for displaced Oromo families. Between 2015 and 2018, Ethiopia saw a rise in Oromo protests. The protests lead to the resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who was replaced by Abiy Ahmed. Even though Ahmed encouraged political and economic freedom, ethnic tensions persisted. On the evening of June 29, 2020, Hundeessaa was shot and killed on the street in Addis Ababa. By early morning on June 30, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across Oromia. Homes and businesses were vandalized in Addis Ababa, troops were deployed to restore order, and the internet was switched off nationwide for more than a week. Thousands of arrests were made and more than 160 people died. Both sides of the conflict have blamed each other for the death of Hundeessaa, but the truth of the circumstances surrounding his death remains unknown. National identity, gender roles and the diaspora One of the most widely recorded songs was "tizita, also called the "Song of Longing," a track which evokes nostalgia for a bygone time. The Amharic lyrical technique of "Wax and Gold" allows singers to create levels of meaning. On the Wax level, singers showcase their verbal dexterity to express love, and on the Gold level, singers expresses nostalgia for a lost time or place. Songs often focus on domestic relationships, family life and the contributions of these relationships to Ethiopian identity. Themes of homesickness are particularly evident among female performers, both within Ethiopia and abroad, who found a way to express their political voice through music, especially during the later days of Emperor Haile Selassie's reign. Music under authoritarianism When Emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown in 1974, Mengistu Haile Mariam and the Derg seized power, passing strict laws censoring speech and controlling capital nightlife. Azmari-betotch, music houses, were essentially closed, limited to providing entertainment for foreigners. During the period of the Derg (1974-1991), Ethiopian populations across Europe and North America rose, and many musicians fled Ethiopia to escape persecution, war, and famine. When the Derg collapsed, many of these diasporas remained, although movement restrictions were lifted in Ethiopia, allowing people to move freely across the border. Music and Azmari-betotchs returned. Since the revival came at a time when cassettes were widely used, Ethiopian music thrived in the world market. Musical production from ethnic minorities, women, and Pentecostals increased, challenging the authority of both the church and Amhara cultural hegemony. Other notable Ethiopian artists Asnaketch