HAILU MERGIA - ETHIOPIAN LEGEND

Documentary (2013, 12mn)

In the late 90’s, I received one (of many) serious musical shock: "Musicawi Silt" by The Daktaris. Musicawi Silt could be translated by « The Art Of Music » and is one of the most powerful songs I’ve ever heard.
What I didn’t know then was that this song was actually a cover from ethiopian funk-jazz combo Walias Band. I found out later thanks to the release of the fantastic Ethiopiques compilations in the early years of 2000.
That was it, my heart and soul were forever in love with Ethiopian music.
A few months ago I discovered the Hailu Mergia and His Classical Instrument album. Released on the Awesome Tapes From Africa record label, the sound was like nothing I’ve heard before. But the man playing the accordion and keyboard there was the same man sitting behind the organ on the original Musicawi Silt hit, 40 years ago.

Camera: Carl Ternstedt, Damien Priest
Edit, post productiont: Damien Priest