You’d expect a conversation with Mulatu Astatke to be about music. He is, after all, the father of a musical genre: Ethio-jazz. But when he talks about the art form, he tends to focus on its ...

WHEN PEOPLE TALK about Mahmoud Ahmed, there are typically three prevailing descriptions: legendary, a national treasure, and the godfather of Ethiopian music. Yonnas Yilma breaks it down in terms any ...

Mulatu Astatke, 79, pioneer of Ethiopian jazz – the fusion of local music and western jazz is looking to integrate Ethiopian and Turkish music to regale audiences and inspire musicians. Speaking to ...

What makes an artist great? The answer to this question might be tough but one thing is clear. An artist achieves greatens at least by creating something that has not been created before him and keeps ...

TO WESTERN EARS, the music seems both foreign and familiar. Its mood stretches from sultry and haunting to upbeat and vibrant. Soulful Western undertones are audible, yet the overall impression is ...

I once read the artist Dan Clowes describe Chopin’s Nocturnes as “like listening to ice water”. That description has often resonated with regards to the sound of a solo piano, but never more so than ...

We need to be upfront with you. The Reader is free. Producing it isn’t. And without your support, we can't continue. So we need you to chip in, even if it’s just a few bucks. The average donation is ...

Kay Kaufman Shelemay received fellowships and grants for the research and publication process for this book from the National Endowment for the Humanities; the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial ...

Annual Hullegeb Israeli-Ethiopian Arts Festival to showcase vibrant culture, arts, and music As he will perform the character in Amharic, Tehila Yeshayahu-Adega will offer a Hebrew translation on ...

During the second half of the 20th century, cosmopolitan Ethiopians were delighted to see jazz giant Duke Ellington receive their country’s Medal of Honor from Emperor Haile Selassie. At the same time ...