Ethiopian artists to feature at Spain's Rototom Sunsplash festival

Ethnopia was created from a partnership between Walter Rizzi a music promoter and business man Haileluel Tamiru in order to promote Ethiopian culture.

“Ethiopian music is isolated therefore such kinds of opportunities will allow us to introduce our country’s music and culture to the world,” said Rizzi.

Ethnopia has partnered with the Ethiopian Airlines, the Ethiopian Tourism Organization (ETO), Heineken Brewery, Garden of Coffee and the Embassy of Spain to Ethiopia.

“We partnered with Ethnopia because we wanted to show the organisers of the festival that we are capable of hosting the festival in Ethiopia in January 2018,” said Yohannes Tilahun, CEO of the ETO, an autonomous government body tasked with promoting Ethiopia's culture and tourism.

The eleven Ethiopian artists representing Ethiopia at the festival are Hailemikael Getnet (Haile Roots), Henock Mehari, Yohannis Bekele (Jonny Ragga) Samuel Berhanu (Sami Dan) Tsedeniya Birhanu (Tsedi), Yohanna Ashenafi (Yo Yo), Yohannes Wubeshet (Ras Johny), Chelina Yeshiwondim and The Mehari Brothers band which will offer background vocals.

“This is a good platform. Artists will get a chance to meet inaccessible people which will be a good opportunity to partner with recording companies and collaborate with international artists,” said Tamiru. In addition, Ethnopia will also show case Ethiopian traditional music instruments such as the Kirar, Kebero and Masinqo. Ethiopian products such as coffee, honey, Ethiopian wine and traditional cuisine will also be displayed.

According to the organisers of the festival up to 300,000 tickets incorporating campsites, forums, an artisan market, an art symposium and cultural villages have been sold. Since its launch in 1994, the Rototom Sunsplash music festival has hosted 2 500 shows with 15 000 artists from 120 countries.