Sometime in the nineties, I vaguely remember my friends saying they are going to an Ethiopian Soccer Tournament at TC Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Other than that distant memory I had no familiarity with ESFNA or with its vast outreach. So I was stunned, I think that’s the best word I can use, [...]
Published by August 1st, 2008 in Bernos and Social.Tag Archive for 'ethiopian-music'
Any discussion in reference to the "Golden Era" of Ethiopian Music has to include the amazing bands and musicians backing the performers. Here I'll attempt to discuss the history of these bands and where possible giving a short bio of the musicians. PART I The attempted coup in December of 1960 was the beginning of [...]
A lot is known about our famous singers. Through written biographies or TV and Radio interviews we are aware how they got started and where and when they sang a particular song. What is less known though are the stories behind the songs. The lyricists (yeGitim Derassi), the music writers (yeZema Derassi), the arrangers (aqenbabari) [...]
