Judy Teffera - Queen of the Nile [2010] [ethiopia]

                  Judith Teffera was born and raised in Arsi Asela, a city located in central Ethiopia. Bitten by the performing bug at a young age, Teffera performed with classmates at the Ras Dargie School. With her regular flashy attire and outgoing demeanor, she quickly acquired the nickname "Picture". Teffera received inspiration and encouragement from a well-respected musician in the Ethiopian National Guard, Zewdu Legese. Legese was also responsible for starting and leading the Ras Dargie School music band.

Judy Teffera - Wodaje

            With the support of her father, Teffera moved to Sweden to receive her high school education. A few years after, Teffera moved to the United States, continuing her college education in Boston. Then she moved to Washington D.C., becoming a member of the international community of the nation's capital. Music had not been taken out of the picture, as she continued to perform and sell her music in the U.S.A and Toronto, Canada. By the end of the 1990's, Teffera had drawn away from the Ethiopian music scene, concentrating on her career and furthering her education. She received her Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) in Technology from Southeastern University. Soon after her graduation, she was offered a position in the United States Federal Government in Washington D.C.

        Teffera writes and sings her own compositions in the Ethiopian language, while creating a unique style that still stays true to Ethiopian music. 

          With her return to music, Teffera wants to make her focus clear. Through the message in her music, she wants to raise educational awareness and boost the morale of youth in Ethiopia. 

        While spurring emotions for change and consciousness, Teffera wants Ethiopians to be proud of their heritage and culture. Proceeds from her music sales will finance the dream to empower Ethiopian youth.

Judy Teffera - 01 - Shamo (5:16)
Judy Teffera - 02 - Wodaje (5:51)
Judy Teffera - 03 - Atrakegn (6:16)
Judy Teffera - 04 - Degifegn (5:41)
Judy Teffera - 05 - Simagn (5:31)
Judy Teffera - 06 - Woubye (6:01)
Judy Teffera - 07 - Weretegna (6:07)
Judy Teffera - 08 - Lalebola (3:55)
Judy Teffera - 09 - Fikre (5:59)
Judy Teffera - 10 - Semonun (6:28)

v.a. - Ethiopian music mix made for Norwegian Radio Nova - Recordings from 1961 - 1980 [mix by Mitmitta]

01 - Orthodox Priests * Music from the Central Highlands / 12” Tangent, 1970

02 - Nyabole, Hamar (South-Ethiopia) * Playing the Musical Bow /12”, 1970-76

03 - Derashe Performers (South-Ethiopia) * Flutes, Steps, Meleket & Voice / Field Recording

04  - Axum Performers, Tigray (North-Ethiopia) * Wedding Ceremony / 12” Tangent, 1970

05 - Gurage Performers, Butajira (Central-Ethiopia) * Dance Performance / 12” Tangent, 1970

06 - Orchestra Ethiopia * ‘Goraw’ (War-encouragement song) / Ethiopiques Vol.23, early 70s

07 - Asellefech Mulat * ‘Ante Ledj’, Hagir Fikir Theater Group / From Reel, 1961

08 - Munaye Menberru * ‘Tezeta’ / 7”, mid 70s

09 - Menelik Wossenatchu * ‘Aderetch Arada’ * His Imperial Majesty Theater Band / 7”, early 70s

10 - Bezunesh Bekkele * ‘Fikir Kesekesegn’ * Imperial Body Guard Band / 7”, early 70s

11 - Hirut Bekkele * ‘Zimam Nehwoy’ * AA, Police Orchestra / 7”, 1971

12 - Singer & Title Unknown * Eastern Police Orchestra / from Reel, mid 70s

13 - Wegayehu Degennetu * Title Unknown * Harer Police Orchestra / from Reel, late 70s

14 - Zennebech Tesfaye * ‘Wendemiye’ * HIM Theater Band (Amhara Wedding Song) / from Reel

15 - Essatu Tesemma * ‘Tchebo Aymollam’ (Amhara Wedding Song) / 7”, 1970

16 - Popular Band Songs Mash-up *

17 - Ali Muhammed Birra * ‘Awash’ * Adu Birra Band (Oromo) / Ethiopiques Vol.28, 1975

18 - Ayalew Mesfin * ‘Wegene’ * Black Lion Band / 7” 1975

19 - Telahun Gessesse * ‘Sak’ * Orchestra Ethiopia / 7” 1976

20 - Traditional Group of National Theater * ‘Wind of Revolution’ (Communist song) / 12” Russia, 1980

listen here : https://soundcloud.com/mitmitta/another-ethiopian-music-mix   

thanks to Mitmita 

Nebeyu Tesfaye - Instrumental [2007] [ethiopia]

Nebeyu Tesfaye - 01. Balewashentu (6:28)

Nebeyu Tesfaye - 02. Yalcanchi Alnorem (8:03)

Nebeyu Tesfaye - 03. Lubanjaye (5:46)

Nebeyu Tesfaye - 04. Bitgulila (6:18)

Nebeyu Tesfaye - 05. Bemela Besebeb (5:49)

Nebeyu Tesfaye - 06. Aydelem Lebicha (7:21)

Nebeyu Tesfaye - 07. Demo Jemeregn (5:48)

Nebeyu Tesfaye - 08. Dehna Hugne (7:27)

Nebeyu Tesfaye - 09. Aynema Wedajesh (5:08)

Nebeyu Tesfaye - 10. Harambe (7:17)

Nebeyu Tesfaye - 11. Eda (6:28)

Nebeyu Tesfaye - 12. Anchen Mesay Konjo (5:30)

Black Flower - Abyssinia Afterlife [2014] [b]

      Born out of a surreal experience and with strong devotion Black Flower takes you on a lucid voyage through the gardens of the Abyssinian afterlife. A highly remarkable place, far away from what you and I would call reality. It is a place where strange creatures and unfamiliar sounds merge into a harmony of the weird and the beautiful.

       It is said that these are the secret realms of the long past legendary ruler of Ethiopia, Sir Prester John. Some even claim that he composed these sounds as a way of ruling his ancient land. Whether this is fact or myth, nobody knows for sure...

     Now, for the first time, we have the chance to get a glimpse of this mystical empire. It is no secret any more that Nathan Daems has been chosen to witness this special place. Being such an overwhelming experience, he felt the urge, even the obligation, to share this with the real world. The result is a record he applicably called “Abyssinia Afterlife”.

     It was no easy task finding the right people for this job. In his years of musical exploration, Nathan kept searching for the right people to team up with. A challenging process, because they needed to embrace the idea of looking to music from a whole new perspective. They needed to be able to capture the Abyssinia Afterlife as if they had visited it them-selves. Finally he found four young and dedicated spirits who could do the job.

 This is the moment Black Flower was born.

  Black Flower - Upwards  

 Track list:

    1. Solar Eclipse 6:39 

    2. Upwards 4:59 

    3. I threw a lemon at that girl 5:20 

    4. Jungle desert 4:50 

    5. Winter 5:35 

    6. Star fishing 5:42 

    7. The legacy of Prester John 3:41 

    8. Again I lost it 4:57 

    9. Abyssinia afterlife 7:45

 Nathan Daems - Soprano saxophone, Tenor saxophone, Melodica, Flute 
 Jon Birdsong - Cornet 
 Simon Segers - Drums 
 Wouter Haest - Piano and keyboards 
 Filip Vandebril - Bass, Effects 

 [http://www.dewerfrecords.be/en/catalog/abyssinia-afterlife][http://www.jazzinbelgium.com/album/black.flower_abyssinia-afterlife]

 [http://www.discogs.com/master/view/681766]

v.a. - Munsphone Mixtape - 60s and 70s Sudanese Records (Cassette. Munsphone Records)

This one is a collection of records from the 60s and 70s on the Munsphone label out of Sudan "mixed by an Ethiopian octogenarian." 




SIDE A

1. Hamed Al Rayah - Shalo Alkalam
2. Sayed Khalifa - Jani O Ma Ligani
3. Suna'i Alasima (Mohammed Awad & Ahmed Omer) - Min Hobby Feek Ya Jar
4. Suna'i Alasima (Mohammed Awad & Ahmed Omer) - Jaboo Al Shabka Yom Al Eid
5. Ibrahim Awad - Att'haddak
6. Sharhabil Ahmed - Lissa Ma Arfeen
7. Sharhabil Ahmed - Ya Gammer Dowwa
8. Mohammed Werdi - Ghattr Al Nedda




SIDE B

1. Sayed Khalifa - Al Wahid Khallaney Wahid
2. Al Belabil - Khatim Al Moon (3 sisters: Hadya, Hayat, & Amal Thulsem)
3. Sharhabil Ahmed - Ferfish
4. Sharhabil Ahmed - Al Laabis al Bumbi
5. Mohammed Werdi - Ma Takh'jely
6. Al Belabil - Lon al Manga
7. Sayed Khalifa - Nana ya Nana
8. Ibrahim Awad - Zahra Nadya
9. Mohammed Werdi - Uzabney Za Zeed Azabuk !   song not complete!

v.a. - The Ethiopian Millennium Collection [CD6 - Memories Of Ethiopa] [2007] [ethiopia]

     The golden age of Ethiopian popular music (as heard on the fabled ETHIOPIQUES series) is famous in part for the sparsity of material that it yielded: The state-owned recording industry was largely a ramshackle government vanity, and while music of the music it captured was strikingly haunting, only a few dozen tracks were recorded in the 1960s and '70s... 

Since then, the floodgates have opened as Ethiopia has more or less entered the modern world -- more artists are making and recording more music than was dreamed possible back in the politically repressive "good old days," and the fruits of this renaissance are heard on this 6-CD set. 

This album is recorded using authentic Ethiopian instruments – the Kirar (a circular wooden sound box from which six strings are attached to an upper stick held in position by two arms extending upward in a V shape); the Kebero (a large drum made of cowhide stretched over cylindrical wooden frame); the Washint (a four-holed bamboo reed pipe traditionally played by shepherds); and the Masinko (a one-stringed fiddle consisting of diamond shape wooden sound box and string made from strands of horsetail). This definitive, one-of-a-kind anthology will introduce you to Ethiopia’s rich world of unique sounds and captivating music. Enjoy!

01 - Sekota - Memories Of Ethiopia (4:18)

02 - Mulu Abeba - Memories Of Ethiopia (5:24)

03 - Ayubign - Memories Of Ethiopia (5:39)

04 - Bati - Memories Of Ethiopia (6:53)

05 - Tigrigna - Memories Of Ethiopia (5:41)

06 - Ambasel - Memories Of Ethiopia (5:05)

07 - Gabicha - Memories Of Ethiopia (5:49)

08 - Tizita - Memories Of Ethiopia (5:39)

08 - Shemonmwanaye - Memories Of Ethiopia (5:57)

09 - Immawayish - Memories Of Ethiopia (4:06)

10 - Wello - Memories Of Ethiopia (3:37)