Ethio-Jazz

Ethiopian Jazz

One of Ethiopia’s greatest innovations, Ethiopian Jazz, termed “Ethio- jazz,” is a unique fusion of traditional Ethiopian music with jazz, Afro-funk, soul, and Latin rhythms. Marked by eerie and ancient-sounding tones, typical of traditional Ethiopian music, Ethio-jazz also displays the sensual undertones of soulful jazz.The father of Ethio-jazz as we now know it is Mulatu Astatke. Born in 1943 in Jimma, a city in the Western part of Ethiopia, Astatke surprisingly chose to study aeronautic engineering in North Wales in the late 1950s. Formally introduced to music and the arts during his studies, which allowed for many electives, Astatke discovered his natural talent and eventual passion for music.

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Read on to explore the dramatic story of Ethiopia’s most recognizable music genre.

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Here are some of the most popular Ethio-Jazz musics:

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