v.a. - Au Revoir, Mogadishu Volume 1 - Songs From Before The War [2015] [somalia]

            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. 

Track list:

01 Libaaxyada Maaweeliska Banaadir – Naga Tag, Kac Hooyaa

02 Waaberi – ? (edit)

03 Kooxda Halgan – badbaado guri hooyo

04 Qadiijo Qalanjo – Diriyam Oo Hoo Diriyam

05 Waaberi Hargeysa – Soo dhowoow

06 Wabari Xishood & Jaceyl – ? (edit)

07 Iftin – Wanaagaaga

08 Waaberi – ? (edit)

09 Qadiijo Qalanjo – Dhesessha

10 Dur-Dur Band – Ethiopian Girl

11 Iftin – Axdigii Waad Oofin Weyde

v.a. - Ambassel [ethiopia]

originally posted on The Spear blog : here

                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.

Alemayehu Fantaye & Yohannes Afework - 01 - Ambassel (3:53)

Tigist Assefa - 02 - Ambassel (7:08)

Unknown Amhara Musician Recorded In Dessie - 03 - Ambassel (3:24)

Admassou Abate - 04 - Ambassel (7:08)

Esubalew Adugna - 05 - Ambassel (4:37)

Betsat Seyoum & Abbebe Fekade - 06 - Ambassel (5:27)

Alemayehu Fantaye & Yohannes Afework - 07 - Ambassel (4:52)

Endeshaw Kelemwork & Etenesh Wassie - 08 - Ambassel (5:15)

Alemayehu Eshete-Alèm Girma Band-Amha Eshete-Girma Béyéné - 09 - Ambassel (5:31)

Gétatchèw Mèkurya - 10 - Ambassel (5:41)

Maritu Legesse - 11 - Ambassel (7:24)

Girma Yifrashewa - 12 - Ambassel (8:51)

Etenesh Wassie - 13 - Ambassel (9:43)

Genet Masresha - 14 - Ambassel (6:10)

Chalachew Ashenafi - unknown album [1992] [ethiopia]

Chalachew Ashenafi ቻላቸው አሸናፊ - Temonamona Alu [ተሞናሞነ አሉ]

Chalachew Ashenafi - 01 - Temonamona Alu [ተሞናሞነ አሉ] (6:13)

Chalachew Ashenafi - 02 - GumGum [ጉምጉም] (5:16)

Chalachew Ashenafi - 03 - Keberet Alem [ክብረት አለም] (4:34)

Chalachew Ashenafi - 04 - Gojam Lem Ager [ጎጃም ለም አገር] (8:18)

Chalachew Ashenafi - 05 - Endenesh [እንዴነሽ] (6:46)

Chalachew Ashenafi - 06 - Sedet [ሰደት] (8:01)

Chalachew Ashenafi - 07 - Teymeleshu Gela ]ተይመልሺው ገላ] (4:00)

Chalachew Ashenafi - 08 - Etu Gela [እቱ ገላ] (3:43)

Chalachew Ashenafi - 09 - Shemunmun [ሸሙንሙን] (5:16)

Chalachew Ashenafi - 10 - Selela [ሽለላ] (9:22)

Aster Aweke - Ewedihalehu [2013] [ethiopia]

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

Aster Aweke - Ewedihalehu 

01. Aster Aweke - Che Ferese (4:41)
02. Aster Aweke - Aye Sew (6:08)
03. Aster Aweke - Sendelela (5:12)
04. Aster Aweke - Zakera (4:48)
05. Aster Aweke - Wuha (3:00)
06. Aster Aweke - Selam (6:15)
07. Aster Aweke - New Year Awdamet (6:34)
08. Aster Aweke - Hulun Yemitiwed (4:39)
09. Aster Aweke - Hid Demo (7:03)
10. Aster Aweke - Enen Yaye (6:50)
11. Aster Aweke - Fiker Fiker (4:51)
12. Aster Aweke - Ayaya (6:24)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia [2008] [ethiopia]

      Between 2003 and 2006, Bastien Lagatta, musician and ethnomusicologist, undertook musical researches among the agro-pastoral societies of the Omo valley, thanks to the support of the CNRS, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UNESCO. For months, he has shared the everyday life of the semi-nomads tribes Nyangatom, Mursi and Bodi, and has taken up the study of their musical repertories. The trek, of several hundred kilometres along the Omo river, in such an amazing natural environment, led him to the heart of Humanity with its peculiar mores, customs and habits. 

              Greatly endearing, these men and women live in a world whose balance is precarious. These recordings reveal the importance of this patrimonial, cultural and artistic heritage.

Benjamin Goldenstein & Patrick Frémeaux

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 01 - Introduction: Troupeaux De Zébus Aux Paturages (1:01)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 02 - Loniyang: Monodie (2:36)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 03 - Loutouleniyang: Monodie (1:49)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 04 - Lopelouk, Suivi De Lobokhiniyang (6:11)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 05 - Lokengkori (1:48)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 06 - Chants Des Vieux Bergers De La Génération Des Élephants (3:35)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 07 - Loumougoulmoye: Chant Collectif Mixte (3:07)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 08 - Chant De Travail: Duo Féminin (2:53)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 09 - Niameley Ye Loporiang (4:40)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 10 - Rienga Rienga Loporiang (6:08)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 11 - Aleke Lokholoya (4:50)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 12 - Flûte Mursi Morou (1:50)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 13 - Oletchay (1:04)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 14 - Naboula Nadongulu (1:44)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 15 - Nangwayna Kara (1:25)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 16 - Badio Laute (1:45)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 17 - Kalalalibosso (1:13)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 18 - Flûtes Morou (2:26)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 19 - Kaenaniye (1:01)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 20 - Komdaye (1:01)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 21 - Ayolo Deguelaye (1:08)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 22 - Noukouregnanineye (1:11)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 23 - ADJenoloynetch (0:35)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 24 - Flûtes Morou (1:02)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 25 - Ambiance De Fête Au Village De Gui Ha (1:14)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 26 - Trompe Trounotey (1:22)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 27 - Danse Et Chant Collectif Mixte Pour Les Troupeaux (1:27)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 28 - Duo Vocal Féminin (5:02)

The Warrior-Shepherds From The Omo Valley - Ethiopia - 29 - Epilogue: À Ce Voyage Musical… (1:05)

Genet Masresha - Yaz Yaz [ethiopia]

Genet Masresha - Yaz Yaz 

Genet Masresha ገነት ማስረሻ - 01 - Yesasa ይሳሳ (6:35)
Genet Masresha ገነት ማስረሻ - 02 - Yata Melam Yesew ያጣ መላም የሰው (7:15)
Genet Masresha ገነት ማስረሻ - 03 - Yashbelu ያሽበሉ (6:23)
Genet Masresha ገነት ማስረሻ - 04 - Yenesew የኔሰው (5:21)
Genet Masresha ገነት ማስረሻ - 05 - Nesana ንሳና (5:39)
Genet Masresha ገነት ማስረሻ - 06 - Yaz yaz ያዝያዝ (6:26)
Genet Masresha ገነት ማስረሻ - 07 - Aynamaye አይናማዬ (4:49)
Genet Masresha ገነት ማስረሻ - 08 - Endemennat Gonder እንደምናት ጐንደር (6:20)
Genet Masresha ገነት ማስረሻ - 09 - Munaw Belay ሙናው በላይ (7:33)
Genet Masresha ገነት ማስረሻ - 10 - Wubatu ውበቱ (5:55)