Alemayehu Eshete (Amharic: ዓለማየሁ እሸቴ?) (also written Alèmayèhu Eshèté in French) is an Ethiopian Ethio-jazz singer active since the 1960s who primarily sings in Amharic. Eshete's talent was recognized by colonel Rètta Dèmèqè who invited the young singer to perform with Addis Ababa's famous Police Orchestra. Eshete had his first hit ("Seul") in 1961 before moving on to found the orchestra Alèm-Girma Band with Girma Bèyènè. Over the course of 15 years, Eshete released some 30 singles until the arrival of the communist Derg junta, which forced Eshete and many other artists into exile.
Alemayehu Eshete has since gained fame in Europe and the Americas with the release of Buda Musique's Ethiopiques series of compilations on compact disc. Ethiopiques Volume 9 is devoted entirely to recordings of Eshete's earlier music, and Volume 22 covers his career between 1972 and 1974. Other songs have also appeared on Volumes 3, 8, 10, and 13 or the series. In 2008 Eshete toured the United States with fellow Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed, backed by Boston's 10-piece Either/Orchestra.
Alemayehu Eshete & Badume's Band - Yeweyn Haregitu / Feleqleqe
Alemayehu Eshete is one of the living legends of modern Ethiopian popular culture and one of the outstanding Ethiopian vocalists who emerged during the golden age of Ethiopian popular culture in the turbulent 1960s. Alongside Mahmoud Ahmed (who opened last year's Hullegeb Festival), Tilahun Gessesse and Bizunesh Bekele, he was among the first to adopt elements from rock-n-roll and American soul, including body movements, dance and hair styles, eventually coming to be known as "the James Brown of Addis." In the following years Eshete released over 30 albums that became enormous hits in Ethiopia and led various orchestras, including the famous Police Orchestra and groups that he himself established.
Following the rise of the military junta, like many other artists, Eshete left Ethiopia and established himself in Europe and the US as a vibrant and exciting vocalist, including performances alongside Ahmed. The highly regarded Ethiopiques series devoted two albums to his works, the first focusing upon his earlier works and the second, upon his career during the early 1970s.
Another rising star is the Washington-based Oromo singer Abdi Nuressa. The 34-year-old singer-songwriter is a breath of fresh air, combining love, politics and empowerment.
Born in the Western part of Oromia region and brought up in Addis Ababa, Abdi emigrated to the US as a teenager. He was naturally influenced by the different cultures to which he was exposed but has remained true to his roots, as clearly seen in his music. He kicked off his singing career by performing cover versions of old Oromo classics such as those of Ali Birra. His debut album, Iree Adda, was released at the end of July 2009, marking his arrival on the music scene. The album, bearing an English subtitle The Power of Culture, can be seen as a political statement and an expression of the longing to return to his roots. The strong and energetic rhythms, taken from the Oromo tradition, are mingled in a subtle way with the sounds of reggae, funk, folk and hip-hop.
Abdi Nuressa - Ayyaana Laalattuu
One song in particular on that album, 'Ayyaana Laalattu' (Afan Oromo for 'opportunist'), put Abdi Nuressa on the map. Crossing the language barrier, the song was a big hit both in Ethiopia and abroad, among people who speak the language and those who don't. It proved the star's argument that "if we Oromo artists can deliver quality music, the language can never be a barrier, especially in our time."
Dereje Mekonnen began his career in the early 1980's as a keyboard player in the Ibex band, which accompanied the singer Mahmoud Ahmed on three albums. Then He founded the formation Dallol, a reggae band with which he concerted in Chicago. He also accompanied Ziggy Marley on his albums Conscious Party (1988) and One Bright Day (1989), which were awarded the Grammy. After numerous tours with Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, he founded band Gizzae in 1991, with which he appeared mainly in Chicago and the Midwest of the USA. He also worked with Ethiopian musicians like Tilahun Gessesse and Ephrem Tamiru. Dereje also produced the first album of Ejigayehu Shibabaw, One Ethiopia (1998).
Dereje Makonnen died young, at the age of 49 years.
Ibex Band - Yezemed Yebada
To most of his adoring fans that got close to knowing him by first name, he was just simply known to them as "DJ" and more importantly to his own family and ours, we called him Dereje. The 5th one down from a family of eleven (also his favorite chord progression...) and in my humble opinion: the most gifted keyboard player there is among Ethiopian Musicians.
Dereje "DJ" Makonnen was not one to drop names nor pre-occupy his time and energy with whom he has worked with and/or help bring them to stardom, he wanted to play music since he can actually see the blueprint of what the song should be each time the singer/artist bring the lyrics and the "Zema" (pronounced Zay_MAH: a word in amharic which means melody).
Dereje Makonnen was one of the key element in revolutionizing modern Ethiopian Music (meaning using non-traditional musical instruments) He was always playing the guitar [his favorite instrument] the keys and also the bass at the forefront of trying new sounds and arrangement styles that no one was attempting. Many of the current Ethiopian musicians refer to him as a mentor.
Yegna (pronounced Yen-ya, meaning "Ours" in Amharic) is an all-girl Ethiopian acting and pop group with the stated aim of reaching out to empower the young women of Ethiopia.
The 5-member group was formed in April, 2013 as part of the internationally funded Girl Hub scheme, which also operates in Nigeria and Rwanda.
The group members are Teref Kassahun (nicknamed Melat, aged 26), Lemlem Haile Michael (Mimi, 26), Zebiba Girma (Emuye, 22), Eyerusalem Kelemework (Sara, 27) and Rahel Getu (Lemlem, 22). Each member of the group has a different stage persona and nickname. Melat's character is that of the city girly princess, Mimi's that of the tough swaggering streetwise girl, Emuye is the vivacious music-lover, Sara the quiet studious one and Lemlem the steady maternal type.
Yegna Band - Halenga - Abet
They produce videos and perform on Ethiopian radio in a weekly drama and talk show for young women, addressing issues such as forced marriage, isolation and teen pregnancies, broadcasting on Sheger FM in Addis Ababa to a population of some 20 million. Their first live performance was at the Addis Ababa National Theatre in May 2013.
After the success of their debut video Abet in 2013 they released a second video,Taitu, later in the year, in collaboration with singer Aster Aweke. Taitu was an Ethiopian queen consort in the early 20th century.
Mehari Brothers is musical phenomenon, with music that defy borders and a performance that speaks to people in all walks of life and nations. The band has always followed a solitary and distinctive path with a group of educated as well as talented musicians gifted with a perfect pitch.
The band members include Henock Mehari on keys and vocals, Robel Mehari on guitar, lwam Mehari on bass, Halal Mehari on drums, Tesfamariam Elias on keys and Zelalem Nigatu on drums.
Ethiopian music history witnessed several short lived, but in one way or another extraordinary bands. After the military orchestra at the end of 1950s and the beginning of 1960s, introduced modern musical sounds for, several privately owned bands started to emerge here and there. Especially during the golden era of the Ethiopian music, the 1970s have seen bands that transformed the sound to a timeless melody.
Among these bands, many still remember Roha band. This band, for many, is answerable for shaping the entire Ethiopian modern music in its own rhythm. Considering its significant role in the over all Ethiopian modern music history, there are contradictory opinions about the band. Some blame Roha band for controlling the Ethiopian music industry in its golden era, monopolizing and limiting the sound only to its own. The 1970s Ethiopian music, one way or another was fashioned to the Roha band style and sound only.
Others differ by arguing that Roha band is the best thing that ever happened to Ethiopian music. Though several bands at the time existed in Ethiopia, none of them could compete with Roha band whether in style, sound and discipline. Roha band gained a monopoly status at the time because the members were talented young and passionate professionals who understood not only music but also the music business.
When we come to the era we are currently in, bands seem to lose their touch in the contemporary Ethiopian music. However, some bands are struggling to bring the real sound back to the audience tired of repeated computer sounds. One of these bands is Mehari Brother’s. Established six years back by four brothers, the band is unique for the Ethiopian music industry for incorporating members of the same family. Though this kind of band composition is common in other countries, Mehari Brothers are one of a kind for Ethiopia.
Mehari Brothers answered several questions in their interview with Kalkidan Magazine, an Amharic magazine that publishes twice a month. They explained several questions including the history of their establishment, the vicissitudes of their six years music togetherness, and the recent rumor that says they no longer together.
Mahari Brothers was established with the first name of their father Mehari about six years a go Henok, Luwam, Robele and Helal. Before the establishment of the band, the four brothers were musicians in their own individual paths. For example, Henok was a member of some of famous bands in Ethiopia at one particular time like Express and Afro Sound bands. The rest of the brothers were also engaged in music.
Mehari Brothers - Konjiye ቆንጂዬ
Finally, they got together and established Mehari Brother. Compare to its short-term life, the band has been a success so far. In addition to a nation wide fame, they traveled to several parts of the world and performed their music. They toured to Canada, USA, Sweden, Israel, and UAE and in Africa Tanzania, Djibouti and Kenya.
Mehari brothers say that they never had a failed concert. Every concert gave them its own success story. However, they value one particular concert more.That is the time when they performed with their childhood idol Tewodros Tadesse. With 10,000 audiences at Millennium hall, Mehari Brothers say that they saw their dream come true by having Teddy with them on the stage. They remember the concert as a monument when they realized hard work will eventually pays off.
The other concert that changed Mehari Brothers view of music business is the tour with Zeritu Kebede. The tour that covered several cities of Ethiopia and titled “Yezeritu Guzo” was one of the few times when musicians tried uninterrupted tour all over the country. Mehari Brothers say that the tour was not only enjoyable for them and for the fans but also showed them how hungry Ethiopian towns are for music.
Mehari Brothers agree that the replacement of sounds with computer technology, instead of using a real talent is actually hurting Ethiopian music. The computer makes music by different musicians sound similar, which results fed up, by the audience in a short period. They believe that the responsibility of bringing back the real creative and timeless sound relies on the current musicians including them. One of the few regrets they have so far in their six years band history is that they did not make an album with a full band. However, they say it is not late and they are working on it currently.
The brothers address the rumor that they do not exist as a band any more. Accordingly, the gossip is not true and the band is in a stronger shape as always. They say Mhari Brothers is not owned only be blood related family members but also by many musicians which made it create its own line of family. So far, except one of the brothers Helal who is no longer in the band because he is in school, the band is tact and the members have a smooth relationship. The brothers believe that the band established it self strongly and it will continue even if they are no longer members for whatever reason.
The brothers dream of contributing their share to Ethiopian music by making true, creative and timeless sounds. Currently they are planning to work with the new music sensation Haile Rutes and Abenet Agonafer. In addition, they say they have different albums that will be released when the timing is rights.
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)
Yeshi Demelash has been called “arguably the most talented contemporary female Ethiopian jazz singer.”
Musicians like Theodros Tadesse, Aster Aweke, and Gigi inspired Yeshi in her teens which later led her join Yared, Addis Ababa University school of music in 2004, where she majored in flute and minored in piano.
Apart from her music work Yeshi has also worked on a movie, worked as a radio host and as a music teacher. But she is highly known for her strong and constructive criticisims have let her establish a reputation in the field.
In 2012 Yeshi has released album titled "Qene" an ode to Ethiopia’s ancient literary and oral traditions, which has taken more than a year to prepare. Her new album has taken the Ethiopian music industry by storm with her pop and jazz amharic fusion styled musics.
Now Yeshi’s voice has captured the attention of New York-based producer Bill Laswell — the person behind the records of Jano and Gigi — and he is currently remixing one of her songs entitled Fano.
Yeshi plans to work on a new album with Laswell when she begin her first American tour.
Sayat Demissie was the 2004 Miss Ethiopia and the almost 2005 Miss World. Something for the high school drop-out who subsequently found herself in the front pages of local papers and magazines. Her petite frame and youthful face and her occasionally gaffe made her a target for the tabloids.
Two years ago, the slender girl emerged as the lead character in the Amharic movie, Sara. Nothing to write home about, it was all an amateur and second-rate performance. But she has got a look. It has given her recognition and probably an inflated ego, too. Her ego trip took her to think of developing her own talk show on ETV. For that, she came on Ethiopia Link and talked about her difficult childhood and sexual abuse, relating her experience to that of American talk-show host, Opra Winfrey.
But that radio appearance has gotten her in trouble for a supposedly unkind remark she made about disabled people. When asked how she survived the trauma, Sayat responded saying that even the disabled keep on living, let alone her. It triggered many comments voicing displeasure. The talk-show-thing never came into reality, at least upto now and her claim of being raped on Bole Street in her teen years was thought by many as an invented story intended to get sympathy from those allocating air times.
Sayat Demissie - Enie Meretku
Now Sayat has unraveled yet another skill as musical performer. She has released her debut musical effort, a single song, “Tew Maneh”. Actually before the release, she was performing on stage at clubs, playing her rendition of Christinia Aguilera’s “Save me from myself.”
Looking at the reception, Sayat’s debut work seem to be working right. Radio programmers are finding it hard to ignore it and some even talked about the birth of a new star. The lively clip of the song has made it to many Ethiopian websites and blogs. It definitely serves as a sneak preview for her upcoming studio album, which she says will arrive this year.
But even judging from this song, performing doesn’t appear to come naturally to Sayat. For one thing, the material she chose is a recognized, well-known old hit, “Tew Maneh”.
She never took the trouble to write her own material and it didn’t demand much of her as singer. And even, her voice is not strongly projected enough and her inhibitions make it difficult for her to let go.
Although Sayat didn’t write her own music, too shy to perform solo in front of a big crowd, she has the charisma, drive, and determination- things important for a young performer. But of course, she has a long way to go to develop into mature female vocalist along the lines of Aster Awoke.
