QWANQWA: Psychedelic Roots From Addis Ababa
Beaming in from the sizzling Addis Ababa nightlife scene, this group shines an experimentalism based in the virtuosity of rooted traditions. QWANQWA, the Amharic word for “language,” is a project creating dialogues between cultures.
Zema Yared: Liturgical Music of the Coptic Christian Church of Ethiopia
Zema Yared is an Ethiopian group based in Addis that performs the music of the Koptic Christian Orthodox liturgy of the region. Mainly sourced from the 6th century composer, St Yared, the songs sing praises of Mary, and many of the saints unique to this version of Christianity, sung in the ancient language of Ge’ez.