Person

Abate Berihun

Abate Berihun is an Ethiopian-Israeli jazz saxophonist, vocalist and composer. A prolific musical artist, he is one of Israel’s most prominent Ethiopian musicians. Originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Berihun got ahold of a saxophone at an early age and enrolled himself in the Addis Ababa University Music School. It was here that he was first exposed to the Western jazz tradition and the albums of Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, two of his most important musical influences. At the age of 16, Berihun joined the Ethiopian Military Band. This period in his life came to an abrupt halt six years later, when the band’s bus was ambushed by EPRDF forces, rebelling against Mengistu’s Marxist dictatorship. Most of the band members were killed in the prolonged attack, and Berihun was wounded by two bullets. Berihun continued playing in the Ethiopian National Theater and toured internationally with Mahmoud Ahmed and Mulatu Astatke. At the age of 21 he established his own jazz band, with which he toured Europe three times a year. His last European tour ended merely three weeks before his move to Israel. Berihun joined his family in Israel in 1999. He has faced some cultural and financial adversity pursuing his musical career in Israel due to the pressures and struggles associated with the general acculturation process. His dream – being a musician in Israel – has proven difficult to realize. Facing a language barrier and the burden of alimony, Berihun worked as a dishwasher in a re

Discography

No releases yet.

Credits & appearances

Releases and tracks where Abate Berihun is credited but not the main artist.

ጌራወርቅ ነቃአጥበብጌራወርቅ ነቃአጥበብ
1999 · Album · CD
Saxophone