French band plays Ethiopian music

French band plays Ethiopian music

By Tibebeselassie Tigabu

It’s common to hear in Ethiopia how Ethiopian music hasn’t got the international exposure it deserves while singers from other African countries win global awards like the Grammys.

Even if some consider language as one factor why Ethiopian artists haven’t earned recognition on the international music scene, other African artists have become wildly popular without producing their albums in the English language.

The trend seems have to changed in the past few years following the use of Mulatu Astatke’s songs as a soundtrack of the critically acclaimed film ‘Broken Flowers’, the publication of the Ethiopiques series, the dabbling into Ethiopian music of famous artist like K’nnan and Damian Marley. It seems it’s a hip thing to listen to Ethiopian music and musicians like Mahmoud Ahmed and Getachew Mekuria are getting several invitations to perform overseas.

After falling in love with Ethiopian music, a French band named ‘Akale Wube’ was established two years ago in Paris. It mainly plays Ethiopian songs of the 60s and 70s.

Inspired by Getachew Mekuria’s song ‘Akale Wube’, the band fuses Ethiopian music with standard jazz, funk, Afro-beat, Rock and spices it up to add flavor to the old music sung during an era that many consider to be the golden age of Ethiopian music.

As part of the ‘What’s out Muzika Festival 2010,’ the band was invited by Alliance Ethio- française and performed in different venues, including Alliance Ethio- française , Goethe Institute and Dire Dawa. It’s also scheduled to perform in Fendika and Alliance this Friday and Saturday.

Though it was strange for the audience to watch a French band play Ethiopian music, the band was thrilled to play in Ethiopia. Oliver Degabriele, bassist, says how he was in tears when the band gave its first show at the Goethe Institute.

Comprised of five musicians - Etienne De La Savette (saxphone and flute), Oliver Degabriele (base), Loic Rechard (guitar), Paul Bouclier (trumpet and percussions) and David Georgelet – the band has toured France and performed in different venues.

Through the inspiration of ‘ Ethiopiques series’ the band delved into Ethiopian grooves where the works of legendary Ethiopian musicians like Mulatu Astatke and Ethio-jazz inflamed their passion and fulfilled their love for Ethiopian music.

The fact that modern Ethiopian music has a Western touch and having previously played jazz, (both of which fall in the pentatonic scale category,) Has enabled the band to get easily familiar with different tunes.

Initially it was first difficult for the band to get gigs but the members say playing Ethiopian music was a blessing as it stocked fans’ curiosity as to what it sounded like.

“There is a big interest in Ethio-jazz, when we tell them we play Ethio-jazz they don’t even ask us for our demo. We use any opportunity we get to perform and audiences who heard our music love it,” says Savette

They didn’t know what to expect when their long-awaited dream came true and they came to Ethiopia, the cradle of their music. But in only their first show at Goethe Institute everyone sang along with them and they were overwhelmed by the appreciation and the love.

Apart from playing the renowned songs of singers Alemayehu Eshete, Mulatu Astatke, and Getachew Mekuria in their own style, they also play their own composition. They also explore the songs of Ethiopian musicians who have faded from memory like Tsehaytu Baraki, Shewalul Mengistu and others.

“More or less what we are trying to do is to bring this music which was archived and trying to give it a new life. Additionally, we are infusing a new injection of our interpretation of it and it seems it’s also working here and many people here really loved it,” reveals Degabriele.

The concert also created a chance to promote their newly released album ‘Akale Wube’ consisting of 12 pieces of original works of the renowned singers Mulatu Astatke and Alemayehu Eshete which they blended with new rhythms.

With the new album they have tried to introduce the possibility of giving new sounds to the old music ranging from Jazz, reggae, pop and funk.

‘Nebyat’ and ‘Kokob’ are original songs with reggae rhythm. ‘Kokeb’ has tracts from a speech the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile-Selassie gave at the UN and resembles Bob Marley’s song ‘War’, which was also inspired by the Emperor’s speech.

The reception they got was gratifying for them. They even got letters from fans and are planning to come back to Ethiopia to meet again what they call “the lively audience.”

Some audiences also appreciated their effort to popularize Ethiopian music.

“It was a very good show but it was not interactive. So they should spice it up a little bit. On the other hand, when you see them playing it makes you think how they are doing great, trying to introduce Ethiopian music and pass it down to the next generation. At the same time, you feel sad why Ethiopians are not trying to bring out what was ours, “says Meron Tefera.

Collaborating with Ethiopian musicians is their next step and in their remaining couple of days stay here they are already rehearsing and discussing the possibility of producing songs.

Ethiopian Reporter