Ashenafi Kebede - The Shepherd Flutist, Ethiopian Symphony [1968] [ethiopia]

         Ashenafi Kebede (1938 – May 8, 1998) was an Ethiopian composer, conductor, ethnomusicologist, historical musicologist, music educator, novelist, and poet.

        Kebede was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1938 and was educated in musicology in the United States at the Eastman School of Music (1962), and Wesleyan University (M.A. 1969; Ph.D. 1971).

             He founded the National Saint Yared School of Music in Ethiopia, serving as its first director (1963–1968).

                He was designated a National Composer by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I, in 1967. Shortly after that he began his graduate studies in the United States, and earned the first Ph.D. in ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University.

The Shepherd Flutist, Ethiopian Symphony

          Ashenafi was a prolific writer. His works include a novel, Confession (1964), articles in ethnomusicology journals, the book Roots of Black Music, and numerous articles in The Chronicler, the magazine of the Center for African-American Culture.

                 In his own compositions he combined Ethiopian and Japanese musical ideas. "Koturasia" is one such piece, written for flute, clarinet, violin, and Japanese koto. Among his other musical compositions were "Peace unto Ethiopia" and "The Life of Our Nation". His best known composition though rarely heard outside Ethiopia was "The Shepherds Flute", performed in 1968 with Hungarian State String Orchestra.

           In the United States, he was Director of the internationally known Ethiopian Research Council, consisting of a group of Ethiopian and American scholars and professionals. At the time of his death he was Director of the Center of African-American Culture at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.

       Professor Kebede died in Tallahassee, Florida, May 8, 1998. As spoken by the man, "you are here for me, I am not here for you."

                                                   

Tracklist 

A

01 - The Shepherd Flutist I (8:52)

02 - The Shepherd Flutist II (3:23)

03 - The Shepherd Flutist III (4:40)

04 - The Shepherd Flutist IV (11:56)

05 - The Shepherd Flutist V (3:23)

                              Composed By – Ashenafi Kebede

B

06 - Ethiopian Symphony [part I & II] (7:40)

07 - Ethiopian Symphony III (12:12)

08 - Ethiopian Symphony IV (10:53)

                              Composed By – Ashenafi Kebede

Ethiopian Symphony in three movements written by Ashenafi Kebede

The Hungarian State String Orchestra with Lóránt Kovács (Flute) conducted by Ashenafi Kebede

The Ethiopian Symphony was dedicated to the 75th birthday of H.I.M. Haile Selassie I.

Seble Solomon - Kalehubet [2001] [ethiopia]

Seble Solomon

Seble Solomon - 01 - Yelijenete (5:36)

Seble Solomon - 02 - Kalehubet (6:03)

Seble Solomon - 03 - Mok Yelegnal (6:06)

Seble Solomon - 04 - Bet Yiquterew (8:11)

Seble Solomon - 05 - Yebekagnal (5:29)

Seble Solomon - 06 - Negabita / Dewako (8:17)

Seble Solomon - 07 - Akorah wey (5:26)

Seble Solomon - 08 - Min Derese Antega (5:26)

Seble Solomon - 09 - Selam (4:17)

Seble Solomon - 10 - Iskemeche (5:14)

Seble Solomon - 11 - Tematsigne (4:43)

Seble Solomon - 12 - Ke Shegawoch Ager (6:23)

Tsedenia Gebremarkos - Bisetegn [1996] [ethiopia]

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

  Tsedenia Gebremarkos is an Ethiopian artist. She has released songs about HIV/AIDS. She shared the prize for best East African female at the Kora Awards in 2004 for the song "Ewedhalehu", with Achien'g Abura (Kenya) for her song "Toto Wangu.

         Tsedenia has recently worked with the Ethiopian dub band Dub Colossus. They released an EP, 'A Town Called Addis' in June 2008 through Real World Records and a full length LP album of the same name was released in August 2008 exclusively through the Bowers & Wilkins Music Club.

                                                            Tsedenia Gebremarkos

         

         She also sang two songs on the album Punt (Made in Ethiopia) by Invisible System released on Harper Diabate Records and produced by Dub Colossus cousin Dan Harper.

01. Tsedenia - Eketelehalehu (4:03)

02. Tsedenia - Bisetegn (5:30)

03. Tsedenia - Neh Yeliginete (5:49)

04. Tsedenia - Atalay (6:26)

05. Tsedenia - Yiker Beyalehu (5:23)

06. Tsedenia - Mengedegna (5:18)

07. Tsedenia - Endanetezazeb (4:12)

08. Tsedenia - Ewedehalehu (5:44)

09. Tsedenia - Mirchye (4:52)

10. Tsedenia - Ewnatun Negeregn (5:29)

11. Tsedenia - Aleskorememem (6:04)

Dallol - Land Of The Genesis [1985] [usa+eth]

Dallol - Reggae In The Moonlight

              After fleeing their homeland of Ethiopia in the late ’70s to avoid conflict with the Marxist government, a trio of reggae musicians made their way to the United States.

         Landing in Chicago, the three musicians began playing their African and Jamaican-flavored jams in reggae clubs around the city.

Fronted by singer/guitarist Mulu Gessesse, the band consisted of Mulu’s brother Zeleke Gessesse and close friend Meluka Retts.

           In 1980, the band assumed the name Dallol, and put together a demo tape. Dallol gained a sizable following in Chicago quickly with its distinct Ethiopian-flavored sound. The demo soon found its way all over the country, outside of the United States, across the Caribbean and into the hands of a certain famous family in Jamaica.

           “It was 1981, right after Bob (Marley) died,” Mulu recalled. “Our tape made its way to Rita (Marley), and she asked us to go on down to Jamaica. That was our first contact with the Marleys.”

    

           Contacts with the first family of reggae proved to be a good thing for Dallol. Rita Marley produced the band’s first full-length album and helped the band out in a number of ways. Lodging and other commodities were provided to Dallol by the Marleys as the band made its tour of the islands.

         It wasn’t long before the Marleys became more than contacts, with friendships forming between Dallol and Bob’s son, Ziggy Marley. “Ziggy was only 10 years old when we met him,” Mulu explained. “As a matter of fact, he played his first show with us.”

          Good ties with the Marleys continued, and soon Dallol was asked to tour with Ziggy’s newly formed band “Ziggy and the Melody Makers.” Dallol’s Ethiopian and reggae roots served as a perfect backdrop to Ziggy’s continuation of his father’s style and heartfelt messages.

         In the late ’80s, Dallol toured and recorded with Ziggy. The result of the combined effort was heard worldwide. One platinum and one gold album elevated Dallol to superstar status in the reggae industry.

“That experience was great because it enabled us to go all over the world,” Mulu said.

       After about five years with Marley, Dallol returned to its second home in Chicago. Included in the move were a couple line change ups and a change of name for the group. Upon the addition of three more members, including two female vocalists, Dallol changed its name to Baaro.

Zeleke Gessesse - Bass, Vocals

Ruphael Wolde Mariam - Drums, Vocals, Cover

Dereje Mekonnen - Keyboards

Mulaku Retta - Keyboards, Vocals

Abdul Hakim - Lead Guitar

Asrat Aemro Sellasie - Percussion

Mulugetta Gessesse - Rhythm Guitar

Executive-Producer – Rita Marley

A1 - Dallol - Selam (4:48)

A2 - Dallol - Genesis (4:16)

A3 - Dallol - Love Is Coming (4:16)

A4 - Dallol - Reggae In The Moonlight (4:40)

B1 - Dallol - Hoye Hoya (3:20)

B2 - Dallol - Sail Along (5:07)

B3 - Dallol - Nice Feelings (3:50)

B4 - Dallol - Ashkaroo (traditional song) (3:40)

B5 - Dallol - Mr. DJ (4:50)

Tigist Ejigu - Kerehugn [2010] [ethiopia]

Tigist Ejigu - Almetam Kerehugn

Tigist Ejigu - 01 - Almetam Kerehugn (07:19)
Tigist Ejigu - 02 - Kiber Temesgen (10:25)
Tigist Ejigu - 03 - Filagote (04:31)
Tigist Ejigu - 04 - Befeker Menged Lai (06:35)
Tigist Ejigu - 05 - Kehonelesh Melkam (10:03)
Tigist Ejigu - 06 - Bebirr Ayigezam (05:53)
Tigist Ejigu - 07 - Lela Alayim (07:25)
Tigist Ejigu - 08 - Yefikir Wegagen (05:22)
Tigist Ejigu - 09 - Min Agegnesh Wedia (06:15)

Ada Kassaye - Yamral [2009] [ethiopia]

         Born 34 years ago in Adama, an Ethiopian city also known as Nazret, Ada Kassaye came to Oakland 15 years back to join her mother and several of her brothers and sisters. She first attracted attention in Northern California’s large Ethiopian community through her effusive dancing at cultural events and is now hoping to follow in the footsteps of such Ethiopian singers as Aster Aweke and Ejigayehu “Gigi” Shibabaw, both of whom lived in the Bay Area prior to finding international fame.

Ada Kassaye - Yamral 

           Many of the songs on “Yamral” reflect Kassaye’s homesickness for Ethiopia. She has been back twice since moving to California and hopes to return soon in the wake of her CD release. Family members in Ethiopia, she says, “called me and told me, ‘I heard you on the radio today.’”

“I’m happy,” she adds. “The door is open for me.”

Ada Kassaye - 01 - Agebagn (5:15)
Ada Kassaye - 02 - Ya Gobez (5:05)
Ada Kassaye - 03 - Hagere (5:39)
Ada Kassaye - 04 - Yamral (4:37)
Ada Kassaye - 05 - Baschalegn (4:26)
Ada Kassaye - 06 - Adama (4:24)
Ada Kassaye - 07 - Berena gebere (4:50)
Ada Kassaye - 08 - Min yishalegnal (5:00)
Ada Kassaye - 09 - Enate (5:23)
Ada Kassaye - 10 - Yemesgen (4:29)
Ada Kassaye - 11 - Madi shishay (5:30)
Ada Kassaye - 12 - Lemeles (3:02)