Wede Harer Guzo, by Hailu Mergia

Wede Harer Guzo

by Hailu Mergia

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1grin0 nostalgic beyond comprehension, no other album makes me feel this way. Blissful yet sullen Favorite track: Wede Harer Guzo.

ray <:‑| such a lovely energy in these songs Favorite track: Minilbelsh.

blkkstatic lovely sounds, nothing quite like this warm fuzzy album on a summer day Favorite track: Anchin Kifu Ayinkash.

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Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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Download available in 16-bit/44.1kHz.

$8 USD or more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Available on vinyl for the first time, this double LP of smokey and soulful recording of Addis Ababa's Dahlak Band lead by the imitable keyboard champion Hailu Mergia is one of a kind.

Includes unlimited streaming of Wede Harer Guzo via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Download available in 16-bit/44.1kHz.

ships out within 3 days

Purchasable with gift card

$27 USD or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Includes unlimited streaming of Wede Harer Guzo via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Download available in 16-bit/44.1kHz.

ships out within 3 days

Purchasable with gift card

$12 USD or more
Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Band "Wede Harer Guzo" cassette
Cassette + Digital Album
First ever repress of cassette-only 1977 Ethiopian release of Hailu Mergia's very vibey recording with Dahlak Band.

Includes unlimited streaming of Wede Harer Guzo via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Download available in 16-bit/44.1kHz.

Sold Out

1.	Embuwa Bey Lamitu 06:05	buy track
2.	Sintayehu 06:48	buy track
3.	Bati Bati 07:04	buy track
4.	Migibima Moltual 06:26	buy track
5.	Yene Nesh Wey (Amalele) 04:38	buy track
6.	Wede Harer Guzo 06:35	buy track
7.	Yemanesh Ayinama 07:11	buy track
8.	Almaz Eyasebkush 05:40	buy track
9.	Anchin Kifu Ayinkash 05:24	buy track
10.	Minilbelsh 05:57	buy track

about

By 1978, Addis Ababa’s nightlife was facing challenges. The ruling Derg regime imposed curfews, banning citizens from the streets after midnight until 6am. But that didn’t stop some people from dancing and partying thorough the night. Bands would play from evening until daybreak and people would stay at the clubs until curfew was lifted in the morning.
One key denizen of Addis’ musical golden age, Hailu Mergia, was preparing a follow up to his seminal Tche Belew LP with the famed Walias Band. It was the band’s only full-length record and it had been a success. But his Hilton house band colleagues were a bit tied up recording cassettes with different vocalists. Still Mergia, amidst recording and gigs with the Walias, was also eager to make another recording of his instrumental-focused arrangements. So he went to the nearby Ghion Hotel, another upmarket outpost with a popular nightclub. Dahlak Band was the house band at Ghion at the time. Together they made this tape Wede Harer Guzo right there in the club during the band’s afternoon rehearsal meetings, with sessions lasting three days.
“My instrumental music was very in-demand and I could have waited,” Mergia recalls. “But I wanted to have a different kind of sound. I had done several recordings with Walias so this time I needed a different sound.”
Dahlak Band catered to a slightly more youthful, local audiences, while Mergia’s main gig with the Walias at Addis swankiest hotel had a mixed audience that included foreign diplomats and older folks from abroad. Therefore their sets varied included lighter fare during dinnertime and a less rollicking selection of jazz and r&b. Meanwhile Dahlak was known more for the mainly soul and Amharic jams they served up for hours two nights a week to a younger crowd.
When Mergia entered the Ghion hotel nightclub to record this tape he was teaming up with a seasoned band who were particularly suited to his instrumental sound. Ethiopian popular music at the time combined elements of music from abroad and Dahlak balanced Mergia’s traditional song selection with the modern approach of a seasoned soul band.
Crucial to the resulting collaboration were Mergia’s arrangements which replaced distinctively use vocals for melodies normally played by instruments. His arrangements conjured memorable new flavors out of existing songs already popular with listeners.
Before Walias Band’s successful gig as house band at the Hilton, Mergia was a young musician hustling from one place to another around Addis. After finishing gigs at the Hilton or on nights off, he would go to good bar where azmari—roving musicians who play traditional songs for tips—and he’d pick up ideas and inspiration. Late night azmari performances revealed for Mergia which songs were moving people in the city. He regularly attended clubs, bars and special private after-hours venues called zigubgn where azmari perform. For Mergia, it was crucial to feature songs he knew people would recognize.
Amharic music has a large repertoire of standard songs everyone knows, the original composers and lyricists of which are often unknown or forgotten. Many of the songs Dahlak, Walias and other bands of that era (including Ibex and Shebele) were playing came from the treasury of shared music, which helped ensure a good vibe in the air.
Mergia released Wede Harer Guzo (“Travel to Harer,”with Sheba Music Shop, which was located in the Piazza district but has long since shut down. Recalling the audience’s positive reaction to Wede Harer Guzo’s novel arrangements, he says it sold well and found many fans. However, as no trace of the tape can be found online, there’s no indication as to why the cassette appears largely forgotten until now.

credits

released June 16, 2016

Hailu Mergia (organ) / Dawit Yifru (electric piano) / Abera Feyissa (bass) / Tesfaye Tessema (drums) /  Dawit Kassa (guitar) / Tilaye Gebre (sax) / Shimels Beyene (trumpet) / Muluken Melesse (vocals) /  Rida Ibrahim (vocals)
All songs arranged by Hailu Mergia
Recorded in 1978 at Ghion Hotel, Addis Ababa

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about

Hailu Mergia Washington, D.C.

Master accordionist and veteran bandleader, arranger and keyboardist, originally from Ethiopia.

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