Performance Portfolio

Melaku and Ethiocolor extend their base of tradition to new areas of musical exploration, developing strong performance partnerships with Ethiopian jazz bands Addis Acoustic Project and the US-based Debo Band, as well as international groups such as Le Baroque Nomade, Ukandanz, Akalé Wubé, Arat Kilo, and especially European punk band The Ex. The group has performed with legendary Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed and begena player Alemu Aga, while Melaku has collaborated with Éthiopiques founder Francis Falceto, Italian musicians Saba Anglana and Debora Petrina, Italian saxophonist Enzo Favata, among many others.  Ethiocolor artists appeared in Scandinavia, France, Spain, Mali, Tanzania, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, Qatar, India and United Arab Emirates; they rocked the Roskilde Festival in Denmark in July 2014, earning a rave review. Members of the group toured the US in 2011, 2012, and 2013 with stops at the Lowell and Richmond Folk Festivals, the International Festival of Arts and Ideas, and Kennedy Center as well as Lincoln Center where their performance received great acclaim from the New York Times. Ethiocolor performed as a showcase band at the prestigious Womex Festival in October 2014 and toured Europe twice during 2015 with The Ex, returning to Germany and Scandinavia in August 2015. Ethiocolor performed in Israel for the Jerusalem Sacred Music festival in September 2015. The performance of Ethiocolor/Fendika artists was a highlight at globalFEST, the premier world music showcase in New York, in January 2016. Later that year in August and September, they returned to the US for a 14-city tour. In November 2016, They also toured Europe with the Ex. In 2017, they were invited to perform at the African Music Festival in Tel Aviv (January), Israel, Glatt and Verkehrt Festival in Austria (July), and the UNESCO-Katara Cultural Diversity Festival in Doha, Qatar (October). 2018 saw Ethiocolor musicians at World Sacred Spirit Festival, Jodhpur, India (February) and Barzakh Festival, Abu Dhabi, UAE (February/March), and a 12-city tour of the USA. In April 2018 Melaku shared the stage with the legendary Mahmoud Ahmed and Girma Beyene at Banlieuse Bleues Festival in Paris. In 2019, Ethiocolor/Fendika went on a European tour with the Ex in celebration of the latter’s 40th anniversary.