Ethiopia Radio Show
Ethiopia is the oldest country in the world and is the only African country to have always retained independence. It has resulted in a very strong and unique musical identity that bridges ‘eastern’ and ‘western’ sounds. The ‘western’ sound, with its fairly rigid octave structure with 12 semitones and 4/4, ¾, 6/8 time signatures is something I am very familiar with. The ‘eastern’ sound (I’m referencing Arabic, Turkish or Persian specifically) uses more modal as opposed to chord structures, and vocalists particularly use quarter-tones - signing in between the notes I am used to hearing. The more I listen, the more I like and it opens up a whole new sonic world which is super exciting.
Mulatu Astatke is Ethiopia’s most famous musician and creator of the Ethio-Jazz genre. He is a prolific and legendary musician who has collaborated extensively and has a very distinctive sound through his percussion and vibraphone.
Ethiopia is a significant country in the history of Rastafarianism. Rastafarians believe that Ethiopia is their homeland and that they will all one day return there. In 1920, Jamaican black rights empowerment campaigner Marcus Garvey said "Look to Africa, when a black king shall be crowned, for the day of deliverance is at hand". His prophecy came true in 1930 when Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia. The Rastafarian religion started after he was crowned, and many Rastafairians regard Heile Selassie as God himself.
Full Tracklist:
1 Dub Colossus | Tale of 2 Cities | Addis to Omega
2 Invisible System | I'm Worried He's Moving (Hode Baba) | Punt (Made in Ethiopia)
3 Abyssinia Infinite | Monew Natana | Zion Roots (feat. Ejigayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw)
4 Abyssinia Infinite | Gela | Zion Roots (feat. Ejigayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw)
5 Mulatu Astatke | Mulatu | New York - Addis - London
6 Onom Agemo & The Disco Jumpers | Rar | Cranes and Carpets
7 Akalé Wubé feat. Manu Dibango | Anbessa | Sost
8 Bole 2 Harlem | Bole 2 Harlem | Bole 2 Harlem Vol #1
9 Onom Agemo & The Disco Jumpers | Escape Cultural | Cranes and Carpets
10 The Daktaris | Musicawi Silt | Soul Explosion
11 Alèmayehu Eshété, Hirut Bèqèlè | Temeles | Best of Ethiopiques - L'âge d'or de la musique éthiopienne
12 Mahmoud Ahmed Abbay | Mado | Ethiopiques Box vol 7"
13 Mulatu Astatke | Yèkèrmo Sèw | New York - Addis - London
14 Arat Kilo, Mamani Keita, Mike Ladd | Dia Barani | Visions of Selam
15 Arat Kilo | Siddist | Afrobeat
16 Abyssinia Infinite | Gole | Zion Roots (feat. Ejigayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw)
17 Abyssinia Infinite | Lebaye | Zion Roots (feat. Ejigayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw)
18 Ethiopian Records | Feluha | Qen Sew ቅን ሰዉ
19 Arat Kilo, Mamani Keita, Mike Ladd | Yala | Visions of Selam
20 Tlahoun Gessesse | Sew new yetchekene | Ethiopiques vol 17
21 Akalé Wubé | Mata | Mata
22 Arat Kilo, Mamani Keita, Mike Ladd | Soul Flood | Visions of Selam
23 Mulatu Astatke | Tezeta | New York - Addis - London
24 Abyssinia Infinite | Alesema | Zion Roots (feat. Ejigayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw)
25 Hailu Mergia | Yefikir Engurguro | Lala Belu World
