 10 at Gimbi Comprehensive High School.
During these days, while attending school, I had begun serving the Lord. In order to get maturity in the Word of God and continue the service I began, I attended Theology education at the Diploma level at EECMY Gimbi Holistic Seminary. I, then, attended Degree program in BTH at EECMY Seminary in Addis Ababa. Following that, with the opportunity God has given me, I attended my 2nd Degree (MA) from Wellaga University and graduated in Sociology. n
As for my family life, I got married to my wife, Mrs. Wollege Fekadu Amante, in 1998 E.C. We are now blessed by God and have four children. My children’s names are: Jarra and Jara (twins), Agartu and Macha.
The first church I received Jesus Christ as my savior with my family was at EECMY Gute Tiki Congregation found around Nole Kaba area. The church I grew up in was EECMY Guto Yedo Cogregation. Starting from 1999, I have been a member of EECMY Gimbi Congregation and am still serving in this congregation.
How I Received Jesus Christ
I received the Lord, Jesus Christ, miraculously. My father was an Orthodox believer. Besides, he was worshipping Qallu. Because of this, he did not want to accept the evangelical faith; neither did he allow us to follow it. On the other hand, my mother’s family was evangelical believers. As I had strong attachment to my grandmother, on Sundays early in the morning, she used to take me with her to church instead of going alone.
Going with her to the church, I would wait for her outside the church. The reason I was staying outside of the church was that my father didn’t like to hear about religion. So in fear of his being be angry with me, I would stay outside until the worshipping service was over.
It happened that my mother became very sick. She used to visit different Qallus to get remedy for her disease. Hence, someday, I accompanied my mother to Qallu house. The Qallu told my mother, “I want nine sheep from you because you are going to die.” Then, after a while, she said to my mother, “The disease you are suffering from cannot be pacified by offerings. So you had better flee to Christ.” Forced by the will and plan of Almighty God, the servant of Satan led her to the way of salvation.
In line with this, coming home, I invited our relatives those who are evangelical believers to come to our home and pray for us. They did so. On that very day, my mother, my brothers and sisters received Jesus Christ as our personal savior. After that I became interested in inquiring about God, trusting and worshiping him.
My being anointed with the Gift of Song
It was in 1989(1997G.C) that I first anointed with the Gift of Song. At the time, I was about 17 years old. It was that I was filled with the gift of singing in a special way.
A song began to come to me in a dream during the night while I was in deep sleep. In the dream a great light shone upon me. And in that light I observed literally the exact crucifixion of Jesus Christ- He was nailed, bleeding on the cross and all the events happened to him. I saw a great light on the cross and a four-line hymn written in it.
Then the anointing of praise began to flow in me. Hence, I joined the choir ministry. Similarly, while I was serving with my songs in the choir ministry, when I was in high school, people were telling me that my songs have a great message and encouraging a lot. Thus, I, immediately, started singing on my own as a solo singer.
At the time, it was not with the intention that my songs would be known and I would go out in the media and help people; but I was singing just to get encouragement with these songs for myself. However, God made me a comfort to many people.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have any conducive atmosphere when I started in the ministry. It was unthinkable at the time to find role models in my family or in my hometown. At the time, my father did not like to hear about religion at all. So let alone my being a gospel servant, even he was not interested in my going to church. I had difficult experiences in my ministry. It was only by the help of the grace of God and his will that I have been able to reach this level.
The ways songs used to come to me was that it was flowing into me while I was walking alone on the street, while I was at work, etc. When it came to me while I was on my way to school, lest that I forget it, I would not speak to my friends, but I would rehearse it alone.
About My Songs
As for my songs, the center of my songs is to proclaim the miraculous salvation work of God for mankind through Christ. That is to mean, it focuses on Gods salvation work and calling the generation to salvation through Christ Jesus. The work God has called me to do in my songs is to proclaim his love to the generation. For me, songs are the language in which I speak to God and to the generation.
Although I could not get my role model for my ministry in my contemporary, I learn from those people who had been singing before. Among the previous gospel singers, it was the song of singer Feven Itana that had a positive impact on my life. I love her poetic and artistic approach to singing. Likewise, such gospel singers as Abebe Temesgen and Kaba Fido are my fore runners whom I learned from.
In my singing ministry, I enrich my lyrics by using traditional words. Specially, I learned using metaphorical and powerful words from my father and my mother. When the Holy Spirit brings a song to me, I think strongly on the selection of words to be used to convey the message properly.
Accordingly, I released my first song in album form in 2003 E.C. At the time, my songs reached a lot of people. Specially, the song titled “Who is the hero?” reached even many unbelievers. So the song was widely listened to by many people who likened it to politics in the context of the time. But I didn’t mean it for political reasons. I didn’t even know anything about politics at the time. I have been under some pressure from politicians because of this song. However, I just sang the message God put in my heart which is based on the Bible.
Next to that, I launched my 2nd Album in 2004. The title of the song is, “Some are rewarded ahead; others are thrown out of the race; but God is not in this course.” As it was election time, I had a lot of trouble as if I were running politics.
However, I sing mostly about justice and truth in my songs. This is because God is a God of justice and truth. So some people give different meanings to these songs, but I sing them for the purpose of teaching the generation to show Almighty God to the people.
So far, I’ve done a total of one special edition and Album Number six which is to be released this year. They are:
Album 1: ‘Who is a Hero?’
Album 2: ‘If we were to be lost, it would have been earlier ’
Album 3: ‘How on earth would the sea stop us!’
Album 4: ‘My trustworthy’
Album 5: ‘The Last Resort’
Album 6: ‘My Eternity’
Special edition: ‘This campaign is a campaign to save souls ’
All of these albums contain between eight to twelve singles songs.
In all my service, my great concern is calling people to the salvation work God presented us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I never ever serve for my personal benefit and gains. My songs are the language in which I speak my inner and hearty desires and feelings to God. At the same time, they are my spiritual and divinely language to the contemporary and the generations to come.
These days, there are many “so-called” gospel servants who serve to get rich in the name of service by exploiting the innocent people of God for their own personal gains. I strongly object and denounce such heretic people.
The songs I make are only audio, not Audio-visual. This is because I doubt that what people listen to watching drama would have a special position in the spiritual life of people. Because it is natural that people are attracted to what they see than to what they hear.
I believe that just as all creation is created by the Word of God, Word has power to change the human heart. The other thing is that I cannot replace the mystery of the message of songs come to me with drama. Because I do not think that they have equal position. I feel that if I try to do so, I may spoil it. Therefore, I believe that just as I was changed by the Word, the generation will also be changed by the Word.
In my ministry, I have suffered great hardships because of the words I use in my songs than my personal problem. Although I have many personal issues, things that become pressure in my life are about justice, truth, murder experienced, and human suffering, I face many challenges both in the church and outside of the church. Church and church leaders are expected to oppose and confront such unbiblical deeds. On the contrary, they often try to challenge me for my touching such issues in my songs.
My Ministry Journey
I have served in different spiritual conferences, crusades and special events churches have prepared throughout wherever Oromo language is spoken, including university students’ fellowships at different Regions of the country. I also served in foreign countries such as Kenya, Norway, Germany, and Dubai on various occasions.
Forward:
I cannot stop singing in the future because singing is my life, my way of worship. However, I have a lot of plans in the future. With the guidance and help of God, I want to work on ways to help this generation, people who are suffering, who have fallen in the journey of life, those who are suffering poverty and are in extreme hunger, those who are closed in all directions. I also want to do something that will support my family and children.
New Album
I have prepared a full album of songs titled Barabaraakoo, which will be released soon. This project is very close to my heart. I have been singing for the past twenty-eight years, I continue to sing today, and I will keep singing for the rest of my life. Music is not just something I do — it is my life’s calling. That’s why I’ve named this album My Eternity.
The songs in Barabaraakoo carry powerful messages: they speak of hope for the new generation, encouragement for the weak, peace, the goodness of God, and strength for those who feel discouraged.
The album is set to launch in July 2025 on my personal YouTube channel.
While my music covers many themes, I mostly sing about justice and truth — because I believe God is a God of justice and truth. Some listeners may interpret the songs differently, but my purpose is clear: to teach this generation about the character of Almighty God through music.
Gratitude
What I would like to thank throughout my life is God the Almighty. May He be glorified! I was the oldest child in my family and my family was very supportive when I started singing ministry and helped me much.
The priest of my church where I grew up helped me a lot in teaching and counseling me in this gospel singing ministry. Hence, I would like to thank him for his great contribution to my life.
Similarly, when I came to Gimbi for education, there were fathers, leaders, and ministers who took me in and advised me with biblical Words of encouragement. I would like to thank them greatly.
Since I came to marriage life, my wife has been great support for my ministry in all aspects. I am very grateful for her advice and encouragement, for taking on all the household responsibilities and raising the children alone while I have been in the field of ministry. So I am very grateful to all of them. God bless them! ,