Teshome Wolde

Born on 8 September 1957 in Shoa, Ethiopia, Wolde sings soul in the manner of Mahmoud Ahmed. He first gained recognition during the mid-70s through a run of well-received shows at the City Hall Theatre in Addis Ababa. His initial cassette appeared in Ethiopia in 1981, after which he issued eight further titles aimed at domestic listeners. Performances have taken him across Ethiopia as well as to nearby nations such as Djibouti and Saudi Arabia, and he has also appeared in Europe and the USA. The Ethiopian Soul Review, his first CD, captured a 1994 concert at London’s Rocket Hall where the Ethio Stars provided accompaniment. Issued four years afterward, the album blends vigorous dance numbers with introspective ballads and evokes a fervent North African counterpart to the Memphis Soul Reviews of the 60s.