Beaming in from the sizzling Addis Ababa nightlife scene, QWANQWA shines an experimentalism based on the virtuosity of rooted traditions. With swirling masinko (one-stringed fiddle), wah-wah violin, bass krar grooves, the heavy riffs of goat skin kebero beats, and powerful melismatic lead African diva vocals, QWANQWA keeps the people rapt in celebratory attention. QWANQWA’s debut US tour of 54 concerts in Fall 2022 brought the poignant euphoric experience to storied jazz clubs, sticker-slapped rock clubs, folk festivals, prestigious music institutions, street festivals, universities, and country opera houses, all the while unifying these audiences as they clap along to “Music is Universal Language”. QWANQWA uncovers lesser-known traditional sounds from East African regions of Ethiopia and beyond—a trance-like chant of the Eritrean tribe of Blen, a psychedelic Somalian cover, an extended Amhara wedding medley, a Mahmoud Ahmed sing-a-long. With Selamnesh Zemene, the Azmari diva powerhouse, at the helm, QWANQWA is a conversation of virtuosos through tight arrangements and extended experimental moments. The live shows ranges from intimate to wild, from whispery conversations to full-blown rock shows, and it is hard to believe these psychedelic sounds come from traditional harps, one-string fiddle, and violin. Driving and powerful, QWANQWA proves we are living during another Golden Age of Ethiopian music.
With swirling masinko (one-stringed fiddle), wah-wah violin, bass krar grooves, the heavy riffs of goat skin kebero beats, and powerful melismatic lead African diva vocals, QWANQWA keeps the people rapt in celebratory attention.
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