Teshome Mitiku - Yegna Neger [2005] [ethiopia]

           Teshome Mitiku's career stretches back to Addis Ababa, where he began performing at local schools and nightclubs when he was just a teenager.

             In the late 60's, Teshome (singer/keyboard), Theodros "Teddy" Mitiku (alto saxophone), Tamrat Ferendji (trumpet), Fekade Amde-Meskel (bass), Tesfaye Mekonnen (drums), Alula Yohannes (guitar) and Seifu Yohannes (singer) joined to form the influential Soul Ekos Band. The band released numerous songs, including 4 tracks written by Teshome like Gara Ser New Betesh, Yezemed Yebada, Mot Adeladlogn and Hasabe.

Teshome Mitiku - Yegna Neger

             Teshome fled to Sweden at the peak of his musical career in 1969 after the government endorsed a strict, mandatory night curfew, which prevented him from performing at local venues. A few years later, Emperor Haile Selassie was overthrown in a coup d'etat by the Dergue regime.

                Teshome permanently moved to Sweden in 1970 and enrolled at the Music Conservatory in Malmo. He started performing with a 12-piece, jazz band, called Tolvan. He then switched gears and enrolled at Lund University, where he received his Masters of Arts in Sociology.

              During a brief visit in the 80's to the United States, Teshome collaborated with the Admas Band and released "Teshome Mitiku and His Experience," an album full of jazzy tracks like Mengezem Hulgezem and Almazeye.

                 In 1995, Teshome relocated to the United States and released the critically acclaimed album "Yegna Neger" with favorite tracks like Photoyen Ayechew and Che Belew.

              In 1994, Mitiku also collaborated with Mulatu Astatke. Mitiku wrote the Wello Song (Pearl of Ethiopia) on Mulatu Astatke's "Assiyo Bellama" album.

           In 1996, he coordinated with various Ethiopian artists and formed the first Ethiopian Music Association, where they teamed up and performed at various fundraisers to raise money for orphanages in Ethiopia.

             His third album "Gara Ser New Betish" was released in 1997 with splendid tracks like Satenow and Bechegnaw.

              In 1998, four of the songs that were originally recorded with the Soul Ekos Band and Teshome were released on "Ethiopiques Vol. 1".

          In 1999, Teshome released his fourth album, "Yesterday & Today" with saxophonist and brother, Teddy Mitiku with remastered hits like Alemazeye and Che Belew .

            In 2002, Either/Orchestra released "Afro-Cubism," a six track album that contained Teshome Mitiku's Yezemed Yebada.

             Teshome's fifth album, Topia's Deluge was released on May 9th, 2006.

01 - Teshome Mitiku - Ethiopiawe Net (5:38)

02 - Teshome Mitiku - Yegna Neger (8:13)

03 - Teshome Mitiku - Susegnash (5:50)

04 - Teshome Mitiku - Betachen Andnew (6:50)

05 - Teshome Mitiku - Photoyen Ayechew (4:52)

06 - Teshome Mitiku - Che Belew (8:45)

07 - Teshome Mitiku - Gabechachen (8:06)

08 - Teshome Mitiku - Semot Ataleksu (7:46)

09 - Teshome Mitiku - Tariku Bacheru (8:31)

10 - Teshome Mitiku - Wahuye (7:15)