Aster Aweke remains one of Ethiopia's best loved performers. A native of Gandor, a small town near Lake Tara, Aweke was raised in the capital city of Addis Ababa. The daughter of senior civil servant in the Imperial government, Aweke was determined, by the age of thirteen, to become a musician. By her late teens, she was singing in Addis Ababa clubs and hotels with such bands as the Continental Band, Hotel D'Afrique Band, Shebele Band and the Ibex Band (before they became the internationally-known Roha Band).
Artist Aster Aweke Music Collections
Launching a solo career, Aweke was encouraged by musical entrepeneur, Ali Tango, who financed and released five cassettes and two singles of hre music. By 1981, Aweke had become disillusioned by the country's oppressive political climate and relocated to the United States. Settling in Washington, D.C., she built a following with her performances in local Ethiopian restaurants, she then toured Europe and the U.S. in 1985. Aweke is now successful throughout the world. She is a voice for her people and perhaps the most famous female singer in Ethiopia.
