Alhamdulillah She is fine! Zubeyda - Bringing Books to Cinema

Alhamdulillah She is fine! Zubeyda - Bringing Books to Cinema

Zubeyda - Eid Al-Fitr Special Holiday Edition

The queen of soul music - singer Asther found out

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She is a singer who has a great place in the history of Ethiopian music and has earned the title of 'Queen of Soul'. It has high acceptance and popularity in the previous and current generation, especially in the young part of the society. Contributing two dozen albums in her musical career has kept her at the forefront of the music industry; Her recently released 25th full length album has made the artiste to be attracted by her fans. Ethiopian music owes its current status to this great singer Asther Awoke.

Born in 1951 in Hamusit, a rural town in South Gondar, singer Esther Ako came to Addis Ababa in the 1960s and started playing music at the age of 13 when she was employed as a dancer and singer at the Love of Country Theater. Although Asther grew up in a society that held a low regard for musicians, deciding to become a singer at the age of ten was a difficult decision in her life. When she came to Addis Ababa, she performed music with Continental Band, Hotel d'Afrique Band, Ibex Band and Shebele Bands.

Asther, who started her professional musical career at the old country love theater, gained popularity by performing in night clubs. In the late 1970s, she played the works of popular foreign musicians such as 'Aretha Franklin' and 'Donna Summer' in Addis Ababa's famous night clubs. In 1981 The album "Munaye" that she released brought her high respect and fame among Ethiopian music lovers. She started recording her music with clay and was able to record tapes.

After settling in Northern California, she abandoned music and focused on education. "I was miserable," she says, recalling the difficult decision to leave the music she loved. "I found my joy in music," she says of her return to her talent after a brief hiatus from music.

Her work began to be heard, and guest appearances on CNN, BBC Radio and Television, PBS Radio and Television, CBC and London's Channel 4's Big World Cafe. Among the print media, Newsweek, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times read articles containing analyzes of her image and music.

In addition to her stage presence and beautiful singing, Asther, who composes poetry and music in her own way, has served as an emotional expression for Amharic music audiences at home and abroad. Additionally, several of her songs have been included on compilation CDs with other great world musicians such as King Sunny Ade.

Asther has topped the Billboard and College Music Journal (CMJ) charts with her work. Kabu spent 4 weeks at number one on the College Music Journal music chart. It also stayed in the Top 10 World Music Chart for 10 weeks on the Billboard World Music Chart.

Asther, who has released a total of 25 albums, has recorded six of them on CD. Esther has performed at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, the Hollywood Bowl, and various European festivals. Asther has had the opportunity to work on the same stage with renowned vocalists including Hue Masekela, Maria Makeba, Mano Dibango and Bradford Marsalis.

Vocalist Asther Awa received an honorary doctorate from the University of Gondar and her 25th music album titled 'Soba' was uploaded on Grammar application last Saturday and was able to reach listeners. In this album, the young composer, including Alex Yelf, participated in the composition of the "Soba" album, and the mastering of the album was done by Abegaz.

Vocalist Asther Akowa is one of the Ethiopian musicians who are at the height of her musical career.