Éthiopiques refers to the 23-volume album compilation that Francis Falceto made for the Buda label in France. The series is nothing less than a musical treasure trove in which the Golden Age of Ethiopian jazz, mainly from 1969 to 1978, is disclosed for the rest of the world. The re-release of this music had a similar impact on many listeners as the re-release of, for example, Robert Johnson's
Delta Blues had on the previous generation. The big difference ist hat these Ethiopian musicians are still alive. An 11-piece band of exceptional musicians from the Horn of Africa has been formed as atribute to this special music. Singer Alèmayèh Eshèté is the Ethiopian James Brown and saxophonist Gétatchèw Mèkurya is literally a musical giant. The line-up will be supported at the festival by Badume's Band. Mahmoud Ahmed is by far the most famous of the musicians. He is the eminent elder of the Ethiopian jazz scene, a true living legend who according to the experts can easily be measured against the very best musicians from the Western jazz tradition.
