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ZEWDITOU YOHANNES
Ethiopian music had a golden age in the 60’s and 70’s when soul groups, jazz combos and big bands were playing like never before. This music was made subversively by the Emperor’s employed musicians until a brutal military coup stopped its production... but not its spirit!
Ethiopian music compilations and albums are gaining new fans everyday all around the world. This new buzz came after songs from ‘Ethiopiques Volume 4’ were featured in the Jim Jarmusch film ‘Broken Flowers’. Francis Falceto, musical director of the Ethiopiques series, discovered Zewditou Yohannes almost a decade ago when she was singing in Azmari performances in Addis-Ababa.
Now UK-based, Zewditou Yohannes’ live performances include some great popular Ethiopian ballads as well as her own compositions. She sings in Amharic with a distinctively husky voice that is not common amongst Ethiopian female singers (who are mostly singing in a high register). Zewditou Yohannes is also famous for uplifting her audience thanks to her whistling and ‘eskista’ dance moves (shoulders and head) that are specific to Ethiopian dance. Zewditou Yohannes performs accompanied by traditional instruments: masenqo (one-stringed spike-fiddle) and krar (six-stringed lyre) and a modern band including electric guitar, bass and saxophone.
