Blogtrotters

Monday, December 5, 2016

Chalachew Ashenafi - Ye-zemed Neger [ethiopia]












Chalachew Ashenafi - Gonder Welkait Tegede





Chalachew Ashenafi - 01 - Aya Belew (7:13)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 02 - Atenchi Bayne Lay (4:37)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 03 - Fekiresh Welelaw (6:42)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 04 - Ye-Abay Derewa Loga (5:32)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 05 - Bewala Bewala (5:30)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 06 - Anchi woye (7:22)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 07 - Ene Gonebes Biye (9:34)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 08 - Ere Endemin Alesh (6:26)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 09 - Menjar (6:45)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 10 - Yetebarek (5:16)




Friday, December 2, 2016

Hirut Bekele - Hirut Bekele with Dahlak Band - 3rd album [ethiopia]















Hirut Bekele with Dahlak Band - Gubel Wub Ayenama





Hirut Bekele - a1) Gubel Wub Ayenama [ጉብል ውብ ዓይናማ (6:19)
Hirut Bekele - a2) Alekoretelegem [አልቆረጠልኝም] (5:23)
Hirut Bekele - a3) Aleresahim [አልረሳህም] (4:56)
Hirut Bekele - a4) Fikirh Yitaftilign [ፍቅርህ ይጣፍጥልኝ] (5:51)
Hirut Bekele - a5) Tegedem [ተደገመ] (5:28)


Hirut Bekele - b1) Mitaw Bangeteh [ምታው ባንገትህ] (3:51)
Hirut Bekele - b2) Besekeken [በሰቀቀን] (7:41)
Hirut Bekele - b3) Wub Nat Hagerachen [ውብ ናት ሀገራችን] (4:31)
Hirut Bekele - b4) Salazen Alekerm (4:34)
Hirut Bekele - b5) Awey Lejenete [አወይ ልጅነቴ] (5:03)





Thursday, December 1, 2016

Melaku Belay [ethiopia]











          Melaku Belay is an Ethiopian traditional dancer born in Addis Abeba in 1980. He showed interest in learning the different kind of dances that punctuates the everyday life of Ethiopian people early in life.

         Melaku is above all a free spirit who has refused to restrain himself in an imposed and academic “traditional” style. As a self-taught dancer, he has taken his inspiration inside the Ethiopian society itself, and among the bearers of the tradition. Throughout his career, he has tried to create and develop his own style according to his own experiences and research through his country, with a touch of improvisation and fantasy.

           Melaku is not only a dancer, he is also "a cultural entrepreneur" trying to support and develop the cultural and musical wealth of his country. 

            Since 2008, he is managing one of the most famous Azmari place in Addis Abeba, the Fendika by introducing an innovative idea to his traditional setting. Indeed, during the special events which regularly occur in Fendika, he has invited many guests, from both Ethiopian and foreign spheres, creating a place which offers a symbiosis between tradition and modernity.






Melaku Belay - Sora Sora




        Fendika, a troupe of the most accomplished azmari musicians and dancers from Addis Ababa, draws deeply from the well of Ethiopia’s bardic tradition while adding creative movements and sounds that revitalize their ancient artistic forms. Passionately committed to the preservation and development of traditional culture, group leader and dancer Melaku Belay has established two traditional performing groups – the smaller elite group Fendika and the 12-member Ethiocolor. Fendika features seven performers – two dancers, two singers, and instruments including kebero drums, masenko (a one-stringed bowed fiddle), and krar (a five- or six-stringed lyre). Founded in 2009 by Melaku Belay, Ethiopia’s leading dancer and a respected cultural ambassador, the ensemble is based at Melaku’s renowned music club Fendika Azmari Bet in the Kazanchis neighborhood of Addis Ababa. In Ethiopian culture, an azmari bet is a traditional house of music where people come to be entertained, informed, and sometimes playfully insulted by the azmari who serve as current events commentators while they dance, sing, and play for tips.

     Melaku is a virtuoso interpreter of eskista, a traditional Ethiopian trance dance of athletic shoulder movements that presage hip hop movements of breaking and popping. Now a highly respected cultural ambassador, Melaku grew up as a street kid, learning many regional dances of Ethiopia through participation in religious festivals such as Timqat, folk ceremonies, and everyday activities in Addis Ababa and the countryside where music and dance are a vital part of cultural and spiritual expression. Melaku has traveled throughout Ethiopia to learn the dance traditions of the country’s 80 tribal groups. The musicians and dancers of Fendika present a cultural journey starting in the highlands of Tigray, Wollo, Gonder, and Gojam, also including dances from the Somali and Afar regions and southern Ethiopian dance forms from the Gurage, Wolaita, and Konso traditions.








In 2011 Melaku won the Alliance Ethio-Francaise (Addis Ababa) award for dance excellence. On May 5 2015 he was named as a Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres , in recognition of his exceptional artistic career, by the French Ministry of Culture and Communications - an extremely prestigious honor.





       Melaku and Fendika also extend their base of tradition to new areas of musical exploration, developing strong performance partnerships with Ethiopian jazz bands Addis Acoustic Project and the US-based Debo Band, as well as international groups such as Le Baroque Nomade, Ukandanz, Akalé Wubé, Arat Kilo, and especially European punk band The Ex. The group has performed with legendary Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed and begena player Alemu Aga, while Melaku has collaborated with Éthiopiques founder Francis Falceto, Italian singer Saba Anglana, and Italian saxophonist Enzo Favata, among many others. Fendika has appeared in Scandinavia, France, Spain, Mali, Zanzibar, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic; they rocked the Roskilde Festival in Denmark in July 2014, earning a rave review. Members of the group toured the US in 2011, 2012, and 2013 with stops at the Lowell and Richmond Folk Festivals, the International Festival of Arts and Ideas, and Kennedy Center as well as Lincoln Center where their performance received great acclaim from the New York Times . Ethiocolor performed as a showcase band at the prestigious Womex Festival in October 2014 and toured Europe twice during 2015 with The Ex, returning to Germany and Scandinavia in August 2015. Melaku traveled to Italy to perform at a fundraising concert for a school in Addis. Fendika/Ethiocolor performed in Israel for the Jerusalem Sacred Music festival in September 2015. The group was a highlight at globalFEST, the premier world music showcase in New York, on January 17, 2016.

                 Fendika has compiled two CDs of their music: Addis Tradition (2013) and Ethiocolor, the 2014 disc produced by Selam Sounds. The video Ethiocolor 360◦ was selected as one of the top 15 of 2015 by OkayAfrica.

            Fendika performances run from 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the venue requirements. Their show builds in sonic and dance intensity, often culminating in an exciting interaction as Fendika members join the audience to invite dance participation. Fendika workshops (usually one hour) engage students of all ages in learning and experiencing Ethiopian rhythms and movements.

                Fendika is deeply committed to engagement and interaction between audience and performer. They love to offer workshops for all ages before or after performances, to teach their dance steps, musical notes, rhythms, and the history and background of Ethiopian traditional music and dance. Fendika has experience from the folk festivals of the US and in educational programs in France in participating in “World Sounds” or “World Dance” workshops on stage, featuring musicians from several cultures who demonstrate their art and then exchange and collaborate resulting in a group performance on stage. They are also very skilled at participating in panel discussions on topics such as the role of tradition in contemporary culture, also inviting questions and observations from the audience.









Melaku Belay, dance 
Zinash Tsegaye, dance 
Mesalu Abebaye, kebero drums 
Fasika Hailu, krar 
Nardos Tesfaw, vocals 
Tesfaye Taye, vocals 
Gizachew Teklemariam, masenko






Melaku's Fendika - Ambassel (7:40)
EthioColor - Fendika Recordings (5:21)
Melaku's Fendika - Lewoy Lewoy (Wollo) (5:09)
EthioColor - Fendika Recordings (4:49)
Melaku Belay - Mali Malonayie (5:26)
Melaku Belay - Sekota (3:52)
EthioColor - Fendika Recordings (5:28)
Melaku's Fendika - Ywolalia Weyole (Gurage) (5:11)







"The rhythmic virtuosity of Melaku was often astounding. He can turn either the upper or lower body into an electrifying vehicle of rapid pulsation...Simply to see him sway his body to the music was a marvel: the angle of his out-held elbows, the pliancy of his spine, the rhythmic point of those shoulders all made their sensuous contributions. A happily superlative artist." 

Alastair Macaulay, New York Times, 8/12/2011




Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Tadele Roba - Mesgana [2014] [ethiopia]














Tadele Roba - Mesgana





Tadele Roba - 01 - DoReMeFa (Makusa) (4:46)
Tadele Roba - 02 - Mewdeden (4:32)
Tadele Roba - 03 - Beberhan Libe (4:58)
Tadele Roba - 04 - Semteshal (4:17)
Tadele Roba - 05 - Fiker Tefa (4:33)
Tadele Roba - 06 - Gena Lega Nat (6:03)
Tadele Roba - 07 - Arke Yehuma (5:01)
Tadele Roba - 08 - Saron Gela (4:19)
Tadele Roba - 09 - Tenefafekin (5:33)
Tadele Roba - 10 - Ayee (5:42)
Tadele Roba - 11 - Silanchie Aweralew (6:22)
Tadele Roba - 12 - Mama Africa (5:10)
Tadele Roba - 13 - Mesgana (4:48)
Tadele Roba - 14 - Eswan Tewat Lene (5:39)



Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Berhanu Tezera - Tebechisa [2013] [ethiopia]















Berhanu Tezera - Tebechisa





Berhanu Tezera - 01 - Bela (4:18)
Berhanu Tezera - 02 - Tebechisa (5:46)
Berhanu Tezera - 03 - Yewaeh (6:16)
Berhanu Tezera - 04 - Yet Ale (3:50)
Berhanu Tezera - 05 - Ekoralehu Enjie (4:11)
Berhanu Tezera - 06 - Tewedag (4:44)
Berhanu Tezera - 07 - Ingeda (5:14)
Berhanu Tezera - 08 - Tirunet (4:25)
Berhanu Tezera - 09 - Fuwa Bilesh (4:23)
Berhanu Tezera - 10 - Begena Legena (3:46)
Berhanu Tezera - 11 - Man Alegne (4:45)
Berhanu Tezera - 12 - Zariem Guedishalew (4:35)
Berhanu Tezera - 13 - Berasishe Kurie (4:30)
Berhanu Tezera - 14 - Shalom (4:47)



Monday, November 28, 2016

Tsedenia GebreMarkos - Yefiker Girma [2016] - [2008E.C] [ethiopia]











       Tsedenia GebreMarkos is one of the leading musicians in the Ethiopian music scene. She gets her inspirations from traditional and contemporary Ethiopian music. In addition to having a lot of success with commercial hits such as “Ewedehalu”, “Atalay”, “Mengedegna” and “Yiker Beyalehu”, Tsedenia is also famous for having strong lyrics to raise awareness about issues she holds dear.

         She’s made a name for herself singing to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in her country. Tsedenia broke ground when she became the first Ethiopian artist to ever win the prestigious African Kora Awards back in 2004 for “Ewedehalu”. In addition this multitalented star was featured in the hit movie “Motherland”, has a standing radio-show and is rumored to be featured in an upcoming film from the producers of “500 years Later”. Even if her melodious and soulful sound is what she is famous for, Tsedenia broke the barriers again when she decided to be innovative and join forces with Ethiopian dub band Dub Colossus

       They released an EP, ‘A Town Called Addis’ in June 2008 through Real World Records and a full length LP album of the same name was released in August 2008 exclusively through the Bowers & Wilkins Music Club. Always looking for bigger challenges and constantly rebranding herself is what enabled this Ethiopian jewel to win this year’s AFRIMA (All Africa Music Awards) “Best female artist in Eastern Africa”.






Tsedenia Gebremarkos - Yefikir Girma [የፍቅር ግርማ]






Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 01 - YeFikir Girima (የፍቅር ግርማ) (6:21)
Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 02 - Awikotal (አውቆታል) (4:26)
Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 03 - Yalefewin Fikir (ያለፈውን ፍቅር) (5:37)
Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 04 - Raya (ራያ) (4:47)
Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 05 - Abet Yachin Leta (አቤት ያቺን ለታ) (6:12)
Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 06 - Wey Fikir (ወይ ፍቅር) (4:41)
Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 07 - Kurat (ኩራት) (4:35)
Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 08 - Bementa Menged (በመንታ መንገድ) (5:23)
Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 09 - Fikir Bemehalek (ፍቅር በመሐለቅ) (5:26)
Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 10 - Hariyet (ሃርየት) (5:49)
Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 11 - Camp Fire (4:14)




Friday, November 25, 2016

Tadele Roba & Birhanu Tezera [Lafonten] - full cassette [1998] [ethiopia]















Tadele Roba & Birhanu Tezera ( Lafonten ) - Full Cassette Songs





Arat Kilo - AK [Ethiopic Jazz] [2009]


   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

Arat Kilo 





       Ethiopian jazz is a major branch of African music that comes from the bars of Addis Ababa and draws its influence from jazz and traditional Ethiopian music, azmari, Latin sounds and Anglo-American funk. Choosing to adapt this music in a contemporary and more urban style, Arat Kilo draws inspiration from rock music and the hypnotic sounds of dub. 

       Their show alternates compositions and standard Ethiopian arrangements (a beautiful meeting was held at RFI’s studio with Mulatu Astatké, the father of Ethiopian jazz)











       Ever since the Ethiopiques CD releases reminded the west about the extraordinary music that could be heard in Addis Ababa in the golden era of the 1960s and early 70s, there has been a flurry of very different fusion bands making use of Ethiopian influences, including this young French five-piece who take their name from an Addis monument. 

      They are good players who mix funky guitar with bass, drums and horns – brass was often a crucial ingredient in the Addis sound – and they have mastered the distinctive, at times Arabic-sounding Ethiopian style. All that's lacking is a sense of energy and fun, especially in their instrumental treatment of a piece by the country's best-loved singer, the late Tlahoun Gèssèssè. 










Fabien Girard - guitar, balafon 
Michael Havard - saxophones, flute 
Camille Floriot - trumpet, bugle, ney 
Samuel Hirsch - bass guitar, kalimba 
Arnold Turpin - drums, melodica 










TRACKLIST

1. Arat Kilo - Falaga (6:23)
2. Arat Kilo - Addis Polis (3:16)
3. Arat Kilo - Get a Chew (4:48)
4. Arat Kilo - Mètché Nèw (5:31)
5. Arat Kilo - Farenj Blues (8:01)
6. Arat Kilo - Yékatit (3:32)











Thursday, November 24, 2016

Elias Assefa - Kelay [2015] [ethiopia]














Elias Assefa - Kelay





Elias Assefa - 01 - Séwunet (Being Human) (4:13)
Elias Assefa - 02 - Kélay (From Above) (5:50)
Elias Assefa - 03 - Yé Egzer Siel (God’s Painting) (6:56)
Elias Assefa - 04 - Zenaw (The News) (3:52)
Elias Assefa - 05 - Léka (It is Rather That) (5:14)
Elias Assefa - 06 - To ቶ (Symbol of Life) (4:00)
Elias Assefa - 07 - Gize (Time) (4:26)
Elias Assefa - 08 - Yenéfse Erkata (My Soul’s Satisfaction) (5:07)
Elias Assefa - 09 - Léwuletash (Tribute to You) (4:28)
Elias Assefa - 10 - Ebid New Sime (They Call me a Mad Man) (5:04)
Elias Assefa - 11 - Betsélot (With Prayer) (5:42)
Elias Assefa - 12 - Tibeb Ze Solomon (Solomon’s Wisdom) (5:32)
Elias Assefa - 13 - Sus (Addiction) (5:39)
Elias Assefa - 14 - Aman be (In Peace) (4:48)




Monday, November 21, 2016

Aster Aweke - Sikuar [2001] [ethiopia]











            When she arrived in her homeland in 1997 for the first time since she'd left in 1981, Ethiopian-born and Washington, D.C.-based songstress Aster Aweke was greeted by thousands of loyal followers awaiting her plane. During the month-long tour that followed, Aweke performed before more than 80,000 people and showed that she remains one of Ethiopia's best-loved performers. 

            Aweke has been equally successful throughout the world. Her second album, Kabu, spent four weeks in the top position on the CMJ New Music Charts, and was in the Top Ten of Billboard's World Music Charts for ten weeks in 1990. 






Aster Aweke - Sikuar (Sugar)




          A native of Gandor, a small town near Lake Tara, Aweke was raised in the capital city of Addis Ababa. The daughter of senior civil servant in the Imperial government, Aweke was determined to become a musician by the age of 13. By her late teens, she was singing in Addis Ababa clubs and hotels with such bands as the Continental Band, Hotel D'Afrique Band, Shebele Band, and the Ibex Band (before they became the internationally known Roha Band). Launching a solo career, Aweke was encouraged by musical entrepreneur Ali Tango, who financed and released five cassettes and two singles of her music. By 1981, Aweke had become disillusioned by Ethiopia's oppressive political climate and relocated to the United States. Temporarily settling in the Bay Area of California with plans to pursue an education; within two years, Aweke continued on to Washington, D.C., the site of the largest Ethiopian population in the U.S. After building a following with her performances in local Ethiopian restaurants, Aweke toured the U.S. and Europe in 1985. 




Aster Aweke - 01 - Gudde Fella (6:08)
Aster Aweke - 02 - Sew Hulu Be-hageru (6:33)
Aster Aweke - 03 - Ezoralehu (5:25)
Aster Aweke - 04 - Etiti (6:32)
Aster Aweke - 05 - Bichegna (5:29)
Aster Aweke - 06 - Sikuar (6:31)
Aster Aweke - 07 - Merkato (4:58)
Aster Aweke - 08 - Fikir Fikir (6:06)
Aster Aweke - 09 - Ela Alayim (6:46)
Aster Aweke - 10 - Ibi Tibi (5:39)
Aster Aweke - 11 - Sew Mehonne (7:20)
Aster Aweke - 12 - Wey Nedo (5:38)



Friday, November 18, 2016

v.a. - Digital Ethiopia pt.1 [likembe.blogspot.com compilation] [ethiopia]



original source :



   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   














          Back in the '80s Ethiopian music was extremely hard to come by outside of Ethiopia. Mahmoud Ahmed's brilliant Ere Mela Mela was released on LP by the Belgian label Crammed Discs around 1985, and later in the decade the exile singer Aster Aweke released Aster, recorded in the UK with mainly non-Ethiopian backup musicians. That was just about it, unless you were lucky enough to know Ethiopians who could supply you with scratchy, poorly dubbed cassettes from the motherland.

       All that changed in the '90s when political change opened the country up. A fine collection of traditional and modern music, Music From Ethiopia (Caprice CAP 21432) came out in 1992, and within a few years the incredible Ethiopiques series opened the world's ears to the classic sounds of "Swingin' Addis" from the '60s and early '70s

    
          When it became possible for Ethiopian musicians to travel freely it was only natural that they would gravitate to U.S. recording studios, and in the last 15 years there has arisen a robust market in CDs made here. For the most part these are "under the radar" - not available through the usual "World Music™" outlets like Sterns. The main issue I have with these American recordings is the overwhelming use of synthesizers. That said, many of these productions are surprisingly sophisticated, a far cry from the rinky-dink keyboards and drum machines of much contemporary African music.



1. Tlahoun Gessesse - Ewdish Neber (5:40)
2. Tlahoun Gessesse - Meleyayet Mot New (4:17)
3. Menelik Wossenachew - Gash Jembere (9:12)
4. Menelik Wossenachew - Yeayne Tesfa (6:35)
5. Mohammed Tawil - Si-Si (7:26)
6. Mulatu Astatke w. Teshome Mitiku - Wello (8:30)
7. Tilaye Gebre - Yenigat Kokeb/Yelelit Berehane (9:30)




v.a. - Digital Ethiopia pt.2 [likembe.blogspot.com compilation] [ethiopia]



original source :



   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   









                                                                 Chachi Tadesse




1. Tadesse Alemu - Shinet (5:56)
2. Tadesse Alemu - Hedach Allu (9:11)
3. Hamelmal Abate - Tirulegn (5:51)
4. Hana Shenkute - Addis Fekere (6:40)
5. Abonesh Adnew - Limitawey (7:03)
6. Kuku Sebsebe - Hallo Belat (4:55)
7. Chachi Tadesse - Africa (5:19)
8. Chachi Tadesse - Medina (5:27)