[unknown artist] - [1976] - Ethiopia

           As promised in the the last post, there is a new internet discovery for the my readers. My thanks for this recording go to Brian Shimkowitz, the author of a famous Awesome Taped from Africa blog. We exchanged some tapes in a short correspondence, and he sent me a rip of this cassette by an unknown author. I have been trying to find the author of the music, but in spite of listening to a number of albums by various authors from different periods, I have been unsuccessful. I have thought that it might be one of the " lost editions" of Haile Mergia, ( with the dominant keyboards sounds ) but Brian, who has published his albums, would have cracked this first. 

                 I hope some of the readers would solve the mystery and let us know, and it would be briliant, as it is a fantastic album. The cassette itself is not the best quality, but the sound is satisfactory. The recording dates back to 1976, I assume according to Ethiopian calendar, which would be around 1983-4. Analogue synthesizers and the sound quality are typical for Ethiopian ediitons from this period. 

                 My thanks go to Sirack Hailu for the translations of the titles. 

Enjoy, and get in touch with your suggestions.

unknown artist - 01 - Tezeta (4:29)
unknown artist - 02 - Fekir endegena (4:58)
unknown artist - 03 - Zengadaw Dereku (3:37)
unknown artist - 04 - Gumegum (4:23)
unknown artist - 05 - Nefese New Zemedea (3:29)
unknown artist - 06 - Atematlenem way (3:36)
unknown artist - 07 - Misterawi Debdabe (4:34)
unknown artist - 08 - Uuta (3:18)
unknown artist - 09 - Aya belew belew (4:19)
unknown artist - 10 - Yemenfes Kurana (5:00)
unknown artist - 11 - Endegena (4:22)
unknown artist - 12 - Yehewyate heywot (6:00)
unknown artist - 13 - Tezaalen Agere (8:08)

Bezunesh Bekele - Unknown Tape of Bezunesh Bekele [1972-1977] [ethiopia]

        I have a surprise in store for you in the forthcoming posts. After official albums and compilations it is time for a couple of cassettes of Ethiopian authors found on the internet. 

     I have been delaying  with the posting until I found enough information to support them, but as usual, when it comes to older Ethiopian music, it is practically impossible to find it. 

Insight Bezunesh Bekele Her Life Her Music

(english translation)

       To start with, here is a cassette of Bezunesh Bekele. Except two CDs of her compilations and what was released in the Ethiopiques edition, there are no official releases of her on the market. Specialist music sites do not give her full discography, and my Ethiopian sources cannot help.

      The cassette obviously was made as a compilation of her single records made in the period of 1972-1977. In the tags I have listed all the details related to the publication of her singles records, and the folder contains all the covers I could find. Since the music was recorded onto the C-60 cassette of a relatively poor sound, and the songs recorded from crackly records, the sound quality is not particularly good, but it is passable. 

       Track number 7 from side A A7 Bindnew Tizitah is interrupted after 1:49, as it obviously could not fit. The only change I have made is the addition of the complete last song. B8-Tigil New from a disc I own. Everything else is recorded in  a relatively good quality rip.

     If you know anything about this cassette, please get in touch and share your information with the readers of this blog and its author. The cassette arrived with the picture of the cover with track listing. The name of the label is given as Lupano Video Cassette from Amhara. The main cover is made by me, using an internet photo.

       My thanks to Yonas for helping me translate to European alphabet.

Bezunesh Bekele - A1 - Aha Gedawo (3:50)
Bezunesh Bekele - A2 - Kal Kidan (4:20)
Bezunesh Bekele - A3 - Yemisereq Bihon (4:26)
Bezunesh Bekele - A4 - Hilem Norual Leka (4:34)
Bezunesh Bekele - A5 - Min Bedelkut Minew? (4:19)
Bezunesh Bekele - A6 - Mehonu Asaznegn (3:29)
Bezunesh Bekele - A7 - Addis Fikir (3:20)
Bezunesh Bekele - A8 - Bindinew Tizitah (1:49) *


Bezunesh Bekele - B1 - Simhin Salanesaw (4:32)
Bezunesh Bekele - B2 - Yemaimot Gabicha (4:11)
Bezunesh Bekele - B3 - Ayasayegn Chikune (4:24)
Bezunesh Bekele - B4 - Ferenj Ager Satihed (4:16)
Bezunesh Bekele - B5 - Atirakegn (2:56)
Bezunesh Bekele - B6 - Eniramed (3:33)
Bezunesh Bekele - B7 - Be'ayin Yemitay Edil (5:52)
Bezunesh Bekele - B8 - Tigil New (3:31)

Marta Ashagari - Era Bakeheh [1993] [ethiopia]

Original post from Likembe blogspot :

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

       If you're a fan of Aster Aweke or Kuku Sebsebe, you'll no doubt enjoy this cassette by Ethiopian vocalist Martha Ashagari.

       Ärä Bakeh (Ambassel Music Shop) was released in 1993 shortly after the fall of the Derg, but Ashagari has been singing professionally since 1988 with the Abyssinia and Roha Bands, and during the '90s had her own nightclub in Addis Ababa. In 1996 she recorded the CD Child's Love/Ye-Lij Fiker, which is available online from AIT Records (I included a tune from it on my compilation African Divas Vol. 2).

         Ashagari is notable for her unique vocal tone, somewhere between a sob and a wail. Side 1 of Ärä Bakeh typifies the '80s-'90s Ethiopian style, but Martha really hits her stride with side 2 of the cassette, especially the emotional ballads "Zoma" and "Ende Näh" and the Tigrinya song "Sälam Bäluläy."

01. Martha Ashagari - Wara Bakeheh (5:43)
02. Martha Ashagari - Fekreh Naweh (6:30)
03. Martha Ashagari - Alecalekutemeh (9:22)
04. Martha Ashagari - Bameneh Yedaoaleh (4:38)
05. Martha Ashagari - Guredadeh (5:00)
06. Martha Ashagari - Damayele (5:00)
07. Martha Ashagari - Zoma (Yabati Lejeh) (6:53)
08. Martha Ashagari - Enedaziheshemeh Ala (6:59)
09. Martha Ashagari - Enedenaheh (6:24)
10. Martha Ashagari - Shalame Balulayeh (Temareoa) (5:08)

Anbessa Tekle - Eza Abebakum [2009] [ethiopia]

Anbessa Tekle

Anbessa Tekle - 01 - Metsikaley'Do? (5:03)

Anbessa Tekle - 02 - Eza Abebakum / Weney Teleale (13:49)

Anbessa Tekle - 03 - Ni'Esnet / Nie Gamey Kuhulo (11:32)

Anbessa Tekle - 04 - Lomi Ayney Berhe / Sidra Zom Merawti (13:07)

Anbessa Tekle - 05 - Esele / Kuhul Selel Beli / Silso (16:53)

Tilahun Gessesse - [2000] - The Greatest Hits [ethiopia]

 R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

Tilahun Gessesse - Selamtaye Yidres

      Tilahun Gessesse was born on 29 September 1940, in Addis Ababa and died on 19 April 2009.

      Tilahun was born to Woizero Gete Gurmu and Ato Gessesse Negussee. When he was fourteen years old, he was taken by his grandfather to Waliso Oromia where he began attending Ras Gobena Elementary School.

   As time went by, his interest in music became increasingly clear, although his grandfather urged him to concentrate on his academic studies. The Ras Gobena School Principal Mr. Shedad (who was from Sudan), encouraged Tilahun's interest in music and urged him to go to Sudan to pursue his music career. Although Tilahun did not go to Sudan, he took Mr. Shedad's advice very seriously. When Woizro Negatwa Kelkai, Ato Eyoel Yohanes and others artists from the Hager Fikir Theatre came to his school to perform, Tilahun took the opportunity to discuss his interest in music with Ato Eyoel. He was told to go to Addis Ababa if he wanted to pursue a career in the field.

     Tilahun left school to go to Addis Ababa, a journey he began on foot without his grandfather's consent. When his grandfather realized that Tilahun was no longer in Woliso, he informed Tilahun's great-aunt in Tulu Bolo. After Tilahun traveled fifteen kilometers on foot, he was caught in Tulu Bolo and stayed overnight with his great-aunt Woizero Temene Bantu. The next day, he was forced to return back to his grandfather in Woliso. Since his interest in music lay deep in his heart, Gessesse chose not to stay at his grandfather's house in Woliso. After staying only one night at his grandfather’s house, he again began his journey to Addis Ababa, this time hiding himself in the back of a loaded truck.

     In Addis Ababa, Tilahun was first hired by the Hager Fikir Association, which is now known as Hager Fikir Theater. After a few years at the Hager Fikir Theater, he joined the Imperial Bodyguard Band where he became a leading star singer. During his time with the band, Gessesse ran afoul of the government after the attempted coup d'état of December 1960 by the Imperial Bodyguard. He was arrested and put in prison for a time.

     Tilahun moved to the National Theater where his success continued. He was so famous that he appeared three times in front of Emperor Haile Selassie I. During a visit, the Emperor advised him not to abuse his talent.

     Tilahun's recordings are in Amharic and Oromo.

   He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Addis Ababa University, in appreciation of his contribution to Ethiopian music. He has also received an award for his lifetime achievements from the Ethiopian Fine Art and Mass Media Prize Trust.

      Tilahun Gessesse died on April 19, 2009. He had been in poor health for several years due to diabetes. 

01. Tilahun Gessesse - Yene Filagote (4:09)

02. Tilahun Gessesse - Bedehna Iskigetimen (4:28)

03. Tilahun Gessesse - Ine Negn Way Antchi (4:33)

04. Tilahun Gessesse - Ketero Yikeber (3:32)

05. Tilahun Gessesse - Alinkugn (4:30)

06. Tilahun Gessesse - Rasihin Bitcha (3:27)

07. Tilahun Gessesse - Harkafune (3:25)

08. Tilahun Gessesse - Mesak Isikalehu (4:34)

09. Tilahun Gessesse - Wedo Yetela Sew (4:09)

10. Tilahun Gessesse - Wey Min Tilik (3:24)

11. Tilahun Gessesse - Sew New Yetchekene (4:12)

12. Tilahun Gessesse - Tchuheten Bitsemu (3:32)

13. Tilahun Gessesse - Sigibgib Joroye (3:29)

14. Tilahun Gessesse - Ewnet Marign (3:30)

15. Tilahun Gessesse - Kunenie (4:24)