Musical Vanguards Series presents Qwanqwa
Category: Live Music
Date and Time for this Past Event
- Wednesday, Sep 28, 2022 7pm - 8:30pm
Location
Dairy Arts Center
2590 Walnut St
Details
Meet this supergroup–one of the greatest ensembles coming out of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!
Brought together by a shared passion for the power of Ethiopian music, this group shines experimentalism based in the virtuosity of rooted traditions. It is driving, powerful, and different than anything else coming out of Ethiopia at this current Golden Age of Ethiopian music.
The ensemble was founded in 2012 by American violinist Kaethe Hostetter, who first worked in Ethiopian music as a founding member of the critically acclaimed Debo Band. Since relocating to Addis in 2009, she has participated in numerous exploratory and professional projects, as she honed her sound and immersed herself further into the culture of her surroundings. In this sense, QWANQWA, the Amharic word for “language,” is a project creating dialogues between cultures.
Current members of QWANQWA are Endris Hassen (mesenko), Kaethe (violin), Bubu Teklemariam (bass krar), Selamnesh Zemene (vocalist), and Misale Legesse (kebero). They have appeared internationally with Getachew Mekuria, The EX, Thurston Moore, Fred Frith, Butch Morris, Debo Band, Nile Project, Fendika, Mahmoud Ahmed, Mulatu Astatke, Addis Acoustic, Ethiocolor, Atse Teodros, Mohammed “Jimmy” Mohammed, and Imperial Tiger Orchestra, and have played stages from Lincoln Center to Bonnaroo, Jazzfest (New Orleans), Moers Festival, Roskilde, WOMEX, WOMAD and more.
