Addis amplified
DJ Zezi Ifore discovers Ethiopia's complex, booming avant-garde electronic music scene.
DJ and cultural consultant Zezi Ifore travels to Addis Ababa to uncover Ethiopyawi Electronic an elusive avant-garde music scene eagerly showcased by recent Western media.
With the advent of improved infrastructure nationwide, Ethiopia is a country gaining momentum. Amongst a variety of benefits, its freshly empowered and energetic youth is utilising better access to wi-fi to open up new conversations about music. Western media has eagerly showcased 'Ethiopyawi Electronic', a mystic, futuristic and deeply mesmeric genre which utilises old sounds and new technology to create a unique kind of electronic music.
Zezi explores Addis with the help of guide Vemund Brune Hareide. She experiences the developing and flourishing party scene as well as the more traditional spaces of the Azmari Bets with the help of Fendika’s Melaku Belay.
She meets artists from the full breadth of Ethiopia’s diverse electronic music landscape including EDM star Rophnan Nuri aka Rophnan, up and coming producers Laekemhiret Getachew (aka LAKE) and Semhal Teklean (aka Drømme), ‘Ethiopiawi Electronic’ innovator Endeguena Mulu (aka Ethiopian Records) musician Ertibu Agegnehu aka Solomon, and Guta Wakuma.
(Photo: Bira Biro, Ethiopia's first electronic music festival. Credit: GBox)
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- Sat 6 Jul 2019 11:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Sun 7 Jul 2019 19:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Sun 7 Jul 2019 21:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only