Ethiopiques Volume 25

The Swinging Addis of the 1960s and early 1970s (before the dreadful Derg’s Stalinist-military glaciation) was a period of intense experimenting that encompassed the traditional repertoire. Whether Oromo or Amhara, all the greatest voices of the time took part with intense creative fervour, as can be heard on this 25th CD in the Ethiopiques collection. It features such pop singers as Tlahoun Gèssèssè, Alèmayèhu Eshèté, Sèyfou Yohannes, Essatu Tèssèmma etc. as well as traditional artists, among them Fréw Haylou, Abbèbè Tèssèmma, Haylé Wèrqu. Instruments include the washint flute, the krar lyre and the one-string messenqo alongside fèrendj (foreign) acoustic instruments such as the piano, accordion and mandoline.