Ali Shebbo origins from Dire Dawa. He is playing guitar and was along with Ali Birra, Abetew Kebede singing in Afaan Oromo when the government was trying to prohibit it. He also made some performances in Addis Abeba, gave out a 7’’ with Philips, and was an active performer and song-writer and popular amongst the Oromos in the 70s and early 80s.
Ali Shebbo - Dumbushie Ghela
Ali Shebbo - 01 - Garaan Soba Beeka (1:18) Ali Shebbo - 02 - Ashitaa Hararii (4:46) Ali Shebbo - 03 - Egnumtiin Dhaamsa Siidhaama (6:28) Ali Shebbo - 04 - Koo Yaabareedu (6:20) Ali Shebbo - 05 - Yaani kee Yoom Nadhiise (6:01) Ali Shebbo - 06 - Asiyoobe (4:51) Ali Shebbo - 07 - Askootu Assin Jira (5:33) Ali Shebbo - 08 - Shagar Ba'huuree (6:01) Ali Shebbo - 09 - Haaroon Haaramaayaa (6:01) Ali Shebbo - 10 - Ija Lameen Kula (5:12) Ali Shebbo - 11 - Bariidana Kee ti (6:25)
In recent months I got some interesting albums from my Ethiopian friends. This Mahmoud Ahmed release is one of almost forgotten treasures. As usual, this came to me without any info, besides the names of the tracks.
Mahmoud's voice accompanied by the krar, a really unique album of the great Ethiopian singer. Enjoy it!
Mahmoud Ahmed - 01 - Konjitiye (5:11)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 02 - Wogeney (3:52)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 03 - Tizita (8:13)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 04 - Ere Mela Mela (3:40)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 05 - Birtukaney (4:38)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 06 - Ambassel (6:00)
Mahmoud Ahmed - 07 - Gubiliye or Iyew Dimamu (5:24)
Tamrat Molla was famous Ethiopian artist and singer. He was born in Gondar and began his career in Addis Ababa at young age performing alongside the likes of late Tilahun Gesesse, Mahmoud Ahemed, Bizunesha Bekele, Alemayehu Eshete and Ayalew Mesfin.
Tamrat Molla died in Addis Ababa in february 2013.
Tamrat Molla - Astawshegne
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 01 - Alat Liyu Wubet (5:00)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 02 - Astawshegne (4:37)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 03 - Sebebu (5:14)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 04 - Alikim Amalaj (3:35)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 05 - Siniwaded (2:54)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 06 - Tamime Tegnche (4:29)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 07 - Ye Shola Fere Nesh (6:42)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 08 - Yih Hulu Wubetish (2:32)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 09 - Ber Ambar Seberelewo (3:26)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 10 - Ene Yewodedquat (4:12)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 11 - Tizitawan Tita (4:36)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 12 - Zer Keleyenima (3:37)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 13 - Hedech Alu (5:09)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 14 - Bewelaju Yesake (3:24)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 15 - Gojam Lay (4:11)
Tamrat Molla (ታምራት ሞላ) - 16 - Anchin Yagegnulet (4:30)
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.
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 with The Walias Band - 01 - Hiywot New [ሕይወት ነው] (4:58) Aster Aweke with The Walias Band - 02 - Menew Kere [ምነው ቀረ] (4:57) Aster Aweke with The Walias Band - 03 - Shemonmana [ሸሞንሟና] (4:51) Aster Aweke with The Walias Band- 04 - Kelem Eshet [ቀለም እሽት] (5:34) Aster Aweke with The Walias Band- 05 - Ante Gela [አንተ ገላ] (7:33) Aster Aweke with The Walias Band- 06 - Awko Yedelelenal [አውቆ ይደልለኛል] (4:58) Aster Aweke with The Walias Band - 07 - Yeleben Abeba [የልቤን አበባ] (8:46) Aster Aweke with The Walias Band - 08 - Yanen Yene Shega [ያንን የኔን ሸጋ] (5:00) Aster Aweke with The Walias Band- 09 - Derbabaye [ደርባባዬ] (5:57) Aster Aweke with The Walias Band - 10 - Gedamay [ገዳማይ] (6:43)
Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, was once a beautiful port city (with a very ancient history) called the “White Pearl of the Indian Ocean.” But since the coup in 1991 and subsequent civil war, the city has become a shattered wasteland of anarchy, child soldiers, war lords, and constant violence. While conditions have improved over the past five years, their modern history has all but disappeared. So it’s no surprise that this modern music is unavailable; and even at the time, it was rarely properly released.
What makes this mixtape so fascinating is that the folks at Çaykh spent months finding, compiling, and editing “rips of TV and live recordings on old VHS tapes and radio broadcasts to cassette tapes.”
Truly an amazing mixtape.
v.a. - Au Revoir, Mogadishu
This Tape of 70's and 80's Somali sound is a rich blend of traditional Somali folk music infused with Western funk, rock and reggae and a touch of Indian, Arabic and African flavors.
Side A is good for that mellow creamy morning. Side B will get your ass wiggling! There are hardly any proper releases of this soulful sound of guitar, synthesizer and drums.
Ethiopian music is primarily based on a five tone scale system. This is known as a pentatonic scale (‘penta’ means five, and ‘tonic’ means note). While most of the music uses a pentatonic scale, some melodies may be based on scales with as few as two or three notes. This is common in Ethiopian folk music, as well as children’s songs. On the other hand, some music in Ethiopia may even be diatonic. Diatonic scales contain 7 notes.
The Ethiopian word for “scale” is “kiñit”. The word “kiñit” describes both the scale being used, and sometimes the tuning of the instrument. This is because some instruments have strings with no frets, so the strings need to be tuned to the scale. These instruments include the krar, begena, and masinko.
There are four main kiñits that are used in Ethiopian music. These are the Tizita, Batti, Ambassel, and Anchihoye kiñits. Some of these have different versions or other modifications.
The Ambassel scale is a pentatonic scale widely used in the Gonder and Wollo regions of Ethiopia.
The notes of the scale (in the key of C) are C, Db, F, G and Ab. The intervals in the scale are a minor second, a major third, a major second, a minor second and a major third.
The scale is used in Ethiopian music for songs with historical themes.
A scale is a related set of pitches (not necessarily exact) that can be used as a compositional unit. It differs from a tuning or temperament since the latter is a system for tuning an instrument.
The chromatic scale can be played in Pythagorean tuning, meantone temperament, or 12-tone equal temperament, or indeed many different types of irregular musical temperament.
Tilahun Gessesse (Amharic: ጥላሁን ገሠሠ) (also spelled Telahun Gesesse or Tlahoun Gèssèssè) was an Ethiopian singer. He was born on September 29, 1940, in Addis Ababa and died on April 19, 2009.
Tilahun was born to Woizero Gete Gurmu and Ato Gessesse Negusse. When he was fourteen years old, he was taken by his grandfather to Waliso 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 Gessesse - Agul New
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.
The majority of Tilahun's recordings are in Amharic, and some are in Oromiffa.
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.
Tilahun Gessesse - A1 - Hebret (2:50)
Tilahun Gessesse - A2 - Bezu Gizie Alefe (2:50)
Tilahun Gessesse - A3 - Agul New (2:56)
Tilahun Gessesse - A4 - Megnot Eko Helme New (2:48)
The very last album of Hirut Bekele, legendary ethiopian singer.
Hirut Bekele ሂሩት በቀለ - I am not meant for you [ባልታደልህ ነው]
Hirut Bekele - 01 - I am not meant for you [ባልታደልህ ነው] (3:22) Hirut Bekele - 02 - Lend me your name [ስምህን አውስኝ] (6:53) Hirut Bekele - 03 - Remembering you [ከዓይኔ ውል እያለ] (5:57) Hirut Bekele - 04 - It is love [ፍቅር ነው] (6:35) Hirut Bekele - 05 - My darling [ነፍስ ነገር] (6:43) Hirut Bekele - 06 - I will come today [ዛሬስ እኔው መጣሁ] (6:11) Hirut Bekele - 07 - My heart like the river Abay [ልቤ እንደ አባይ ውሃ] (5:49) Hirut Bekele - 08 - The hill [አቀበቱን] (5:18) Hirut Bekele - 09 - Hidden love [ስውሩ መውደድ] (6:25) Hirut Bekele - 10 - My defiant heart [ልቤ አብሮ] (5:23)
Step by step, piece by piece, bit by bit ... and the big puzzle of ethiopian oldies is slowly but steadily completing. Here is the almost unavailable Hirut Bekele's CD Gelawa. I got it from one of my ethiopian friends.
Hirut Bekele - Endiaw Zim
At the conclusion of her music career, the one thing that remained as intact as it has always been is that Artist Hirut Bekele is still the love of her fans and millions of admirers around the world, even myself now I can openly say that, I don’t think if I will ever love any artist as much as I have loved this stunningly gifted vocalist, who is simply as remarkable as a lone “ጽጌረዳ” in the garden.
You can trace the journey of Hirut Bekele in the music field all the way down to five decades or more and still find her as one of the most dynamically famous artist of all time and surprisingly her songs remained as fresh as they were back in the days, and it appears that, nothing has ever changed since then, except she is no longer in the crowd.
Off course, like most Ethiopian public figures of her time, even Hirut Bekele herself has taken a long road to fame which was full of unexpected setbacks and missteps along the way but manged to be counted among the greatest contributors in Ethiopian history,
Plus the countless unforgettable songs that she left behind in the care of her fans across the continent, will forever keep her in the heart of millions.
May God bless the remaining journey of the legendary vocalist.
