Ethiopian Community Finds Home in His Song

They say Americans are good at celebrating their immigrant heritages.Proof to the saying, one of our man is an honoree this year.Moges Seyoum, a US-based Ethiopian church musician has been awarded the National Endowment for the Arts. Here is an extract of the story from the Washington Post. 

For more than 80 hours a week, Moges Seyoum works in the parking garage at the Kennedy Center and Lisner Auditorium.But that, he say, is only his job.

His profession is something more special: an ancient religious practice that has brought him the gratitude and respect of thousands of Ethiopians in the Washington area and in May earned him one of the most prestigious awards handed out by the National Endowment for the Arts.Read full story here

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Jorg and Munit’s concert

It was a low-key musical affair yet an immensely enjoyable experience for the mostly young audience at Hager Fikir Theatre. Two young musicians, one a US-based Ethiopian female vocal singer and a German guitar player, took the stage at the huge, high-ceilingled hall. There wasn’t any flashy or heavy instrument-just the tow of them-Jorg and Munit, with of course their guitar.
It was Munit who did the introduction with her stammering but proper Amharic, at times mixing with English. She had an aura of simplicity and humour. She told us that she was having a cold, so she might produce some bizarre sounds, she warned us. Jorg was also having flu, she told us to beware, because “nifit” might come anytime. It was a little cheeky but the audience roared.
The first line of song they played was Bob Marley’s rendering of “Jamming”. It was enjoyable and fairly upbeat. The next one, “Just the two us” the cover song for their CD which was on sale at the entrance. The audience seemed unable to settle on response to the music at this early stage and a mixture of reaction were seen.
As the atmosphere progresses, the crowd entertained with a mixture of original and time tested favourtie music.
One of the songs, “I remember” which Munit said was her first full Amharic song conjures up childhood memory, like drinking Pepsi and watching Ababa Tesfaye on ETV. There was a hint of sadness in her voice as she recalls those times passed. Other songs include Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me one Reason”. But my favourite one was an interpretation of Girma Beyene’s “Set Alaminm” which Munit understandably changed in to “Wonde Alaminm”. It beautifully displayed Munit’s talent for soft, fluid vocals.
The music style expresses childhood innocence and simplicity. This style can be witnessed in “Lem Lem.”
I feel some of the songs need some more work and practice but all in all the two deserve respect and attention.
Jorg and Munit’s C.D ..just the two of us, recorded live at @ the Coffee House could be found at Irea Music shop in Kazanchis.

Live concert at Hager Fikir

A late concert announcement but you have still the opportunity not to miss it. Jorg and Munit  are performing this afternoon at Hager Fikir Theater starting from 3, 00 P.M.It is all free.

I look forward to attending and reviewing the concert.

For more info, check out thier website.

A documentary on the 60’s and 70’s music

The 60’s and the 70’s are said to be a golden age of songwriters. The music that came out of those years stood the test of time and continued to influence contemporary Ethiopian music.

The songs certainly were expression of the time and the transformation the city was going through. Addis was an emerging capital with an increasing urban population and a surge of night-life. Clubs outside the confines of a hotel were emerging, where young people danced late into the night. Musicians embraced by military and theatre orchestras were enjoying new-found freedom that went above the belittling and demeaning “Azamri” label.

A documentary shown at the Alliance Ethio-Francaise last Saturday was a journey to those times. The historical documentary “The Days Start at Midnight. Swinging Addis and Its Music”, produced and directed by Kyle Stone, an American independent filmmaker, featured the evolution of Addis and its popular music through the 1960’s and 1970’s.The filmmaker was supposed to attend the screening but she couldn’t for health reasons. Francis Falceto who made an introductory remark about the movie gave us a certain historical perspective to the film. He talked about how the documentary tried to provide context on the musical movements and how much things had changed in the course of it.  

Teddy to Remain in Kaliti

There was hope that Teddy Afro would be given conditional releases today. But that hope was squashed when after hearing from a three prosecution witness, the court ordered the prosecutors to bring written evidence for June 4, which means some more days in Kaliti prison.His arrest aroused public outrage a month ago and anger is still raw.

Teddy could be jailed for up to 15 fifteen years if convicted on all charges. He was sent to jail on April 16.

Related story Free Muse

Mandela Concert line-up unveiled

Queen, Leona Lewis, Annie Lennox and the Soweto Gospel Choir are among the acts that will appear at a concert for Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday in June.

The former South African president will travel to London for the 27 June event, which will also feature Dame Shirley Bassey, Simple Minds and Razorlight.

 BBC.

ZEA’s Ethiopia Tour

The Ethiopian Music Festival is well under way with a variety of musical offerings.One group touring from Holland, ZEA is performing this Firday at Club Alize, above Red Bean Cafe, end of Bole road.

For those who are looking for a little energy in their music, you can’t do better than this.There is something innovative, uninhibited and experimental about thier music, if two of the music that I’ve had the chance to listen to are anything to go by.”Muziqawi sil”‘ and “Song for Electricity” that you could download from thier site are appealing with inspiration from Ethiopian music and with a mix of electronic rock and roll.

Find them at Alize on May 16 20H00 or at Le Bateu Ivre on Saturday May 17 22H00, a bar at Kazanchis and at Hager Fikir Theatre on May 19,20H00.

An American singing in Amharic

“Sheggeye,sheggeye

 Sheggitu, wetatu ……..

 

Tega bilesh tegni we degidgidawu.

Kelebie lay bitmoch yeman new edawu?”

Yeagere ledge, Ye wonze ledge.”

 

This old Amharic melodic tune, Sheggitu, Assefa Abate’s classic was sung by an American Charles Sutton at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies (IES) last Friday, May 2. It is one of the eleven songs included in a new CD, Zoro Gettem (Reunion), recorded in Washington, DC in September 2006 and premiered here on that night.

The CD that Charles described as ‘a flowering of musical partnership’ was done with his three Ethiopian colleagues Tesfaye Lemma, Getamesay Abebe and Melaku Gelaw of the former Orchestra Ethiopia.

Saba’s Jidka

Find about a young woman’s new album which was described as a result of her search for identity.

Born in Mogadishu to an Italian father and Ethiopian mother, Saba has come to represent the meeting of Africa and European culture:as an actress she starred in a long -running TV drama, playing the role of a policewoman fighting against the prejudice of her colleagues, while dealing with issues such as illegal immigration from Africa. For more description and video, check here.

Has Chachi canceled the concert for Jesus?

Chachi Tadesse was expected to perform at Ras Shewa Entertaimnent on April 5.But she didn’t.The reason, according to the organizer, was because she “found Jesus and came to realize that singing was a sinful act.”

Daniel Kibret, the Ras Shewa Entertaimnet Manager, says “After she signed the agreement, she kind of disappeared for a week or so.When I finally met her, she started saying she couldn’t perfom because she’s a changed person now and it was against her new-found faith.’

The show will not be rescheduled as the singer went back the US.

The alleged ‘conversion’ and subsequent cancellation of the concert didn’t go well with the organizer.

Now, Daniel says he has finished preparations to bring a charge against her and Yugo Pentecostal Church for ‘losses’.

Daneil says he is ‘technically bankrupt’ and seeking 150.000 Birr expense and 200,000 Birr profit losses.

The charge against the church might be amusing but Daneil insists, ‘they are the major influence on her descion” and he wasn’t going to do away with them.

“We have discussed the matter twice in the presence of the pastor, Moh.They were asking me to cancel the concert for which I refused.From that day onwards, Chachi was looking for every excuses not to come to the concert.’ he says.

But Chachi has denied the allegations.She told Rodas, a monthly Amharic magazine, that it was the promoter, Daniel who was responsible for mishandling of the event.

Chachi said she loves her fans and she wouldn’t do such a thing. She says the concert has been shelved as the promoters breached the contract.”They even failed to provide me with a car to come to the concert.” She said there was poor ticket sales for they haven’t done enough promotion and she complained they failed to respond to her request to postphone the concert.

Chachi, however, told interviewers that she wishes to take a different path in life and for her the most important thing is ‘the fear of God.”

“When I come back from the US, which I am planning to do soon, I want to do only what God wants me to,” she was quoted as saying.