Teddy Yo - Demts Albaw Mesarya [2012] [ethiopia]

       Teddy Yo, a young, vibrant rapper, has been making the local magazine headlines for sometime now. The rapper’s innovation in blending the Gurage melody and beat with a contemporary hip-hop beat has been appreciated by many. His trademark music, Guragetone (including a track by that name), was a hit in 2012

          Teddy Yo (full name Tewodros Assefa) resides with Eden, his wife of two years. He sometimes wears inconspicuous clothes when he goes out that blend into society and a baseball cap down low over his eyes. He does this just so that he can get from Point A to Point B without having a dozen conversations along the way with fans and random people who recognise him. He is the epitome of an arada or an in-the-know Addis Abeban.

Teddy Yo - 6 Kilo

         People love him, and he gets the encouragement to do what he does from them, he said, but he had a bone to pick with views held by some regarding Amharic rap.

“Some people say rap is not good for our culture or that it is not part of our tradition,” Teddy Yo began.

      He begged to differ. There is more in common with Ethiopian tradition than some people think, he said.

For example, after kings of old, like Emperor Tewodros, gathered their troops for battle, they would basically freestyle rap to get the troops ready for war in what is known as kererto and shillella, he explained.

        His voice intensified as he described the connections of rap with the doo-rag (bandana) that Emperor Menelik wore under his hat, tilted like rapper R-Kelly does today, to the cornrow hairstyle of Emperor Tewodros and the combs stuck in the afros of the Afar and Kereyu. Even Negus T’ona of the Welayita wore an earring like most rappers, he said, as his own glistened in the evening light.

“I am not saying that American rappers took everything from Ethiopia, but there is a connection and many shared traditions,” he said.

         Most Amharic rappers only rap about partying and having fun, but Teddy Yo raps about life. To him, life is not only about the good times, but also the bad. He raps about the parties and he raps about the problems. He does this in a way that is often humorous, even to older generations that normally do not like or listen to rap.

Teddy Yo - 01 - Tew Tew (4:25)

Teddy Yo - 02 - Tega Bey (4:09)

Teddy Yo - 03 - Maringecha (4:15)

Teddy Yo - 04 - 904 (3:12)

Teddy Yo - 05 - Demts Albaw Mesarya (4:23)

Teddy Yo - 06 - Gurage Tone (4:26)

Teddy Yo - 07 - Ney Bey Bey (4:07)

Teddy Yo - 08 - Sugar Daddy (4:02)

Teddy Yo - 09 - Shake your Dread (3:52)

Teddy Yo - 10 - Sedest Kilo (5:29)

Teddy Yo - 11 - Party (4:15)

Teddy Yo - 12 - Enkoyalen (3:28)

De la Abesh - Addis [1995] [ethiopia]

  

                        R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

Soul, Funk, Hip-Hop & Rap

01. De La Abesh - Cheb (4:40)
02. De La Abesh - Xirak's Tizita Jam (5:44)
03. De La Abesh - Saynega (4:41)
04. De La Abesh - De'laaw (6:37)
05. De La Abesh - Ye-ge'le (4:13)
06. De La Abesh - Ye'nema (6:19)
07. De La Abesh - Sebebe (5:29)
08. De La Abesh - Addis pt 1 & 2 (8:21)
09. De La Abesh - De La Abesh pt 1 (5:12)
10. De La Abesh - Sela (4:23)

v.a. - Chants Et Danses D'erythrée - Songs And Dances Of Eritrea (vde 051) [1980] [eritrea]

Rare field recording of traditonnal music made in 1980 in Eritrea. Chants and instrumentals.

Musique et danse d'Erythrée

v.a. - 01 - Le Peuple Erythreen Est Mur (3:52)
v.a. - 02 - La Flamme De La Lutte S'Etend (4:09)
v.a. - 03 - Apres La Retraite (4:56)
v.a. - 04 - Notre Mer Rouge (6:21)
v.a. - 05 - unknown (2:27)
v.a. - 06 - Laleye Lale Lalena (5:01)
v.a. - 07 - Erithrea Ba Bа (4:38)
v.a. - 08 - Ana Sefalelku (5:11)
v.a. - 09 - Notre Armee Populaire (4:47)
v.a. - 10 - Bedeho Mis Bele Dehrit Zeitemelse (3:41)

Ester Rada - Life Happens ЕP [2012] [israel / ethiopia]

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

Ester Rada - Life Happens (Official Video)

       Ester Rada is an Israeli actress and singer.

      Ester Rada’s cross-cultural sound is a deep reflection of the Israeli born Ethiopian’s heritage. Growing up in a highly religious Jewish family in more than modest conditions in Israel, gave Rada the drive to change her way of life and fulfill her dream of creating music.

      Ester recently released her debut album "Ester Rada", after releasing her acclaimed first self-written and composed solo EP called "Life Happens", which was produced by Israeli producers Kuti (Kutiman/Thru-You) and Sabbo (Soulico), at the beginning of 2013. 

      Rada gained worldwide popularity on a tour across Europe, the United States and Canada. She has recently performed at the Glastonbury Festival. She performed at the opening act of Alicia Keys' concert in Israel. Rada's music video "Life Happens" has been broadcast on MTV France, East Europe, and Israel, as well as on VH1 UK. Rada credits Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin as her musical influences, alongside Eryka Badu, Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott.

         Rada started her acting career in musical theater, and won an award for her role in Habima Theatre's The Troupe. In 2007 she played a major role in the TV serial "Deus". In the same year she also acted in Habima's play Sdakim bebeton. Filmography and TV Appearances: Still Walking Zrubavel Kirot The Special. Yes's series New York.

    In the end of 2012 Ester Rada released an EP entitled "Life Happens" with four of her songs. The album was positively received by critics, who describe her music as "cross-cultural sound that is a deep reflection of the Israeli born Ethiopian's heritage" and "graceful composition of Ethio-Jazz, funk, soul and r&b, with mixed undertones of black grooves"

1. Ester Rada - Life Happens (3:56)

2. Ester Rada - Monsters (4:53)

3. Ester Rada - Anything from you (4:52)

4. Ester Rada - Could it be (3:17)

         + BONUS TRACK   

5. Ester Rada - Life Happens (Shimi Sonic remix) (4:17)

interview with Ester Rada : read here >

Martha Ketsela - Welo Mejen [2007] [ethiopia]

         She is a painter, a poet, a "flower designer," and, for a stake in life, a dutiful mother. But, in the main, Martha Ketsela is one of the very few female Ethiopian artists struggling for a breakthrough in her expertise in the United States. And, with all due respect to possible future commentaries by critics (we expect that to come in the future), she appears to have surfaced as an artist that even more makes her one of the very few to make things of their craft happen.

Martha Ketsela - Welo Mejen

        According to art watchers, in her current works Martha brings a refinement of what once was a roughly hewn skill. She now combines a schooling that blends an Ethiopian upbringing whose influence she highlights in her discourse as well as her art and a western libertarian mark that possibly might have resulted from her further training as an artist (and, of course, living) first in Germany and later in the United States. 

     Martha nevertheless says she remains first and foremost an Ethiopian. If we are to judge her by the works she presented at the WorldSpace lobby in Washington DC. some of Martha's paintings indeed subscribe to an Ethiopian spirit. Though very much gripped by what she has lived through since 1979 when she left Ethiopia, principally western landscape and western ideas and thoughts; she occasionally managed to probe into her Ethiopian beginnings. Some of her recent paintings such as "Music" and a few more manifest a mix of Ethiopian calligraphy (not new to Ethiopian artists in the Diaspora) and western tendency for abstraction.

Martha Ketsela - 01 - Tezeta (6:04)

Martha Ketsela - 02 - Hagere (4:57)

Martha Ketsela - 03 - Welo Mejen (6:18)

Martha Ketsela - 04 - Fegegta (6:00)

Martha Ketsela - 05 - Fekere (5:44)

Martha Ketsela - 06 - Musica (5:13)

Martha Ketsela - 07 - Geze (4:36)

Martha Ketsela - 08 - Zemeta (5:22)

Martha Ketsela - 09 - Audamet (4:38)

Martha Ketsela - 10 - Gebre (4:35)

Martha Ketsela - 11 - Egesegesalhu (4:42)

Lasta Sound - Lasta sound [2010] [usa +ethiopia]

       The name “Lasta Sound” evokes imagery of ancient Ethiopian culture and civilization. Lasta is one of Ethiopia's ancient regions, having been immortalized in songs and stories both from within Ethiopia and without. 

Lasta Sound - ጥቁር ሴት (Black Woman) - From the movie Journey to Lasta

          Lasta Sound exploded onto the scene in 2002, Lasta Sounds music was ultra modern in its arrangement, and production. It melded elements of Ethiopian music with Reggae, Funk and a dash of Afro-Cuban flava. The core of Lasta Sound consisted of Kirubel Assefa on Bass/Musical Director, Teferi Assefa on Drums and Tsegaye Selassie as Vocalist. 

        They introduced their self titled debut CD, “Lasta Sound”. They had conscious, forward thinking lyrics, with well thought out hooks and awesome driving bass lines. It was an auspicious debut. Lasta Sound was featured in Wondwossen Dikran's independent movie entitled “Journey to Lasta”. The soundtrack was also the recipient of Best Music Award at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in 2005. Kirubel, Tsegaye and Teferi were featured as the principal characters in the movie. 

      Subsequent appearances and performances cemented their appeal within their fans. Their fans response in Ethiopia was overwhelming. Lasta Sound is on the rise again.This time, Kirubel took on a larger role, as Musical Director/Producer/Writer and moved over as keyboard player. Tsegaye brings his incredible stage presence, and vocal talents. Mesgana Mulat on bass. Replacing Teferi on drums is Reggie Spivey. Kamasi Washington on Saxophone, and Ryan Porter on Trombone. 

The first single from the sophomore effort is entitled “Maraki”. In the context of the song, Maraki means “the girl who has captured my heart”. It’s an ode to a beautiful girl whose physical beauty and charm has rendered Tsegaye defenseless, and he professes his love and adoration for her. Sung for the most part in Amharic, it’s infused with reggae, while still retaining its Ethiopian musical sensibilities.

Lasta Sound - 01. Tekur Set (Black woman) (4:42)

Lasta Sound - 02. Mela Belu (5:37)

Lasta Sound - 03. Kidest Hagere Ethiopia (4:33)

Lasta Sound - 04. Kedashgn (4:49)

Lasta Sound - 05. Ethiopiawit Konjo (5:57)

Lasta Sound - 06. Negsalech (4:35)

Lasta Sound - 07. Prophecy (4:44)

Lasta Sound - 08. 6 Kilo (4:40)

Lasta Sound - 09. Mochalehu (5:28)

Lasta Sound - 10. Lasta Solution (3:37)

   band memebers :   

Kirubel Assefa – Bass, Keyboard & Hammond B3 Organ, & Background Vocals

Tsegaye Selassie – Lead & Background Vocals

Mike (Ras Mike) McTaggert - Guitar

Kamasi Washington - Saxophone

Ryan Porter - Trombone

Johnny Blackman - Drums

Aziz Saye - Percussions