The Anglo-Ethiopian Society
Lecture - Celebrate Ethiopian culture with the 'father of Ethio-jazz' Mulatu Astatke discussing Ethiopia's contribution to world music
Mulatu Astatke
Wednesday 7th November 2012
7:00pm at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR
Tickets: Lecture alone £10 (includes drink)
Lecture and Embassy reception £20
Doors open at 6.00pm
On 7th November, during World Travel Market week, the 'father of Ethio-jazz', Mulatu Astatke, will discuss Ethiopia’s contribution to world music at the Royal Geographical Society.
Mulatu Astatke’s contribution to modern jazz and jazz fusion is legendary but at this talk at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) he will also examine Ethiopia’s contribution to western classical music and a wide range of modern music.
Born in Jimma, Ethiopia, Mulatu Astatke studied at Lindisfarne College and Trinity College of Music in England and Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA.
Mulatu was one of the leading musicians in Addis Ababa in the 1960’s and ‘70’s, during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. His career was re-launched when his music was re-released in the nineties on the Ethiopiques series of albums.
There is generally little awareness of the contribution that Ethiopia has made to classical music. The renowned Ethiopian musician and scholar Yared is credited with inventing the sacred music tradition of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Ethiopia's system of musical notation as early as 400AD.
Mulatu’s illustrated talk will be followed by a Q & A session and is open to all.
Before the talk guests can view the Society’s Ethiopia collection and an exhibition of photos taken by Lisa Bentinck on her recent visit to Ethiopia.
The talk will be followed by a reception at the nearby Ethiopian Embassy, which will include Ethiopian food and drink, including its superlative beers. Tickets are £10 for the lecture at the Royal Geographical Society (the price includes a drink - Ethiopian beer is an option) and £20 for both the RGS lecture and a reception at the nearby Ethiopian Embassy. Group/student discounts for the lecture are available. (There is no discount on the reception tickets as numbers are limited and tickets sell out fast).
The event is not organised by the RGS. Tickets must be purchased online from Eventbrite.