# Popular music in Ethiopia

Popular music in Ethiopia started in 20th century with the advent of western influence and mostly blended with the traditional Ethiopian music genre. The first band was formed in 1924, which came from Armenia and served as the royal band of Emperor Haile Selassie. After the World War II, large orchestras accompanied the singers such as Army Band, Police Band, and Imperial Bodyguard Band. From 1960s to 1970s, the Ethiopian Golden Age of music altered the popular music industry with numerous singers marked their popularity such as Tilahun Gessesse, Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayehu Eshete.
The music industry impeded development during the Derg era, where persecution of musicians occurred and exiled from the country. A unique musical mode called "sem ena werq" ("wax and gold") revived; Neway Debebe used this style to criticize the government action. After the fall of the Derg, the music industry was revitalized; many singers like Gigi, Munit Mesfin, and Meklit Hadero returned to their home country and influenced with westernized mode. From 2000s, popular music changed its form, implementing modern genres like EDM, rock and hip-hop.

## History

The Ethiopian traditional music embodied with strong oral-literature style. In this case, the traditional music is played by local entertainers called azmaris. Music in Ethiopia was originated, as part of Christian religious service during Yared-era in the 6th century. Muslim form called manzuma also developed in Harar and Jimma.
Modern music was further developed with the advent of western influence in the form of colonialism since 20th century. In 1924, the crown prince and future Emperor of Ethiopia Ras Tafari (Haile Selassie) called on the Armenian band upon his visit in Jerusalem. The band, who survived the Armenian genocide, was intended to form the imperial band. From the band, the conductor was an Armenian who composed the first national anthem of Ethiopia. By the end of World War II, large orchestras accompanied the singers, prominently Army Band, Police Band, and Imperial Bodyguard Band. From the 1960s to the 1970s, popular music encapsulated the Ethiopian Golden Age of music, and the culmination of Ethio-jazz genre. Various musicians including Tilahun Gessesse, Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayehu Eshete were popular. In late 1970s and 1980s, during the Derg regime, those music was usually censored in support of Soviet Union political discourse. Most musicians fled the country to escape political persecutions while the other were stayed due to the closed borders. Those who stayed to the country shaped the nearly weakened music industry and protest songs were common motive against the Derg government.
By this time, the long poetic tradition named "sem ena werq" ("wax and gold") was revived which interpolates tricky response to the Derg government censorship. From 1985, Neway Debebe used this style using traditional ballads. After the fall of the Derg, music industry was revitalized where self-exiled musicians such as Gigi, Munit Mesfin, and Meklit Hadero returned to their home country and influenced the local music with westernized mode. Since 2000s, popular music resuscitated, with mainstream scene takes place merely in Addis Ababa. Many genres like EDM, rock and hip hop blended with the traditional music. Jano Band credited with devising progressive rock with Ethiopian music. Hip hop music emerged in Ethiopia from early to mid-2000s to form the distinct Ethiopian hip hop music. Central pioneering hip-hop musicians are Teddy Yo and Lij Michael.