The Evolution of Ethiopian music:




The evolution of Ethiopian music recording started 103 years ago according to Ato Simeneh. While the modern music began during Emperor Menelik and esclated to a higher level during Emperor Haile-Selassie.

The first official vinyl recording, or in Amharic, ‘shekla’, was recorded by Tesema Eshete, 103 years ago and after that in the 1920’s musicians like Nigatua Kelkay and Ferede Gola did their recordings.

Semeneh says at that time there were different competitions between the different bands, different marching bands, with institutionalized support backing up the music.

“The music was very popular and used to be aired on TV, radio, and also there was the scene of live music and also the night scene also had its own trend,” tells Simeneh.

Francis Falceto, who compiled the 27 volumes of the series of Ethiopiques, also made a documentary film entitled ‘Abyssine Swing', which covers the coming of ‘modern music’ up to the Derg regime, when music was changed to fit propagandist themes.

According to Falceto, the story of ‘modern Ethiopian music’ began with Emperor Menelik. Especially following the victory of Adwa in 1896, many foreigners started visiting the country and the influence started to slowly show. During the latter days of the rule of Emperor Haile-Selassie it intensified, particularly after his visit to Jerusalem introduced him to the Armenian marching band.

Upon invitation from the Emperor, 50 Armenian musicians and a teacher came here. That’s how the chapter on Ethiopian modern music started.

Even if the Armenians have influenced modern Ethiopian music, the music what we now call modern music was completely different from that of the Armenians, as theirs was played at an octatonic scale and Ethiopia's at a pentatonic scale. The difference is attributed to the fact that modern Ethiopian music has its origin in traditional music, says Falceto.

Hager Fiker Theatre used to do recordings but after that Amha Eshete came.  Starting from the late 60’s, he recorded the unforgettable sound of Alemayehu Eshete who also grew up with him, Tilahun Gesese, Mahmoud Ahmed, Mulatu Astatke, Girma Beyene.

Semeneh says between 1968 and 1974, Amha made around 100 vinyl recordings.  Francis Falceto bought the copyright from him and now owns it internationally.
Now, fast forwarding to 2011, according to Simeneh, there are around 18 foreign bands that exclusively make Ethiopian music.

Inspired by the old Ethiopian music, there are bands like Akale Wube (French), the famous Dutch band EX also does fusion of Ethiopian music, the Emperial Tiger Orchestra , Debo, and Arat Kilo, are some of the bands which are based abroad.

K’naan, in his latest album ‘Troubadour’, samples Ethiopian music in his songs. ‘I come prepared’ features the music of Getachew Mekuria, who doesn’t even know it was sampled, and ‘America’, the work of Tilahun Gessese and Alemayehu Eshete.  While the recent album entitled ‘Distant Relatives’ by Damian and Nas sampled the work of Mulatu Astatke’s ‘Yegelle Tezeta’.

According to same , the popularity of Ethiopian music began to grow, with many foreigners beginning to appreciate Ethiopian music, due to the work of Mulatu, who did the score for the Cannes winning film ‘Broken Flowers’, and also Ethiopiques, which has made it accessible to many people to explore Ethiopian music.

Police prevents illegal distribution of Fikiraddis’ album 
By Binyam Tamene 
   


The Ethiopian Amharic singer Fikiraddis Nekatibeb has expressed her frustration after her new album was smuggled out of the production company, but narrowly saved by the police, before it was reproduced illegally.

Ethiopian music experts say copyright violation is threatening the Ethiopian music industry with the musicians becoming reluctant to release their albums out of fear of piracy.
“Many criticize musicians are short of lyrics and other stuff. When you see or hear this kind of robbery, however, you can understand why they are reluctant to do produce new albums and see others benefit,” Fikiraddis said. “I don’t think I will be able to do my other album anytime soon,” she said, expressing her frustration after her work has fallen in the hands of copyright violators.
Despite the seizure of her album, ‘Embi’ (No), with the help of the Akaki Sub City Police, there are still fears that a copy of the album might be out there. Artist Fikiraddis said Ethiopian artists are in a very difficult situation right now.

“It’s an album various artists have sweated on,” she explained, speaking about the album that took her four years to finish. “But it is a bit frustrating to see your work get stolen like this”.
The album is composed by Tedi Mack and Abegaz Shiwota, and various artists including Birhane, Yelma Gebreab, Tesfa Birhan, Abel Melkamu and Bewketu Seyum, have contributed to the production. “It’s not easy considering the amount of time and money we spent on this album,” she said. “But it will shock you when someone takes it that easily,” she said.
The album was set to be released by Nile Music before its master was stolen and found in a music shop owned by Simon Gebre Egziabher.

Before that, the preliminary report of the police indicates that the album was smuggled out by Abdulaziz Jemal with the help of his two associates that work for Super Shine, a company that solely manufacturers CD’s and cassette along with reproducing music albums for Ethiopian music shops. But the culprit was apprehended in a music shop, owned by Simon Gebre Egziabher.

“It’s really shocking news for us too,” said Shafi Negash, producer of the album and owner of Nile Music. “It’s really frustrating to work right now,” he said declining to comment on when the album will be released. Previously, music from artists, including Helen Berihe’s ‘Tasfelegegnaleh’ (I need you), a group work of various Ethiopian artists called Ye Tizitawoch Tizita and other works were smuggled out of the company.

However, both the Nile Music Shop and the artist refused to accuse Super Shine saying: “the owners are not to blame as we have witnessed how the suspects manipulate the company to steal the album.”

Despite best efforts from the Ethiopian Audio Visual Associations, police and others, experts say the “infringement on copyrights still remains to be a sensitive issue for performers, producers and filmmakers in Ethiopia”.

'width' is a duplicate attribute name. Line 1, position 37.French Ethiopian music band plays 


It’s common to hear in Ethiopia how Ethiopian music hasn’t got the international exposure it deserves while singers from other African countries win global awards like the Grammys.
Even if some consider language as one factor why Ethiopian artists haven’t earned recognition on the international music scene, other African artists have become wildly popular without producing their albums in the English language.

The trend seems have to changed in the past few years following the use of Mulatu Astatke’s songs as a soundtrack of the critically acclaimed film ‘Broken Flowers’,  the publication of the Ethiopiques series, the dabbling into Ethiopian music of famous artist like K’nnan and Damian Marley. It seems it’s a hip thing to listen to Ethiopian music and musicians like Mahmoud Ahmed and Getachew Mekuria are getting several invitations to perform overseas.

After falling in love with Ethiopian music, a French band named ‘Akale Wube’ was established two years ago in Paris. It mainly plays Ethiopian songs of the 60s and 70s.

Inspired by Getachew Mekuria’s song ‘Akale Wube’, the band fuses Ethiopian music with standard jazz, funk, Afro-beat, Rock  and spices it up to add flavor to the old music sung during an era that many consider to be the golden age of Ethiopian music.

As part of the ‘What’s out Muzika Festival 2010,’ the band was invited by Alliance Ethio- française and performed  in different venues, including Alliance Ethio- française , Goethe Institute and  Dire Dawa. It’s also scheduled to perform in Fendika and Alliance this Friday and Saturday.

Though it was strange for the audience to watch a French band play Ethiopian music, the band was thrilled to play in Ethiopia. Oliver Degabriele, bassist, says how he was in tears when the band gave its first show at the Goethe Institute.

Comprised of five musicians - Etienne De La Savette (saxphone and flute), Oliver Degabriele (base), Loic Rechard (guitar), Paul Bouclier (trumpet and percussions) and David Georgelet – the band has toured France and performed in different venues.

Through the inspiration of ‘ Ethiopiques series’  the band delved into Ethiopian grooves where the works of legendary Ethiopian musicians like Mulatu Astatke and Ethio-jazz inflamed their passion and fulfilled their love for Ethiopian music.

The fact that modern Ethiopian music has a Western touch and having previously played jazz, (both of which fall in the pentatonic scale category,) Has enabled the band to get easily familiar with different tunes. 

Initially it was first difficult for the band to get gigs but the members say playing Ethiopian music was a blessing as it stocked fans’ curiosity as to what it sounded like.

“There is a big interest in Ethio-jazz, when we tell them we play Ethio-jazz they don’t even ask us for our demo. We use any opportunity we get to perform and audiences who heard our music love it,” says Savette

They didn’t know what to expect when their long-awaited dream came true and they came to Ethiopia, the cradle of their music. But in only their first show at Goethe Institute everyone sang along with them and they were overwhelmed by the appreciation and the love.

Apart from playing the renowned songs of singers Alemayehu Eshete, Mulatu Astatke, and Getachew Mekuria in their own style, they also play their own composition. They also explore the songs of Ethiopian musicians who have faded from memory like Tsehaytu Baraki, Shewalul Mengistu and others.

“More or less what we are trying to do is to bring this music which was archived and trying to give it a new life. Additionally, we are infusing a new injection of our interpretation of it and it seems it’s also working here and many people here really loved it,” reveals Degabriele.

The concert also created a chance to promote their newly released album ‘Akale Wube’ consisting of 12 pieces of original works of the renowned singers Mulatu Astatke and Alemayehu Eshete which they blended with new rhythms.

With the new album they have tried to introduce the possibility of giving new sounds to the old music ranging from Jazz, reggae, pop and funk.

‘Nebyat’ and ‘Kokob’ are original songs with reggae rhythm. ‘Kokeb’ has tracts from a speech the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile-Selassie gave at the UN and resembles Bob Marley’s song ‘War’, which was also inspired by the Emperor’s speech.

The reception they got was gratifying for them. They even got letters from fans and are planning to come back to Ethiopia to meet again what they call “the lively audience.”

Some audiences also appreciated their effort to popularize Ethiopian music.

“It was a very good show but it was not interactive. So they should spice it up a little bit. On the other hand, when you see them playing it makes you think how they are doing great, trying to introduce Ethiopian music and pass it down to the next generation. At the same time, you feel sad why Ethiopians are not trying to bring out what was ours, “says Meron Tefera.

Collaborating with Ethiopian musicians is their next step and in their remaining couple of days stay here they are already rehearsing and discussing the possibility of producing songs

 

Ethiopian Traditional, Modern and Futuer Music
world music network


Despite the disaster-laden reports to have recently come from Ethiopia, it is one of Africa’s most musically fascinating countries. After shedding its dictatorship in 1991, Ethiopia finally brought an end to thirty year old civil war. These hardships have had a profound effect on Ethiopia’s cultural and musical life. A continuous curfew deprived a whole generation of Ethiopians of a nightlife and censorship restricted song lyrics. Musicians who could emigrate did so. However, all this has changed and recently music feels omnipresent in Addis Ababa.


Trad/Mod and the Golden Age

Traditional music forms the basis of all Ethiopian styles. Most musicians have two repertoires, one modern and one traditional.

The first Western imports were brass bands, brought in by the military under Haile Selassie. Performers tried out their instruments on traditional material and by the late 1940s there were full orchestras to accompany singers, including the Imperial Bodyguard Band and the Haile Selassie Theatre Band.



A characteristic of Ethiopian music is the use of a five-note, pentatonic scale with large intervals between some of the notes. A limping asymmetrical rhythm is also highly characteristic.

Most Ethiopian records were produced between 1969 and 1978. These records represent the golden age of Ethiopian music. Premier league names from this period included Tlahoun Gessesse, Bezunesh Bekele, Hirut Bekele, Mahmoud Ahmed, Ali Birra, and Alemayehu Eshete. Instrumental music’s key figures included Mulatu Astatqé, sole exponent of Ethiojazz, and Getachew Mekurya.

Wax and Gold

During the years of dictatorship in the 1980s, new singers emerged among the veteran artists. Most stayed within the country as it became virtually impossible to emigrate. These artists included Ephrem Tamru, Aster Aweke, Netsanet Mellesse and Amelmal Abate.

From 1985 on, one figure became an idol, Newa Debebe. Debebe renewed interest in the poetic style of sem-enna-werq (wax and gold), an old tradition of double entendre to fool the censors.

New Styles

New Ethiopian talent includes Fikreaddis Nekatibeb, Tigist Bekele, and Afroband. Ethiopian reggae has emerged since the fame of Teddy Afro, but rasta fetishism has no special meaning in Ethiopia.



Live in Addis: AzmarisThe modern music scene in Addis Ababa is weak. Nightclubs tend to imitate Western trends. However, you will find a recent phenomenon of azmaribets (hole-in-the-wall clubs) that feature players of krar (lyre), masenqo (one-string fiddle), washnit (flute), and kebero (percussion). These musicians are azmaris, privileged carriers of popular music, mediators of collective memories.

A new generation of talented, non-conformist, sarcastic azmaris has emerged. This new wave is known as bolel. Bolel is a mix of azmari traditions and modern urban culture. Bolel artists include Abbebe Fekad, Enana, Betsat Seyoum, Tedje and Mimi.

Future Shock

Ethiopian musicians are still reeling from the effects of the changes since the establishment of democracy. Travel is easier, so musicians and bands are able to play and record overseas. The opportunity to listen to other music is also beginning to have an effect. Many non-Ethiopian artists have done much to promote Ethiopian music, meaning its future is no longer in the hands of Ethiopian artists alone.

Electrifying Ethiopia
LLOYD GEDYE | JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

because of Paris-based label Buda Musique's reissue series, Ethiopiques, and the recent high-profile releases by Ethiopian jazz legend Malatu Astatke, a Geneva-based band, is taking Ethiopian music well into this century.

The Ethiopiques series' main focus may have been the sounds of swinging Addis Ababa in the 1960s and 1970s, but, though the Imperial Tiger Orchestra aim to keep the Ethiopian melodies from this golden era intact, at the same time they are improvising and experimenting within the basic structure.

Dark, hypnotic rhythms from the world of electro have been added, with elements of noise and distortion, to create a revamped sound that is damn funky.

The Imperial Tiger Orchestra began life when Cave 12, the legendary experimental live music event in Geneva, invited trumpeter Raphaël Anker to put together a band for a performance.

As an admirer of Ethiopian jazz, Anker assembled a group to explore a particular music scale, common in Ethiopian music, and what they ended up with was more in the style of free jazz and noise but with an Ethiopian flavour.

After many critically acclaimed shows in Europe and a performance at the 2009 Musiques Ethiopiennes festival in Addis Ababa, the band are finally making their way to Southern Africa for a number of shows, which will include collaborating with Ethiopian musician Endres Hassen, who plays the masenqo, a traditional single-stringed violin.

The Mail & Guardian put some questions to Anker a week before he jetted into South Africa and this is what he had to say.

What can audiences expect from your tour to South Africa?
A new approach to traditional Ethiopian instrumental music.

Tell us about how the band formed. Obviously a Swiss band playing Ethiopian jazz is a bit of an oddity. How did it happen?
All the members of the band always loved Ethiopian music. We all came from different backgrounds and it just happened that we got together in Geneva...Continue reading

Ethiopian musical group begins Zimbabwe leg of southern African tour

The Ethiopia-based group are highly acclaimed in their country of abode and in many European cities and offer a unique sound combining modern and traditional inspiration, preserving the natural beauty of melodies and Ethiopian sound while exploring uncharted territory, playing with textures and dynamics to create a beautiful sound.

A Zimbabwean non-governmental organization Pamberi Trust, which is organizing the Harare leg of the tour, described the Addis Ababa-based Imperial Tiger Orchestra as “a brilliant collaboration of rich cultural exchange featuring artists from Ethiopia, South Africa, France, Netherlands and Switzerland”.

“The Ethiopia-based group are highly acclaimed in their country of abode and in many European cities and offer a unique sound combining modern and traditional inspiration, preserving the natural beauty of melodies and Ethiopian sound while exploring uncharted territory, playing with textures and dynamics to create a beautiful sound,” the organizers said Saturday.

The orchestra’s repertoire consists of revamped remakes of songs from the golden age of Ethiopian music, traditional songs and the latest Addis productions.

The regional tour is funded by a Cape Town cultural agency Pro Helvetia and runs from 26 September to October 9.

The group is expected to travel through Cape Town, Harare, Maputo and Johannesburg before finishing in Durba

African Talent: Jewel in the Making

There is a new talent-scout show of international calibre under formation: Afro Idol.

It all started with MTV's African Music Awards organisers' attempt at placing Ethiopia on the world music map. Determined to expand its competitor base, the award organisers approached US based Ethiopian record producer and fashion designer, Rozy Bruck.

They were hoping to benefit from the worldwide fame and appeal held by her husband, Aliaune Thaim aka Akon and herself, which in turn might induce Ethiopian competitors to participate in their awards.

Renowned music producer Abraham Wolde was later brought on board as a producer for the show and a full partner of Relevant Conduct Entertainment (RCE), Konvict Music and EntReeg/KonLive distributions (all owned and managed by the celeb couples) for this ambitious project.

Thus, the initiative for Afro Idol was born: a  reality show directed towards music talent competition intending to bring African music talent in hip hop and R&B to the limelight of the world music industry.

"Not only will this show be a spring board for Ethiopian performers to showcase their talents at the MTV awards in Africa," Rozy maintains, keen on grooming local talent, "but it also offers them a platform for international publicity where their talents can be displayed and noticed."

The Afro Idol team is currently in negotiation with the Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency (ERTA) for a one year contract to air the show locally. The dealings were not without predicament, though.

Star Power: RCE/KonLive CEO, Rozy (centre) and music producer, Abraham (right), creators of Afro Idol, also from left: Skitty, an RCE rapper; Diallo, RCE co-CEO; and Vito, another RCE rapper. below, the Afro Idol logo

Exclusivity issues with the currently running Ethiopian Idol are likely to cause dispute. At least Abraham, who was in a quagmire during the establishment of Ethiopian Idol with the current owners of the show, thinks so.

ERTA Commissioning office told Fortune, however, that exclusivity was not an issue among the two [shows] as they target different audience pools: Ethiopian Idol a local one, while Afro is international.

The Idol experience in itself has a twist from what audiences are accustomed to in the past. The registration process, for instance, is going to incur a fixed amount in fees from the entrants. The setting of this fee will be when the recruitment commences and once dealings with ERTA are dealt with, Abraham said.

In typical Idol set-up, though, studio audiences will get through the contestants' performances while sitting through what could be more than 200,000 dollars worth of filming sessions. Twelve episodes of the one hour show are filmed in one shooting session.

Employing their high definition equipment, a film crew from the US will be working on the first season, along with transferring their TV production knowledge to local practitioners.

"We intend for the crew to be of local origin once we start the second season," Abraham said.

The format also has three judges, including a featured celebrity from local spotlights, and occasionally of international appeal, on each episode. However, the decisions will be mainly based on the public vote, according to Rozy.

"We are finalising preparations to communicate with the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation to facilitate the call-in process that voters will be having their say through," she said.

The filming location is expected to be situated inside Adot City Centre, near Bisrate Gabriel along South Africa Street - a multi storey complex under construction. It also comprises accommodations for visiting celebrities, and a state of the art studio/auditorium being put up according to the specifications of the show.

This eight-month, 32 episode show is intended for broadcast internationally by industry giant, MTV. Although the actual time of commencement of the show still depends on the goings on of the negotiations and deals currently underway, the season schedule starts in the first January after the completion of the negotiation with ERTA and ETC. The season ends in September to coincide with Ethiopian new year celebrations, respectively.

The remaining four-month break, so to speak, highlights the registration process for new contestants, along with the airing of various talent shows, profiles and backgrounds of the winners and featured contestants, as the organisers intend to use the air time throughout the year.

Although the prizes for the local contest winners have not yet been decided, possibilities include record deals with locally prominent labels, including his own Balageru Records, Abraham disclosed.

"We are really working to bring the finals to Addis Abeba," he said.

The winner of the Afro Idol competition will secure a record deal with EntReeg/KonLive and RCE, a 100,000 dollar award, and a chance to perform a single track and go on tour with Akon.

"I would rather make it on my own," says Michael, aka, PJ, a law student at Addis Abeba University and an aspiring rapper. "But if that does not happen any time soon, I am sure to sign up for the competition as it is an international podium."

The contest has already begun the rumble for the prizes in Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Cameroon, and Gabon, who actually have announced their winner.

Eat your heart out, Ethiopian Idol!

 

 
By HALETA YIRGA
FORTUNE STAFF WRITER

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Many Ethiopian Musicians travel to the US from Ethiopia to live and work.  But how many Americans dream of Ethiopia as a place to live and practice their art?  Kenny Allen released three CDs in the United States before coming to Addis to live.  He formed a production company in 2006 and can be seen every Friday night performing for a dense and diverse crowd and Harlem Jazz..  There are 13 songs on the new album and only one song is a cover, Mahmoud Ahmed's song Guragigna.

"This song speaks to me musically and melodically, and I think because I eat so much Kitfo, I am drawn to Guragigna music," he said. Prepared by the Gurage people, Kitfo is a dish of the choicest beef, ground to a fine texture and kneaded with spices.  Read More



Illegal tape, CD copies seized

The Ethiopian Audio Visual Producers Association said Wednesday that the police raided five music stores in Gondar on its tip-off and seized over 1.2 million illegal copies of tape and CD covers for music albums printed in the name of well-known registered studios. Read More  

Invisible System - Punt (Made in Ethiopia): Uncut Review.

It features some of that country’s finest including legendary singer Mahmoud Ahmed together with pianist Samuel Yirga Miyiku, saxophonist Feleke Hailu Woldemariam and singers Tsedenia Gebremarkos Woldesilassie and Sintayehu Zenebe. Taking ethnic music recorded in Addis Ababa and layering it with western psych/trance/techno/dance vibes is a risky enterprise-but having spent almost a decade as an aid worker in Africa Dan Harper is better placed than most to try Read More...