Mitmitta Musika

Aster Aweke & Wubishet Fisseha did two albums together, Wubishet on vocal and guitar and Aster on vocals. This traditional ‘Gum Gum’ is taken from volume two, which is a lot heavier than volume one, darker atmosphere. Wubishet Fisseha was releasing music from early 70s and can be found with two songs on Ethiopiques vol. 24. He also did a similar acoustic album with Almaz Kebede, along with several solo albums, all released by Tango music shop.

Aster Aweke is known as the queen of Ethiopian pop music, beginning from the 70s and up until today she has been influential for the sound of pop music in the Ethiopian diaspora and locally. This album stands out along with her first album being acoustic and very different from her later material.

Now Mitmitta music shop is closed for this rain period, but will open again late September. Meanwhile this album and many other great cassette-albums can be found at Domino Sound Record Shack in New Orleans, USA. If ever going that direction please set off some time visiting that amazing shop for rare finds in cassette and vinyl.

Here is Gum Gum (Fog fog).

Teferra Kassa was amongst the first singers who performed with The Imperial Bodyguard Band. His voice might not have had the same charisma and strength, placing him somehow in the shadow of Telahun Gessesse and Mahmoud Ahmed he was never able to reach a similar fame and recognition. He also performed at the Theater like the above mentioned. He continued singing and had in some ways a more popular phase of his carrier into the 80s. Some Youtube clips: 1 2

This tune is taken from a cassette collection of Teferra Kassa with no info as usual, the backing sounding very much like The Imperial Bodyguard Band. Chellema Tegeffa (The dark was kept away). Enjoy

Frew Hailu was a skilled accordion player as well as being a dear singer to many Ethiopians. He has been released on Ethiopiques Vol.10 - Eyetegnu Neku and Vol.25 - Almaz Men Eda New. He spent most of his time performing in the theaters, at Hagir Fikir for sure, also along with Imperial Body Guard band. Here is song taken from a cassette album, a Tigrigna style with his accordion and most probably a theater band. Frew Hailu passed away in the 90s. Some Youtube clips: 1 2 Enjoy! 

Here is a Mullumebet Mishel from Dire Dawa, singing in amharic. A quite weird production, with a spaced out and cheesy keyboard and Mullumebet with a sweet voice. Another oddity for your open ears.

Here’s another take from the same National Theater cassette. Leba negn, yefikir leba - I’m a thief, a thief of love. Don’t know the singer here either, please write me a note if you do. Check it out!

Long time since last post now. Left Ethiopia for Norway for the coming two months. Will be a little less frequent with my posting in this period, it will be back to normal in mid November.

Today’s tune is from the National theater band in late 60s, also known as the Haile Selassie I Theater. It was an important center for the development of different musical traditions, with full size orchestras using modern instruments, and directors hired from abroad. Famous singers naming Telahun Gessesse and Mahmoud Ahmed were amongst the contributors to the theater. Many musicians were developing their skills and the theater was along with some hotels and nightclubs the main stage for live music. Many new creations came out of National theater, the institution has been and is still creating amazing musicians and ideas.

Here is theatrical duet between father and daughter. Enjoy!

Found it reasonable that I’d continue and let you listen to yet another traditional tune from Wollo. Soqota is a small town that goes back in time. Being in the Amhara region, it still has several different ethnical groups living in and passing by the town. The Soqota and Wagemra area music is slightly faster than what is the case for Gonder, Godjam and Wollo traditional rhythms. Traditional nightclubs has long been presenting the different styles of Amhara, and the Soqota genre has recently become very popular through different traditional artists, i.e Kassahun Taye’s Agaw Ledj, his big hit Sora Sora, is from Lalibela, Lasta, quite close to Soqota. Trad is Pop in Ethiopia, and some of the trad is selling a lot more than any modern pop production. I love seeing this, and hope the trend has come to stay. Just take away the keyboard, and put some real instruments on to it, it could be a hit across the continents. Here is unknown artists, doing a Soqota song early 80s, Wagemra, a pure traditional Soqota song. Enjoy!

Following the traditional tune from yesterday, here is another tune from Wollo. From the Amhara Saynt Borena area, known to be historically one of the first places where the Amhara people settled in the Highlands. A proud people, having traditions of big stick fights. Here is Yeborana bahel chaweta. Masinko (one-stringed violin) and powerful vocals.

Kemise is the administrative center for the Oromo people in Wollo. The majority of this city are Muslims (80%). Wollo has a long history of Muslims living alongside with Christians. Being a northern province where highland meets with the lowland different cultures has been exchanging for centuries. Kemise.

Here is an example of Kemise Traditional Music, various vocal usage, flute and clapping. Check it out!