Tsedenia GebreMarkos - Yefiker Girma [2016] - [2008E.C] [ethiopia]

       Tsedenia GebreMarkos is one of the leading musicians in the Ethiopian music scene. She gets her inspirations from traditional and contemporary Ethiopian music. In addition to having a lot of success with commercial hits such as “Ewedehalu”, “Atalay”, “Mengedegna” and “Yiker Beyalehu”, Tsedenia is also famous for having strong lyrics to raise awareness about issues she holds dear.

         She’s made a name for herself singing to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in her country. Tsedenia broke ground when she became the first Ethiopian artist to ever win the prestigious African Kora Awards back in 2004 for “Ewedehalu”. In addition this multitalented star was featured in the hit movie “Motherland”, has a standing radio-show and is rumored to be featured in an upcoming film from the producers of “500 years Later”. Even if her melodious and soulful sound is what she is famous for, Tsedenia broke the barriers again when she decided to be innovative and join forces with 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. Always looking for bigger challenges and constantly rebranding herself is what enabled this Ethiopian jewel to win this year’s AFRIMA (All Africa Music Awards) “Best female artist in Eastern Africa”.

Tsedenia Gebremarkos - Yefikir Girma [የፍቅር ግርማ]

Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 01 - YeFikir Girima (የፍቅር ግርማ) (6:21)

Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 02 - Awikotal (አውቆታል) (4:26)

Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 03 - Yalefewin Fikir (ያለፈውን ፍቅር) (5:37)

Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 04 - Raya (ራያ) (4:47)

Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 05 - Abet Yachin Leta (አቤት ያቺን ለታ) (6:12)

Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 06 - Wey Fikir (ወይ ፍቅር) (4:41)

Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 07 - Kurat (ኩራት) (4:35)

Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 08 - Bementa Menged (በመንታ መንገድ) (5:23)

Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 09 - Fikir Bemehalek (ፍቅር በመሐለቅ) (5:26)

Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 10 - Hariyet (ሃርየት) (5:49)

Tsedenia GebreMarkos - 11 - Camp Fire (4:14)

v.a. - Music of Ethiopia [197?] [ethiopia]

v.a. - Music of Ethiopia - A (32:37)

v.a. - Music of Ethiopia - B (25:14)

Tadele Roba & Birhanu Tezera [Lafonten] - full cassette [1998] [ethiopia]

Tadele Roba & Birhanu Tezera ( Lafonten ) - Full Cassette Songs

Arat Kilo - AK [Ethiopic Jazz] [2009]

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

Arat Kilo 

       Ethiopian jazz is a major branch of African music that comes from the bars of Addis Ababa and draws its influence from jazz and traditional Ethiopian music, azmari, Latin sounds and Anglo-American funk. Choosing to adapt this music in a contemporary and more urban style, Arat Kilo draws inspiration from rock music and the hypnotic sounds of dub. 

       Their show alternates compositions and standard Ethiopian arrangements (a beautiful meeting was held at RFI’s studio with Mulatu Astatké, the father of Ethiopian jazz)

       Ever since the Ethiopiques CD releases reminded the west about the extraordinary music that could be heard in Addis Ababa in the golden era of the 1960s and early 70s, there has been a flurry of very different fusion bands making use of Ethiopian influences, including this young French five-piece who take their name from an Addis monument. 

      They are good players who mix funky guitar with bass, drums and horns – brass was often a crucial ingredient in the Addis sound – and they have mastered the distinctive, at times Arabic-sounding Ethiopian style. All that's lacking is a sense of energy and fun, especially in their instrumental treatment of a piece by the country's best-loved singer, the late Tlahoun Gèssèssè. 

Fabien Girard - guitar, balafon 

Michael Havard - saxophones, flute 

Camille Floriot - trumpet, bugle, ney 

Samuel Hirsch - bass guitar, kalimba 

Arnold Turpin - drums, melodica 

TRACKLIST

1. Arat Kilo - Falaga (6:23)

2. Arat Kilo - Addis Polis (3:16)

3. Arat Kilo - Get a Chew (4:48)

4. Arat Kilo - Mètché Nèw (5:31)

5. Arat Kilo - Farenj Blues (8:01)

6. Arat Kilo - Yékatit (3:32)

Elias Assefa - Kelay [2015] [ethiopia]

Elias Assefa - Kelay

Elias Assefa - 01 - Séwunet (Being Human) (4:13)
Elias Assefa - 02 - Kélay (From Above) (5:50)
Elias Assefa - 03 - Yé Egzer Siel (God’s Painting) (6:56)
Elias Assefa - 04 - Zenaw (The News) (3:52)
Elias Assefa - 05 - Léka (It is Rather That) (5:14)
Elias Assefa - 06 - To ቶ (Symbol of Life) (4:00)
Elias Assefa - 07 - Gize (Time) (4:26)
Elias Assefa - 08 - Yenéfse Erkata (My Soul’s Satisfaction) (5:07)
Elias Assefa - 09 - Léwuletash (Tribute to You) (4:28)
Elias Assefa - 10 - Ebid New Sime (They Call me a Mad Man) (5:04)
Elias Assefa - 11 - Betsélot (With Prayer) (5:42)
Elias Assefa - 12 - Tibeb Ze Solomon (Solomon’s Wisdom) (5:32)
Elias Assefa - 13 - Sus (Addiction) (5:39)
Elias Assefa - 14 - Aman be (In Peace) (4:48)

Aster Aweke - Sikuar [2001] [ethiopia]

            When she arrived in her homeland in 1997 for the first time since she'd left in 1981, Ethiopian-born and Washington, D.C.-based songstress Aster Aweke was greeted by thousands of loyal followers awaiting her plane. During the month-long tour that followed, Aweke performed before more than 80,000 people and showed that she remains one of Ethiopia's best-loved performers. 

            Aweke has been equally successful throughout the world. Her second album, Kabu, spent four weeks in the top position on the CMJ New Music Charts, and was in the Top Ten of Billboard's World Music Charts for ten weeks in 1990. 

Aster Aweke - Sikuar (Sugar)

          A native of Gandor, a small town near Lake Tara, Aweke was raised in the capital city of Addis Ababa. The daughter of senior civil servant in the Imperial government, Aweke was determined to become a musician by the age of 13. By her late teens, she was singing in Addis Ababa clubs and hotels with such bands as the Continental Band, Hotel D'Afrique Band, Shebele Band, and the Ibex Band (before they became the internationally known Roha Band). Launching a solo career, Aweke was encouraged by musical entrepreneur Ali Tango, who financed and released five cassettes and two singles of her music. By 1981, Aweke had become disillusioned by Ethiopia's oppressive political climate and relocated to the United States. Temporarily settling in the Bay Area of California with plans to pursue an education; within two years, Aweke continued on to Washington, D.C., the site of the largest Ethiopian population in the U.S. After building a following with her performances in local Ethiopian restaurants, Aweke toured the U.S. and Europe in 1985. 

Aster Aweke - 01 - Gudde Fella (6:08)

Aster Aweke - 02 - Sew Hulu Be-hageru (6:33)

Aster Aweke - 03 - Ezoralehu (5:25)

Aster Aweke - 04 - Etiti (6:32)

Aster Aweke - 05 - Bichegna (5:29)

Aster Aweke - 06 - Sikuar (6:31)

Aster Aweke - 07 - Merkato (4:58)

Aster Aweke - 08 - Fikir Fikir (6:06)

Aster Aweke - 09 - Ela Alayim (6:46)

Aster Aweke - 10 - Ibi Tibi (5:39)

Aster Aweke - 11 - Sew Mehonne (7:20)

Aster Aweke - 12 - Wey Nedo (5:38)