Ethiopia's Roha Band

Roha Band — Instrumental Music

Instrumental titans, backing band to so many stars of Ethiopian popular music, Roha Band made this seminal tape in the early 1980s I think. Even if you’ve heard tons of Ethiopian music from the “golden age” and beyond, check this out. Very surprising expansion on the well-deserved impression that music-making in Addis has been powerful and brilliant over the years (and still is).

Over the decades, Roha Band has backed every great Ethiopian singer you can think of, more or less.

Thanks to Guillaume for this!

 

Side A

Track 1

Track 2

Track 3

Track 4

Track 5

 

Side B

Track 6

Track 7

Track 8

Track 9

Track 10

16 Comments

Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.

  • December 13, 2016 at 6:26 pm

    super great thanks

  • December 13, 2016 at 6:59 pm

    Thanks Brian! Loved the tape with Aster Aweke too. You’re a real awesome guy, introducing random folks like me to all this great music.

  • December 13, 2016 at 10:49 pm

    Fantastic release! Thanks a million. I would love to know the track names if anyone can translate?

    • January 18, 2017 at 1:48 am
      In reply to: JVR

      Tracks 3 & 4 are something like Resist Nature and Jonah Scheme, respectively. Done using Amharic keyboard http://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/amharic.htm and Google Translate https://translate.google.com/

      melikami ‘idili!መልካም ዕድልመልካ

      • November 13, 2017 at 12:22 am
        In reply to: JFDerry

        Actually most of this songs are instrumental cover version of other Amharic songs! I have so many childhood memories to this songs.

        • October 25, 2021 at 1:31 pm
          In reply to: Abinet Tefera

          Thank you for sharing. Would you be interested in sharing more on which songs from your childhood they remind you of? Currently looking into researching and archiving music from the Horn more conciously and looking for people who’d like to share their memories.
          Best, J

  • December 13, 2016 at 11:53 pm

    Wow ! Track #6 is my fav !!

  • December 13, 2016 at 11:53 pm

    unbelievable ….researching old ethiopian releases is like exploring entire new universe … always pop up new, excellent things. thanks a lot for this rarity!

  • December 14, 2016 at 1:28 am

    still you get more research you may get more.pls oldes muluken melesse music is it possible to order the casset.
    wondirad

  • December 29, 2016 at 7:38 am

    wonderfu!

  • December 29, 2016 at 8:43 am

    […] 26 Roha Band — Instrumental Music (awesometapes.com) […]

  • January 9, 2017 at 8:24 am

    […] Le label de Brian Shimkovitz a toujours su se montrer généreux. Sur leur site, on peut en effet télécharger un grand nombre de vieilles raretés dénichées en Afrique, dont cette fantastique cassette d’instrumentales de Roha Band. […]

  • February 10, 2017 at 8:06 pm

    This is definitely from the second half of the 1980s. I remember.

  • August 29, 2017 at 4:16 pm

    so they’re like the Ethiopian Booker T and the MGs…

  • September 21, 2018 at 11:26 am

    I listened several times to this tape and for sure it sticks to you. Only know Addis Ababa airport as I flew several times with Ethiopian airways to get to Zim. But every time ,even visiting the airport is a treat. Love the culture, the food and the music. If I make one day enough money to visit the country I think I will sleep in the clubs, just to enjoy the music.

  • September 21, 2018 at 11:29 am

    But a booker T with big plus.

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