Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of self-censorship when it comes to rapping about domestic politics, and in general
Ethiopian rap seems fairly nonpolitical when compared to some Western rap artists. Cur-
rent leaders of the Ethiopian rap race are Teddy Yo and the upcoming Yoni Yoyi, whose
best-known song is the brilliantly catchy 'Gondergna'.
Female artists more than hold their own. Gonder-born, American-based Aster Aweke
has produced 20 albums since the late 1970s. She's popularly known as Africa's Aretha
Franklin. Her latest release is 2010's
Checheho
. Hot on Aster's tail for international fame
is Ejigaheyehu Shibabaw (known as 'Gigi'), who rose to prominence after her 1997 al-
bum
Tsehay
. Her singing was heard in the Hollywood movie
Beyond Borders
. Her latest
album is
Mesgana Ethiopia
. One of the biggest female stars at the moment is Zeritu
Kebede (also known as 'Baby').
TEDDY YO'S TOP FIVE MODERN ETHIOPIAN
ALBUMS
Addis-born hip-hop star Teddy Yo (real name Tewodros Assefa) is the face of young cosmopolitan Ethiopia. He
started rapping at the age of 14, but didn't turn heads until he took traditional Gurage music and combined it with
contemporary hip-hop beats and lyrics to create his own musical style, Guragetone (which is also the name of his
most famous song). Today he is Ethiopia's best known hip-hop performer. His latest album is 2012's
Zeraf
.
We asked him to give us his essential list of modern Ethiopian music.
Yachi Neger
by Ja Lude; this is real reggae and the music is full of messages.
Kulfun Sechin
by Joni Ragga; another great reggae album.
Ende Kal
by Eyob; the lyrics are powerful and are full of messages for the young.
Zeritu
by Zeritu Kebede; she introduced modern rock to Ethiopia.
Tizeta
by Mehamoud Ahemed; he has the voice.
Francis Falceto, an Ethiopian music expert, compiles popular Ethiopian contemporary
music into great CDs known as 'Ethiopiques'. Twenty-seven volumes have been produced
to date; pick them up from
www.budamusique.com
.
Dance
Dance forms an extremely important part of the lives of most Ethiopians, and almost
every ethnic group has its own distinct variety. Although the
iskista -
in which the
