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Performing some of his greatest songs, Mahmoud Ahmed was clearly the star of this year's WOMAD 2010 tour.Along with his 10 peice band, Mahmoud pulled all the stops to an audience who've long waited for Ethiopian music.
We caught up with Mahmoud courtesy of Holy Cow Media to know where he's been all these years and what he owe's his reinvigorated career to.

What is known of Ethiopian music, pre 1970’s, is largely due to Francis Falceto, who assembled more than 23 volumes of Ethiopiques compilations

Produced before the Mengistu dictatorship of the 1970’s it featured some of Ethiopia and Eritrea’s recording artists.

Inspired by the talent, Francis convinced some of the biggest artists- Mahmoud Ahmed, Mulatu Astaqe, Alemayehu Eshate and Getachew Mekarya t- to perform their best known tracks with a 10 piece band.

Mahmoud, the standout star of this year’s WOMAD tour, is an accomplished vocalist that blends blues, brassy jazz and afro swing, with traditional Ethiopian music.

Mahmoud was a shoe shine, before becoming a handy man at the Arizona Club, when he first sang professionally in the early 60’s

Speaking at a press conference, Mahmoud says, he sang for the love of it, because “in the 60’s we were poor and as a shoe shine there wasn’t much else he could do.”

Ethiopia’s music scene had been largely overshadowed by graphic images of poverty and civil unrest. Global television networks had transformed Ethiopia’s image as forsaken by god and man.

Music plays an important role in society and Mahmoud has found his niche. Political lyrics were band, and all artists had to submit their work to the Ministry of Culture and Arts, a rogue organization set up to counter democratic ideals, before being recorded, So he became known for his love songs, without ever being able to express himself.  He began his career with the Imperial body Guard Band in 1962. Before Francis Falceto reinvigorated Mahmoud’s career. Mahmoud syas, he was living a simple life.

Mahmoud is disappointed that he wasn’t free to express himself. He’s happy with what the world recognizes him as but says living through the Derg meant that practically no one could be vocal.


Ethiopian music has remained untarnished for centuries. Minimal contact with European colonizers has meant relatively no influence by Cuban or other Latin styles as in West Africa, Rather artists looked to their traditional music and others to create a new form of free-form jazz.

Asked what fans should expect in the next few years, Mahmoud says a lot of collaborative track s and hopefully continue to make good music.







Thank you to Holy Cow Media and the Asian Radio Show for making this trip possible. please log on to holycowmedia.com for additional info

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