Minyeshu: August 2023 Artist of the Month

 

 

Minyeshu (Kifle Tedla) isn’t as well known in North America as she is in Europe and it’s bloody well time to correct that. She hails from Ethiopia, where she made waves with the Ethiopian National Theatre. Alas, some of the Theatre’s work ruffled the feathers of the autocratic EPRDF government that took over in 1991. Five years later, Minyeshu was granted asylum in Europe and now lives in The Netherlands. Call it Ethiopia’s loss, as she might be the most exciting singer to come out of the African continent since Benin’s Angélique Kidjo (who also now lives in Europe because of religious and ethnic strife at home).

 

No wonder Minyeshu ‘s new album, Netsu, translates as ”Free.” She is a different kind of singer than Kidjo, but every bit as exciting. The opening track “Fidel is an earworm of the very best type, a stunning and infectious song that’s in turn catchy, growly, and soaring. (It even has a little talk-box surprise near the end.) It’s also typical of Minyeshu’s blend of West-meets-the-Horn-of-Africa. She sings mostly in Amharic and other African languages, but you don’t need to understand a word to know she’s the real deal. Plus, her blend of funk, roots music, soul, and jazz is so hip you’ll want to jump on the Minyeshu bandwagon.

 

On “Ethiyo yo yo pa” she and her backup singers warble like birds, but shift when the brass brings on the funk. It is one of several tracks in which you’ll hear ululation, a distinctive African wavering vocal that comes from the back of the throat and presses the tongue to the roof of the mouth. It’s hard for Westerners to emulate. One is tempted to leave it to the experts, but it’s just so joyous it’s hard to resist trying! “Yene Africa” is an ebullient mix of Afropop and brassy instrumentation. It backs Minyeshu’s strong lead that cues robust and percussively-timed backup vocals.

 

“Qhakaza Thando” is the jazziest track on the album, hence the most familiar in sound for those unfamiliar with Minyeshu’s repertoire. Those familiar with Ladysmith Black Mambazo might find resemblances to South African Township songs in the merged voices that that open this song. (Note: South Africa lies nearly 4,000 miles from Ethiopia and one should be aware of cultural differences.)  

 

For the most part, Minyeshu follows the rhythms of Eskista, which lends itself well to schoulder dance, a term that means pretty much what you think it does. This is a movement that originates in the shoulders and emphasizes everything from a hands-on-shoulder birdlike circular movements to a stiff-bodied shrug that is a prelude to looser movements of the neck and lower body. It can seem unusual at first, but observe how perfectly it fits the music and how much fun the dancers have with it.

 

Note: The two live tracks I posted are not from Netsu, though they serve to reinforce my comments on how Minyeshu gets in your ear. I’m betting that the feet and shoulders will follow.

 

Rob Weir