Gigi

Ejigayehu Shibabaw, known professionally as Gigi, ranks among the handful of vocalists from the Horn of Africa to secure a major-label debut, becoming the first since her compatriot Aster Aweke to accomplish the feat. Her childhood unfolded in rural Ethiopia amid traditional and church music until she relocated to Addis Ababa at age 14. There her listening expanded to encompass local pop alongside “and all kinds of American music we could get on the radio.” Subsequent time in Kenya introduced her to an array of other African styles and “a different kind of beat.” Back in Ethiopia she joined the National Theatre as a singer, issued her first album, and later toured France with a puppet company. Her profile rose sharply after she performed at the Imagineer world-music festival, whose live recording circulated widely across Europe. She returned to Ethiopia in 1997 and soon received a U.S. visa. In America she confronted fresh challenges with determination, discovering jazz in Oakland and touring with Aster Aweke, “my favorite singer.” She next released the album One Ethiopia before Palm Pictures founder Chris Blackwell took an interest. Blackwell teamed her with producer Bill Laswell, who assembled jazz musicians Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter for her label debut, Gigi. Although the record conveys an electronic atmosphere, no loops or samples appear; every part was performed live. Gigi launched the campaign with a showcase at the 2001 WOMEX conference in Holland before embarking on a U.S. tour.