Pierre Barouh - Samba Saravah

Pioneer Works Swing (Live)

Hailu Mergia — Yegle Nesh (Live)

Hailu Mergia & The Walias Band - Yemiasleks Fikir

As sampled by Nas and Damian Marley on the new single ‘As We Enter’

Mulatu Astatke - Yegelle Tezeta

Album Bien Bailadito
Polibio Mayorga  Junior y su Equipo

Bien Bailadito- Polibio Mayorga (Junior y su Equipo)

The Crusaders/My Lady/Original Roland 404 mix

The Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination - Ire

Stefano Torossi - Running Fast

https://dur-durband.bandcamp.com/album/volume-5

Dur-Dur Band — Garsore Waa Ilaah

In 1985, master accordionist and veteran bandleader, arranger and keyboardist released the Hailu Mergia & His Classical Instrument cassette. In a nostalgic effort to bring back the vintage accordion sound of his youth, Hailu gave Ethiopian music a sonic makeover. He was already celebrated for his work with the groundbreaking Addis Ababa ethio-jazz and funk outfit Walias Band. With imagination and a visionary sense of the self-contained possibilities of modern music, he captured the popular sounds of the past using the modern tools of the day. 

Hailu Mergia weaves Moog and DX7 synthesizers, Rhodes electric piano and rhythm machine into the rich harmonic layering of his accordion, creating hauntingly psychedelic, elegantly arranged instrumentals. These tunes draw from famous traditional and modern Ethiopian songs, as Hailu brilliantly matches lush Amhara, Tigrinya and Oromo melodies with otherworldly flavors soaked in jazz and blues, synthesizing a futuristic landscape. He balances Ethiopian music's signature melodic shape with beautiful analog synth touches, floating upon clouds of hypnotically minimal rhythm tracks. 

Hailu Mergia was born in Debre Birhan, Showa Province, Ethiopia in 1938 (1946 in the European calendar) to parents Tewabech Ezineh and Mergia Lulessa, who were of Amhara and Oromo ancestry, respectively. His mother took him to Aynemisa, close to Addis, where he grew up from age 3 until he was 10 when they moved to the capital Addis Ababa.

Hailu Mergia & His Classical Instrument: Shemonmuanaye

Hailu Mergia & His Classical Instrument – Shemonmuanaye

From the late 1960s until the early 1990s, the particularly vibrant music scene in Mogadishu was teeming with pop and folk musicians whose influences spanned several genres of Somali traditional music alongside influences from abroad. 

Dur-Dur Band's music emerges from a time when Somalia's distinctive contribution to the creative culture in the Horn of Africa was clear and abundant--hundreds of recordings made at the Somali National Theatre, Radio Mogadishu and other studios, combined with cherished clubs like Juba and Jazeera and al-Curuuba Discotheque created a backdrop for a flourishing music scene.

Volume 5

Dur Dur Band – Hayeelin

Awesome Tapes From Africa is here for you.

Hailu Mergia — Yegle Nesh (Live)

Awesome Tapes From Africa

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