Chapter 1
Orphans, emperors, and the birth of a beat
Chapter 2
The mathematical magic of the Amharic modes
Chapter 3
Nightlife in the golden era of swinging Addis
Chapter 4
The global rediscovery and modern legacy
YOUR GOAL
Master of How Ethiopia brewed its own brand of jazz
Ch 1 · Orphans, emperors, and the birth of a beat
choko The Birth of Ethio-Jazz
Forty children groove, forty children groove, Hear the royal brass make the whole room move.
choko A booming economy and royal patronage turned 1960s Addis Ababa into a legendary music hotspot.
choko The father of Ethio-jazz combined his British and American music education to invent a whole new genre.
BETA
choko Conduct the Emperor's brass band to learn how Ethiopia invented its own jazz style.
Fun Fact
Orphan band origin: The first modern Ethiopian royal marching band was composed entirely of 40 rescued Armenian orphans.
Glossary
brass band (noun)
A group of musicians playing brass instruments and often percussion. In 1924, Prince Ras Tafari recruited forty Armenian refugees to form Ethiopia's first imperial brass band.
A group of musicians playing brass instruments and often percussion. In 1924, Prince Ras Tafari recruited forty Armenian refugees to form Ethiopia's first imperial brass band.
Quiz
Who were the Arba Lijoch, the musicians who introduced Western brass instruments to Ethiopia in 1924?
Quiz
What was the name of the first independent Ethiopian record label founded by Amha Eshete in 1969?
Quiz
What subject was Mulatu Astatke originally sent to Wales to study before he switched to music?