Eritrean Anthology

26/05/2024

Our live DJ set for Refuge Worldwide is now available on the Soundcloud link below.

Full tracklist:

1. Ato Atoweberhan Seghid - Nebecayka Afker, also popularly known as ‘Aslamay Kistanay’ (Kothari-Fikre, 1972)
2. Asghedom Weldemichael - Guma Hamra Lamey (Axum Records, 1974)
3. Tsehaytu Beraki - Adieka Merisae (Yared Records, 1973)
4. Osman Abdularahim - B’melkia Tetselile (Fikre Records, 1972)
5. Bereket Mengisteab - Shew Belli (Philips, 1972)
6. Hussein M. Ali - Adje (Yared Records, 1973)
7. Tewolde Redda - Kirar Misteqane (Philips, 1970)
8. Mohammed Burhan Ata & Eritrean Police Orchestra - Ne’idaga do (Emporio Musicale, 197x)
9. Tiberih Tesfahunegn - Kuhulaye (Philips, 1972)
10. Zerai Deres Band - Qurtsu Ngerini (Yetba Records, 197x)
11. Ghirmay Kidane & I Cobra Orchestra- Aythdemni (Esso, 197x)
12. Zerai Deres Band - Haderachi (Emporio Musicale, 197x)
13. Hussein M. Ali - Sendeleytat (Philips, 1975)
14. Asghedom Weldemichael - Mesobey (Yared Records, 1973)
15. Bereket Mengisteab - Tserura (Bereket Records, 197x)
16. Tiberih Tesfahunegn- Hadara Zikehadet (Philips, 1972)
17. Vittorio Bossi - Enafeletkio (Yared Records, 1973)
18. Tsehaytu Beraki - Ab May Jah Jah (Yared Records, 1973)
19. Ato Atoweberhan Seghid - Mekhri Shemagelle (Kothari-Fikre, 1972)

We were so overwhelmed with emotions playing these records during the set that we forgot to mention some of them. Here’s the full tracklist: 1. Ato Atoweberhan Seghid - Nebecayka Afker, also popularl

22/05/2024

Beyene Fire - Neaki Mimane / Shelel Beliyo (1973)

በየነ ፍረ - ንዓኺ ምእማነይ / ሸለል በሊዮ (1973)

22/05/2024

Tiberih Tesfahunegn x Assres Tessema 🩷💛

Kuhulaye / Imeneni (1972)
Performed by: Tiberih Tesfahunegn
Written, composed and arranged by: Assres Tessema

18/02/2024

Telsemki / Wuba - Tewolde Redda (1972, Philips Records)

Swipe left to view the incredible band members behind the record, consisting of Asli Tedro (Kebero), Beyene Fire (Kirar), Beyene Habtemariam (Kirar) and Tsehaytu Beraki (Vocals and Kirar)

18/02/2024

Bereket Mengisteab - Libey Keygage / Bilen Ayney (1972, Philips)

በረኸት መንግስትኣብ - ልበይ ከይጋገ / ብሌን ዓይነይ (1972)

14/10/2023

Kedli Diki / Kemakira Ile Neyre - Beyene Fire (Philips, 1972)

Arranger: Tekle “Hiwket” Adhanom

13/10/2023

Senay / Alem - Asghedom Woldemichael (Axum Records)

Arranger: Tekle “Hiwket” Adhanom

08/10/2023

Le Bola / Akeza Koynu - Tsehaytu Beraki (Philips, 1972)

Arranger: Tewolde Redda

With many thanks to our friend for the photo submission 📸

Please get in touch with us to showcase your Eritrean vinyl records.

30/09/2023

Ayneye / Meritseki - Beyene Fire (Philips, 1973)

Arranger: Asress Tessema

29/09/2023

Qurtsu Nigerni / Kemzi Diyu Neru Iti Wuelna - Zerai Deres Band (Yetba Records, circa 73)

29/09/2023

Tserura / Kekeid Demo - Bereket Mengisteab (Bereket Records, 1975)

29/09/2023

Bekutaki Wolel / Chifra Tedaali - Ato Ateweberhan Seghid

Written & Composed by: Ato Ateweberhan Seghid and Niguse Haile

26/09/2023

Introducing the labels behind the rarest Eritrean vinyl records of the 70s

25/09/2023

Embi Ila / Tefkereni Zineberet - Beyene Habte (Amha Records, 1973)

Arranger: Tecle “Hiwket” Adhanom

25/09/2023

Guma Hamra Lamey / Guayla - Asghedom Woldemichael (Axum Records, 1975)

Arranger: Tecle “Hiwket” Adhanom

Distributed by Kothari Shop, Asmara

24/09/2023

Aifalkin Gerhinete / Aqli Tsibet - Osman Abdulrahim (Yared Records, Asmara, circa 1973)

09/09/2023

Another one from Bereket Mengisteab’s catalog of 45s - Released on Philips in 1974.

09/09/2023

So this one blew our mind 🤯

Rezene Habte, formerly of Venus Band (Ethiopia), guitarist for Teshome Mitiku, Hailu Mergia and Yemane “Barya” Ghebremichael.

Also responsible for one of the greatest songs recorded.

Track ID: A.I.E (A Mwana)
Artist/Band: Black Blood
LP: Chicano
Year: 1975

(Abraham Rezene Habte, pictured far left)

02/09/2023

Beyene Fire - Kab Konki Tsibikti / Setesemhal, March 1972, Philips (PH-117)

በየነ ፍረ - ካብ ኮንኪ ጽብቕቲ / ሰተሰምሃል (መጋቢት: 1972)

Artist: Beyene Fire
Arranger: Tewolde Redda & his orchestra

Band members (left to right): Asli Tedros, Beyene Habtemariam, Tsehaytu Beraki, Beyene Fire and Tewolde Redda

28/08/2023

A closer look at the intricacies of the hand-drawn sleeve art accompanying the 1973 release by the renowned Ateweberhan Seghid - "Bekutakhi Wolel Beli / Chifra Ted’ali" (Dejene Records).

Record: Bekutaki Wolel (ብኹታኺ ዎለል) / Chifra Tedaali (ጭፍራ ተድዓሊ)
Artist: Ato Ateweberhan Seghid
Written & Composed by: Ato Ateweberhan Seghid and Niguse Haile

Label: Dejene DJ-0011
Format: 7” Vinyl, 45 RPM
Pressed in Greece
Year: 1973

09/08/2023

ባህልን ልምድን ስቱትጋርት | Cultural Group Stuttgart (Tonstudio Bauer, 1989)

Couldn’t believe our luck when we recently stumbled upon this super rare Eritrean vinyl record, having had no prior knowledge of its existence.

Recorded in 1989 by a Stuttgart based Eritrean cultural group, this record features a mixture of traditional and modern arrangements of Eritrean music.

The below liner note can also be seen in the cassette tape release of this record:

“እዛ ካሴት እዚኣ ኤርትራዊ ባህሊ ንምብርባርን ንምምዕባልን ተባሂላ ብኣጋጣሚ 10ይ ዓመት ምምስራት ሃ.ማ.ሰ.ኤ.ን ሃ.ማ.ደ.ኤ.ን ብጉጅለ ባህሊ ሽቱትጋርት (ምዕራብ ጀርመን) ዝተወፈየት ኢያ።”

#ባህልንልምድንስቱትጋርት

06/06/2023

Tanya - I Colori Della Felicità / Il Nostro Amore (1962, The Red Record), Italy

Silvana Areggasc Savorelli (30 April 1945 – 8 May 2018), professionally known as Lara Saint Paul and also known as Tanya, was an Italian Eritrean singer, entertainer, impresario and record producer.

06/06/2023

Guenda K - Lover (Full Time Production, 1992) Italy.

Guendalina Cariaggi known professionally as “Guenda K” is the daughter of Italian-Eritrean singer, entertainer and music producer, Silvana Areggasc Savorelli, professionally known as Lara Saint Paul.

12/05/2023

We absolutely love this LP, which includes an EPIC cover of Osman Abdulrahim’s Asmarena performed by Jamal M. Jassin. Some of you might recognise the song from the opening lyrics below:

ትነብር ኔራ ቆጸራ ጠሊማ
ተራኸብና ድኣ ብወዝቢ ኣብ ሲነማ…

We dont have much more info than the details on the sleeve. We’d love to hear from you if you have further context to share.

Artist: Dambisa
Title: Eritrea
Label: Castor
Recorded in Hannover, Germany
Release Year: 1984
Format: Vinyl, Album, LP

#

11/05/2023

Ato Ateweberhan Seghid - Kokeb Tsibah / Kidaney Telime
Arranger: Tewolde Redda
Label: Philips PH-154
Format: 7” Vinyl, 45RPM
Year: 1972-73 (Estimated)
Pressed in Kenya

11/05/2023

Amleset Abai - Amleset Abai And Her Kirar
Label: Philips, PH-110
Format: Vinyl, LP, 33RPM
Year: Unknown (70s)

09/05/2023

The first of two 45s released on Tesfa Records.

Ibrahim Mahmoud - Enoki Koninenaki (እናኺ ቆኒነናኺ) / Gual Aboy Redda (ጓል ኣቦይ ረዳ)

We would love to know more about the artist, the label and the year this was released. Post any info you have in the comments! 🙏🏾

05/05/2023

Hidri ሕድሪ (ኣይሮፕላነ) / Gamey ጋመይ - Tewolde Redda (Philips PH-122, June 1972)

Singer & Arranger: Tewolde Redda
Backing band: Zerai Deres Band

30/04/2023

Bereket Mengisteab - Uffey Birreri / Shew Beli (Philips PH-126, 1972)

29/04/2023

Released in July 1972, one of Osman Abdulrahim’s finest records features R&B/Soul group The Flames, serving as the backing band on the record, as well as the illustrious Vittorio Bossi lending his unique Kirar playing style on the B-side “Addei Alaitei.

Asmara’s Music Scene:

The Flames was founded by members of two beloved local bands The Jaguars and The Red Sea Band. In those years, the capital Asmara had seen a significant rise in R&B, Soul and Jazz bands no doubt influenced by the music emanating from the US Army Base Kagnew’s radio station in the heart of the city. Together with other bands such as The Imperials, Superstars, Jaguars and Zerai Deres Band, they often held nightly residencies in the city’s most famous night spots such as Mocambo, Ambassador Hotel, Il Laghetto, Junior Club, Nyala and the list goes on.

The Flames:
Josef Yohannes (Keyboard)
Tesfaldet Abraham (Singer & Guitar)
Tekle Tesfamichael (Bassist)
Felice Azeneggasc (Drummer)
Aklilu Daniel (Sax)
Orlando Pessagno (Guitarist)

Disclaimer: Information provided is based on undocumented personal accounts, and is not verified. We invite you to share your personal account of Asmara’s music scene in the 70s below.

&B