Aster Aweke

Early life

Aster Aweke was born in Gondar in 1959. She moved to Addis Ababa as a child with her father, who was senior civil servant in the imperial government of Haile Selassie. Aster hails from the Gurage ethnic group.

In a 1990 interview with Amy Duncan of The Christian Science Monitor, Aster discussed how her parents disproved of her musical ambition: "My family opposed me, but I just kept going and going... That's my life. I tried everything, but music makes me so happy."

Career

Aster enjoyed listening to Ethiopian musicians like Tilahun Gessesse and Bizunesh Bekele, as well as American musicians like Donna Summer and Aretha Franklin. When she was thirteen years-old, she decided to join Hager Fikir Theatre and auditioned by singing Bizunesh's song to join the theater as a dancer and vocalist.

In her teen years, she performed through clubs at Addis Ababa with famous bands including Shebelle Band, Roha Band, Ibex Band and Hotel D'Afrique Band. Her style gradually influenced by Bizunesh Bekele and performed songs by Donna Summer and Aretha Franklin. She began as a solo career in 1977 through the release of her debut album, and followed with three more albums within the year.

In 1981, she moved to the United States. She temporarily settled in the San Francisco Bay Area of California and then within two years moved to Washington, D.C. She briefly attended Northern Virginia Community College, specializing in computer science, as well as learning formal musical education, which she took a distaste towards. During her time in the D.C. metropolitan area, she performed in restaurants and clubs. During her time in Washington, Aster released her U.S. major label debut Aster. Aster was released by Columbia Records in 1990 after a 1989 release by British independent label Triple Earth.

In 1997, after more than 15 years abroad, Aster returned to Ethiopia, where she was warmly welcomed by thousands of fans awaiting her at Addis Ababa airport.

Aster Aweke owned and operated a cafeteria in Addis Ababa called Kabu, which was named after her song "Kabu". The cafeteria ceased operations in 2015. On 3 January 2023, Aster released Soba. The album comprises a collabrative work of other artists.

Discography

;Contributing artist

• Ethiopian Groove (1994) - The Golden Seventies (Buda Musique)
• Unwired: Acoustic Music from Around the World (1999) - (World Music Network)
• The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia (2004) - (World Music Network)

;Featured singles

• Taitu (2014) - Yegna

References

References

1. Aga, Mark T.. "50 of the Best Old & New Amharic Music: Songs and Singers — allaboutETHIO".
2. "Aster Aweke".
3. "All-Music "Aster Aweke:- Artist Biography by Craig Harris"".
4. Briggs, Philip. (2018). "Ethiopia". Bradt Travel Guides.
5. "Aster Aweke Biography, Songs, & Albums".
6. Thompson, Clifford. (2020). "Contemporary World Musicians". Routledge.
7. Thompson, Clifford. (2020-10-07). "Contemporary World Musicians". Routledge.
8. Insight, Addis. (2019-06-22). "Aster Aweke Making a Comeback With a New Album".
9. (2015-08-26). "Aster Aweke to perform live at 'Ewedhalew' concert".
10. Samuel, Rahel. "Ethiopian Music: Aster Aweke continues to rock the stage".
11. Magazine, Tadias. "Aster Aweke Live at SOB's in New York – February 4th at Tadias Magazine".
12. (August 2, 2019). "ART REVIEW: FROM VINYL TO CLOUD: THE INDEFATIGABLE ASTER AWEKE". Addis Standard.
13. (October 11, 1990). "ETHIOPIAN SOUL". The Washington Post.
14. "All-Music "Aster Aweke:- Artist Biography by Craig Harris"".
15. "Ethiopian celebrity expanding into coffee export".
16. Insight, Addis. (2023-01-03). "Aster Awoke's Highly Anticipated 25th Album 'Soba' Set to Drop on Ethiopian Streaming App Sewasew".
17. Insight, Addis. (2019-06-22). "Aster Aweke Making a Comeback With a New Album".
18. "PRESS RELEASE-YEGNA RELEASES NEW MUSIC VIDEO FEATURING ASTER AWEKE".