The Nazarenes

Bio

The Nazarenes are an Ethiopian roots reggae duo consisting of brothers Medhane Tewolde and Noah Isac Tewolde. Known for their unique "Authentic Ethiopian Reggae," they blend powerful, soulful harmonies with traditional conscious roots music.

Background and Origins

Hometown: The brothers grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during the 1970s.
Base of Operations: They eventually relocated to Europe and established Sweden as their musical home base.
Solo Careers: Before forming the duo, Medhane toured with prominent Jamaican artists (like Culture Knox), while Noah released a solo album under the moniker Anbessa with Virgin Records in 1994.
Musical Style: Their sound bridges the African diaspora by infusing deep roots reggae with 1970s-style Motown R&B, soul ballads, and hauntingly distinct vocal arrangements.

Discography and Notable Albums

Orit (2001): Their debut studio album, released through Insteel Sounds.
Songs of Life (2004): Released globally via Heartbeat Records and Rounder Records. This highly acclaimed project features standout tracks like "Song of Righteous Life", "Song of Liberation", and "Song of Judgement Day".
Meditation (2012): A critically acclaimed collaboration with the prominent St. Croix-based label I Grade Records. It features high-profile collaborations with roots artists like Midnite ("The Lord Said") and Lutan Fyah ("It's Too Late").

Festival and Live Performances

The Nazarenes became a prominent fixture on European reggae festival circuits, delivering memorable live performances at the Uppsala Reggae Festival in Sweden and the Reggae Dub Festival in Poland