Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc - Soow Sow [2003] [somalia]

Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc was  born in Owdweyneh in 1942, and grew up in Berbera and Hargeisa He started his singing in Hargeisa, in the then British Somaliland Protectorate in 1954. The repertoires of his songs are long, voluminous, omnipotent and eternal, so rich and so amazingly legendary. .

The late Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc, whose career spanned more than 50 years, was known for his raspy voice, rose to fame in late 1950. For the past two decades Kuluc has been living in Britain.

Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc -Heestii Daaimow

                    Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc was one of the preeminent founding members of “Walaala Hargeisa Band” The legendary Somaliland band has been formed in Hargeisa in 1954. In the recent past, another Somaliland giant vocalist, the king of songs of all times, Mohamed Suleiman has also died in a strange country, a place where nobody knows his personality, and gentleness, humility, humbleness, and legendary status. 

                   Mohamed Ahmed was one of the first generation of Bulwo or Heelo songs in Somaliland and the entire Somali speaking world for that matter. Mohamed Among the other founding members of “Walaala Hargeisa” were the likes of preeminent legends such as Abdullahi Qarshe, Mohamed Said (Guroon Jire.), Osman In-Beenale, and Shamis Abokar (Gudoodo Carwo).

                 The giant singer and playwright was buried on the 18th of January, 2015 in “Nasahablood cemetery in his beautiful Hargeisa.” Thousands of people including high Somaliland government officials led by Somaliland’s vice-president were in attendance. 

           Other great of his amazingly brilliant and irreplaceable generation who already died were Abdullahi Qarshe, Mohamed Yusuf, Mohamed Omar Huryo, Osman Mohamed Abdulkarim, Mohamed Suleiman, Omar Dhuule, Halimo Khalif Magool, Abdullahi Abdi Shube, Hussein Aw Farah, Mooge brothers Mohamed and Ahmed Mooge Liban, Farhiya Ali, and many others. 

Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc - 01 - Intro (0:48)

Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc - 02 - Badda (6:21)

Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc - 03 - Badan (5:39)

Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc - 04 - Boqorkii (7:08)

Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc - 05 - Carwo (6:10)

Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc - 06 - Cosob (4:20)

Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc - 07 - Dadnimada (5:09)

Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc - 08 - Dhoolbari (8:14)

Mohamed Ahmed Kuluc - 09 - Soow Sow (6:48)

Abinet Agonafir - [2004] - Debek Webet [ethiopia]

   R  E  U  P  L  O  A  D   

Abinet Agonafir - “Ewedeshailu" (እወድሻለሁ)

01. Abinet Agonafir - Habesha (5:08)
02. Abinet Agonafir - Setalekshi Des Alegne (5:07)
03. Abinet Agonafir - Atiregemat (5:00)
04. Abinet Agonafir - Lene Kaleshe (6:34)
05. Abinet Agonafir - Ages Mehas (6:28)
06. Abinet Agonafir - Wond Lij (5:13)
07. Abinet Agonafir - Atenafekegne (4:08)
08. Abinet Agonafir - Kezkaza Welafen (4:51)
09. Abinet Agonafir - Tey Tey (4:36)
10. Abinet Agonafir - Telahushe (5:56)
11. Abinet Agonafir - Emamye (5:09)
12. Abinet Agonafir - Ewodishalehu (5:20)
13. Abinet Agonafir - Miskin Zemen (7:44)

Qwanqwa - Qwanqwa Demo [2013] [ethiopia]

   Qwanqwa - ቋንቋ   

          Qwanqwa, from the Amharic word for language, plays beloved and rare Ethiopian tunes with a unique twist. The band, based in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, is named for this concept. The members vary in age and background, but have come together for a unique and powerful sound with an equally meaningful message. At it’s core, this band is instrumental, since they believe that to reach the widest audience, a single singer can limit the effect. 

           However, the list of guests and collaborations is long, including both beloved and famous singers such as Fikraddis, Habte Michael, Amelmal Abate, as well as beloved Azmari singers Selamnesh Zemene and Etenesh Wassie. Not limited to only singers, Qwanqwa also has invited the virtuoso masinqo player Endris Hassen, the father of washint Johannes Aferwork, Ethiopia’s foremost clarinetist Dawit Frew, and many other treasures of traditional instrumentalists to join them.

         The vision of Qwanqwa is to reach as many people as possible with their music. Where many groups play at clubs, Qwanqwa strives to organize concerts in remote places and unique situations. They know that there are many people who would enjoy their music but would not be able to attend a concert at a club because they can’t afford a taxi, that can’t get a babysitter, they are too young, they don’t drink, or other infinite limiting factors. But music is for all, Qwanqwa seeks opportunities to play to as many demographics as possible. Oftentimes, the members have found, the outreach concerts are even more memorable and rewarding than regular club shows.

Qwanqwa are : 

Mesele Asmamaw - lead krar 
Elias Wolde Mikael - kebero/percussion 
Dawit Seyoum - bass krar 
Kaethe Hostetter - 5 string violin 

Qwanqwa -  Gubliye at Selam Fetival

Qwanqwa's homage to Asnaketch Werqu

Mesele Asmamaw is Qwanqwa’s lead electric krar player. (Krar is a traditional harp, relative to the lyre). Mesele is known as a composer and arranger, active in Ethiopia for over twenty years. He has released many albums of his compositions as well as traveled extensively throughout Europe and Africa performing the traditional music of Ethiopia. Since the mid-2000s, Mesele has been a favorite guest of the extremely influential punk and “The EX”, has recorded several albums with the experimental Norwegian drummer Paal Nilssen-Love, and has toured and recorded with his experimental rock group Trio Kazanches. He uses several interesting techniques in Qwanqwa, including a wah pedal, a distortion pedal, a coke bottle and a plastic tube!

Dawit Seyoum, master of the bass krar, plays extensively in traditional groups around Addis, including Ethiocolor and Hager Fikr. He also is a member of the Nile Project, a much-acclaimed American based project which tours internationally with traditional musicians from all Nile countries.

Elias Wolde Mikael is Qwanqwa’s percussionist. He uses the traditional kebero, goat skin drums played with sticks, as well as a variety of other homemade percussion instruments. He can be seen regularly in several groups around Addis Ababa as well as on popular TV music programs in Ethiopia, including Ethiopian Idol and Balageru.

Kaethe Hostetter, 5-string electric violin, has been playing Ethiopian music for many years now. A founding member of the critically acclaimed Debo Band (signed to Sub Pop), the first Ethiopian band in the US to top many charts including iTunes and CMJ, and who has played many stages from Lincoln Center to Kennedy Center, from Chicago World Music Festival and GlobalFest to Bumbershoot and Bonarroo. She also has had an active performing life in the experimental scene, including tours with Fred Frith, Butch Morris and Jim Hobbs.

Qwanqwa - 01 - Rhumba / Ethiopia Hagere (8:01)

Qwanqwa - 02 - Gubliye (10:55)

Qwanqwa - 03 - Yayne Abeba (12:24)

Qwanqwa - 04 - Hamalele (8:00)

Qwanqwa - 05 - Mejemmeria Fikray (6:35)

Qwanqwa - 06 - Nanu Nanu Nay (8:11)

follow link to  Qwanqwa - Volume One [2014]

follow link to  Qwanqwa - Volume Two [2015]

Sheba Sound - Deep Ethiopian Soul Cassette Selection [ethiopia]

visit Sheba Sound webpage HERE > _______

        “For new music, contemporary musicians outside Addis Ababa have little opportunity to record and proudly express their unique mesmerising sounds. 

            We at Sheba Sound are trying to re-address this balance. We are as committed to recording and introducing diverse music to Ethiopians themselves as well as to foreign communities. ??We have our work cut out; there are over 85 separately recognised tribes, all of whom define themselves through their unique language, music, customs, values and clothing. ??We bring traditional deep Ethiopian sounds, with a modern twist, to dance-floors and bars all over the world.”

Listen here :  

https://www.mixcloud.com/Sofrito/sheba-sound-deep-ethiopian-soul-cassette-selection/

Background info:

      In 1974 Mengistu crushed Haile Selassie and came into power in Ethiopia. By the late 70’s, all the music labels pressing up tunes on vinyl, such as Amha and Philips, had been forced to shut down their operations.

      This left the cassette shops to continue the work of publishing the new music that was coming out of Ethiopia. Notable heavyweight houses pushing Amharic music, such as Electra and Anbassel took the lion’s share of the famous vocalists.

      Naturally, as time evolved, so did the sound of music. In this mix, you will hear how the classic 70’s ‘ethio-funk’ sound (represented in the Ethiopiques collections through Buda Musique) digresses to the 80’s into something much less frantic and more precise. The bands themselves tend to be smaller, allowing the bass players to take a more driving lead. This particular evolution of the bass, for us, defines the sound of Amhara music from this period.

Tracklisting:

Atechekenbegnem – Ayalew Mesfin

Tezez Begalaye – Muluken Melesse

Ancbi Lij – Thiedros Tadesse

Tey Enekebaber – Kefel Bekele

Munaye – Ephrem Tamru

Tatche Alkarem – Neway Debebe

Tey Manesh – Solomon Shibeshi

? – Fisseha Alamayehu

? – Fisseha Alamayehu

Yangete Sew Honesh – Tamrat Molla

Kemekem – Muluken Melesse

Sheba Sound have more mixes available on their site, and don’t forget to check his & Fade 2’s stellar mix of off-kilter 90s dancehall versions.

uKanDanZ - Lantchi Biyé / Endè Iyèrusalèm [7''] [2014] [france-ethiopia]

       uKanDanZ ... a unique style, an unusual meeting between an electric quartet and Asnake Guebreyes, charismatic lead singer originates from the vibrant music scene in Addis Abeba. 

          Their music is inspired by traditional and popular Ethiopian songs. uKanDanZ has a real crunch energy. Between rock, jazz, noise... 

With impertinence, they rock it wildly. Without compromise. Guitar, saxophone, bass, drums and vocals shuffle our bearings. 

What a pleasure! The stage presence of uKanDanZ swings alternately between energy and emotion... then the public, transcended, dances and shivers.

uKanDanZ - Endè Iyèrusalèm

Rock In Opposition festival 2015, 18/09/2015

uKanDanZ - 1 - Lantchi Biyé 04:26

uKanDanZ - 2 - Endè Iyèrusalèm 04:09

Damien Cluzel - Guitar
Asnaque Guebreyes - Vocals 
Lionel Martin - Sax
Guilhem Meier - Drums

Benoit Lecomte - Bass