Qwanqwa, a five-piece band featuring some of the best musicians based in Addis Ababa, has announced the release of a new album titled Volume 3. The release is September 11th, 2020. The group celebrates Ethiopian string traditions.
Volume 3 showcases Ethiopia’s regional traditions and beyond its borders, taking inspiration from the country’s diverse ethnic population and neighbors to the North, West, and East.
Volume 3 features Qwanqwa’s pre-2018 repertoire and lineup: Endris Hassen on one-string mesenko fiddle, Mesele Asmamaw on vocals and electric krar lyre, Kaethe Hostetter on five string electric violin, Bubu Teklemariam on bass krar, Selamnesh Zemene on vocals and Misale Leggesse on the goat-skinned drum called kebero.
“The music on this album reflects the repertoire we were working with at the time,” says Qwanqwa bandleader Katehe Hostetter. “The material was sourced from regions beyond Ethiopia’s borders, including an Eritrean tribal chant transformed by our arrangement, and a Somali pop song. We were inspired by the infinite musical variety of Ethiopia and its neighbors, and dove deep into the traditions beyond the five most well-known ethnic groups. Thanks to our band members’ Endris Hassen and Misale Legesse’s encyclopedic knowledge, we were able to spotlight these tiny pockets of overlooked musical traditions.”
Buy Volume 3
Author: World Music Central News Room
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