Ethiopiques, Vol. 23 on CD

Orchestra Ethiopia was more than a folk music ensemble: it made an important contribution to the task of collection, especially in the southern provinces. This initiative came first from the far-sightedness and the enthusiasm of foreigners: the Egyptian musician Halim El-Dabh, followed by American John Coe and Charles Sutton. In 1966 Tesfaye Lemma became it's definitive Ethiopian mentor.