NIGHTLY
Fendika Azmari Nights
Traditional music performances by Azmaris and traditional dancers
MONDAY
KAYN LAB Jazz Band
Performs most Mondays
FRIDAYS
Ethiocolor*
Traditional Ethiopian instrumentalists, singers and dancers, led by Melaku Belay.
Negarit*
Ethio-Jazz Band led by Teferi Assefa
(*Alternating with Ethiocolor on Fridays)
SATURDAYS
Poetic Saturdays
Fendika provides free space for Poetic Saturdays, a grassroot platform for creative writing and performance in Addis Ababa. They meet every first Saturday afternoon of the month.
ABOUT OUR PERFORMANCES
AZMARI NIGHT
Fendika Cultural Center offers Azmari nightly performances, with a lively session of traditional dancing. Fendika Cultural Center has grown out of Fendika Azmari Bet. In Ethiopian culture, an "azmari bet", literally meaning the House of the Azmari, is a place where people gather to listen and enjoy traditional music offered by Azmaris. Azmari musicians are known for their ability to improvise humorous lyrics about their customers, or about current affairs and politics.
ETHIOCOLOR
Ethiocolor invites you to Fendika Cultural Center every other Friday! We will exchange our love of music, dance, and culture with you, our dear audience. As always, special guests will bring surprises and fun. Together we explore tradition, creativity, and humanity - no boundaries!! The night begins at 8 PM with sounds from golden vinyls, and everything happens from there! Entrance 50 birr for the artists. Click here for booking and touring information.
NEGARIT ETHIO-JAZZ BAND
Negarit Band performs every other Friday at Fendika Cultural Center. Negarit is led by Teferi Assefa, a drummer with an international career highlighted by establishing Lasta Sound and co-founding Wudasse Ethio-Jazz. A researcher and teacher of Ethiopian music, Teferi masterfully infuses traditional Ethiopian themes into Ethio-Jazz.
Teferi names his band Negarit after the ancient Ethiopian Drum set, typically used for announcing royal decrees. The Negarit Band "ANNOUNCES" the unique sounds of the Ethio-Jazz to the world. The intimate space of Fendika is perfect for Negarit’s groovy sound that connects to its ancient Ethiopian roots. Fendika dancers join the musicians in interpreting the intricate rhythms and melodies. Together they promise a mesmerizing experience not to be missed!
KAYN LAB JAZZ BAND
Kayn Lab is an experimental jazz fusion band focusing on new arrangements of Ethiopian rhythms & modes. Fendika Cultural Center is proud to welcome KAŸN LAB's brilliant musicians: Jonovan Cooper on saxophones & reeds, Teferi Assefa on drums and percussion, Henock Temesgen on bass, and Abiy Woldemariam on keyboard. They light up Fendika with their superb musicianship and experimental spirits. You are invited to witness the latest Ethiopian jazz innovation!
Artist Profile: Nardos (Wude) Tesfaw
Nardos Tesfaw is one of the most prominent Azmari singers in Ethiopia today. Originally from Gondar, Ethiopia, she has a singing career that spans 20 years, with the most recent 12 years with Fendika Cultural Center in Addis Ababa. Nardos is known for her golden voice as well as her command of lyric improvisation. She has recorded 5 original songs, and has traveled all around the world with Fendika. The U.S., the Netherland, Belgium, France, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Hungary, Morocco, Israel are some of the countries Nardos has performed in as a lead soloist of Fendika. She is the most sought-out Azmari singers for local and international collaboration, and has collaborated with Fantu Mandoye (Ethiopia), Tadele Bekele (Ethiopia), Daniel Lema (Sweden), the Ex (the Netherlands), Large Unit (Norway), and many other musicians and bands.
More Links:
Artist Profile: Meselu Abebaye
Meselu (Mesay) Abebaye is a kebero drummer and an Ethiopian dancer based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During his 12 years at Fendika Cultural Center, he apprenticed with senior musicians and became a drummer and a sound technician. Mesay now regularly performs with Ethiocolor on Kebero or Konga drums. One of the best Kebero drummers in Ethiopia, he tours the world with Fendika. Mesay has performed in the U.S., Norway, the Netherland, Belgium, France, Austria, Hungary, Qatar, India, Morocco, Israel, and Switzerland. While on tour, he has performed with the Ex (the Netherland), Large Unit (Norway), and Trio Kazanchis (Switzerland). He is part of the recording EthioBraz with the Norwegian band Large Unit released in 2019.
More Links:
Performance on Fendika Live, 2020
Performance (with the Ex) in Abu Dhabi, 2018
Read about Mesay’s life story here.
Artist Profile: Emebet Woldetsdik
Emebet Woldetsdik is an Ethiopian singer and dancer based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She has developed her singing talent through the tutoring and mentoring of renowned azmari singers such as Nardos Tesfaw and Abeba Abhoy, and musician Robel Solomon. Emebet was one of the featured young vocalists in the 2018 Felega Festival, an azmari music festival funded by the International Fund for Promotion of Cultures, UNESCO.
As a dance artist, Emebet trained and performed with Melaku Belay and the Ethiopian National Theater. Emebet regularly performs with Ethiocolor as a dancer and a vocalist. She improvises traditional Ethiopian dance movement to Ethiopian Jazz music by Negarit. Emebet has performed in the Netherland, Belgium, France, Hungary, Qatar, Morocco, and Israel.
More Links:
Dance performance in Hungary, 2019
Read about Emebet’s life story here.
Artist Profile: Habtamu Yeshambel
Habtamu Yishambel, masinqo player, has 20 years of music experience, first working with the government music group in Bahir Dar for 15 years before coming to Addis Ababa. His expressive playing makes the ancient one-string masinqo into a contemporary sounding instrument. One of the most sought out masinqo players in Ethiopia, Habtamu has collaborated with Ethiopian singers in more than 150 single songs, and appeared in more than 50 music videos. He regularly performs with Ethiocolor. With Fendika touring group, Habtamu has traveled to India, Abu Dhabi, Austria, the US, Norway, Netherland, Belgium, France, Hungary, Morocco, Israel, and Switzerland.
Artist Profile: Sentayehu (Bita) Tadesse
Sentayehu Tadesse, krar player, has 15 years of experience in the music profession. He trained as a krar player in Circus Ethiopia for 5 years, and has worked in Ras Theater for 10 years. Meanwhile he also started the Totot band, as the leader and the krar player, 8 years ago. He has recorded with singers both legend and young, for 35 albums, and appeared in many live TV performances in Ethiopia. Sentayehu joined Ethiocolor in 2015. Traveling with the Fendika touring group, he performed in Austria in 2017, a U.S tour in 2018, Netherland, Belgium, France, Hungary, Morocco, Israel and Switzerland in 2019.
Artist Profile: Hagerselam Shafi
Born in 1983 in Ethiopia, Hagerselam is a popular kebero (drum) player in Addis Ababa. He started playing music in 1996. Since 2000, Hagerselam has played music at more than 5 venues in Addis Ababa, including Yod Abyssinia, 2000 Habesha Crown Hotel, and Fendika (since 2015). He also works at National theater and Ras Theater. Currently Hagerselam plays kebero at Totot Cultural Hall and Restaurant, where he has collaborated with some of the greatest musicians in our country such as Mahmoud Ahmed, Alemayehu Eshete, Hamelmal Abate, Girma Negash and various young singers.
Artist Profile: Robel Solomon
Robel Solomon, bass krar player, started playing music in 2008. Since 2012, Robel has performed at more than five cultural restaurants in Addis Ababa, including Yod Abyssinia, 2000 Habesha, Dima, and Fendika. Robel is currently a band member in the Totot Cultural Hall and Restaurant as well as Ethiocolor at Fendika. Robel has performed with some of the greatest musicians in Ethiopia such as Mahmoud Ahmed, Alemayehu Eshete, Hamelmal Abate, and Girma Negash.
Artist Profile: Yibeltal Tizazu
Yibeltal Tizazu, washint player, has 10 years of experience in music. He started his music career in Wollo Music Group. After that, he performed in Gojam Traditional Band for 4 years. Since he joined Ethiocolor in 2017, Yibeltal has been performing regularly at Fendika Cultural Center. Yibeltal has appeared in more than 10 music video productions.
Artist Profile: Mimi Muluken
Mimi Muluken is an Azmari singer with more than 20 years of performance experience. She has recorded 6 original songs. In addition to the daily traditional Azmari performance, she has performed 3 years with Negarit Ethiopian Jazz Band and Ethiocolor Band. Mimi’s latest performance as part of the COVID-19 public health campaign has made her into a household name in Ethiopia.
Artist Profile: Mimi Genetu
Mimi Genetu is an Azmari singer with more than 17 years of performance experience. She has recorded 3 original songs, and appeared in 3 music videos. She has been performing Azmari music at Fendika for 12 years. Mimi has international performance experience in Dubai, UAE and Abuja, Nigeria.
Contact: abiy_wm@yahoo.com
Artist Profile: Abiy Woldemariam
Abiy Woldemariam, keyboardist, started learning and playing music at the Holy Savior Catholic Church choir in Addis Ababa. The first instrument he played was the krar. He was introduced to the piano and organ later and played in a university band during his study of philosophy. Abiy went to EECMY music school to study Jazz. He co-founded a band “Melelet”, active in Addis Ababa since 2008. The group played Ethiopian indigenous beats and melodic ideas fused with Jazz elements. Immediately upon graduation, Abiy started teaching piano and ear training at Jazzamba School of Music, a school owned by a few popular Ethiopian musicians. The school offers a three-year scholarship for talented musicians who can’t afford tuitions. He also teaches at EECMY. Now Abiy is the Dean of Academics at Jazzamba. He joined the Global Music Campus teaching staff in the Eastern and Southern African campuses in 2013. The GMA has been experimenting new approaches to teaching music specifically in African contexts. Abiy performs regularly with Negarit and Kayn Lab bands.
Contact: abiy_wm@yahoo.com
Artist Profile: Dawit Adera
Dawit Adera, drummer, started learning and playing music at CADET Ethiopia. The first instrument he played was the kebero, traditional Ethiopian drum made of goat skin. Dawit went to music school at Entoto TVET College and Jazzambe for Jazz and Ethiopian pop music lessons. He started playing regularly in Addis Ababa since 2014 at CHADET Addis and Meleket Band. Upon graduation, Dawit started teaching high school music at Ethio Parents School. As a professional musician, he was blessed with the opportunity to play with the founder of Ethio Jazz, Dr. Mulatu Aztatke at African Jazz Village. He also played in Acacia Music Festival in Addis and Karmako Music Festival in Sudan. Currently he performs with Addis Jazz Collective and the singer Chelina.
Contact: abiy_wm@yahoo.com
Artist Profile: Letarik Tilahun
Letarik Tilahun, saxophonist, started learning and playing music at Sidarta Development Ethiopia in Addis Abeba. After learning keyboard and organs for a couple of years, he was introduced to the saxophone. Letarik took serious music studies at AAU Yared School of Music. He founded a project called ‘ZemaNegarian’, producing music and making records. He has played in many concerts in Addis since graduation. The project ZemaNegarian strives to fuse Ethiopian indigenous beats and melodic ideas with elements of pops and jazz. Upon graduation, Letarik started teaching Saxophone at the same campus that he studied at, AAU Yared School of Music as an assistant lecturer, while still running the ZemaNegarian's projects. Mahari Brothers, The Funk Disciples and Akebulance are the bands that he regularly works with.
Contact: abiy_wm@yahoo.com
Artist Profile: Bereket Tesfazgi
Bereket Tesfazgi, born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a guitarist and composer. He started music as a self-taught student and in the Catholic Church youth choir. With the guitar as his main instrument, Bereket has been performing with various Ethiopian pop bands for the last 10 years. In addition, He also arranges music for singers.
Contact: abiy_wm@yahoo.com
Artist Profile: Eyosias Tamene
Eyosias Tamene, born in 1991 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, studied in Jazzamba School Of Music, majoring in bass for three years ( level 4). He has been playing in different Ethiopian pop and Jazz bands for the last 5 years. He is now playing in Negarit band, led by Teferi Assefa, specializing in Jazz innovation inspired by indigenous Ethiopian music.
Contact: abiy_wm@yahoo.com
Artist Profile: Nourelislam Mohamed Adam Suliman
Nourelislam Mohamed Adam Suliman, trumpet player, was born in Sudan Khartoum, 1987. He has played the trumpet since childhood, and studied in Jazzamba School of Music in Addis for three years. He is now playing in Negarit, Käyn Lab and various other groups in Addis Ababa. He also took part in recording projects such as Negarit and Käyn Lab’s new CDs.