Before Emperor Haile Selassie’s penchant for big brass bands made instruments such as the saxophone and electric keyboard ubiquitous, many Ethiopian bands played traditional instruments such as the kebero alongside those imported by the Italian colonizers. Much like what would happen with the sax years later, the mandolin and the accordion were adapted to Ethiopian scales and standards, and became an integral part of Ethiopian music in the 1950s and 60s. Addis Acoustic, led by multi-instrumentalist, producer, and stalwart of Addis’ live music scene Girum Mezmur, revisits this period of Ethiopian music but gives it a fresh twist by adding modern East African and Afro Cuban elements.

– Megan Iacobini de Fazio