THE EMPEROR - Deep Soul From Ethiopia

1. Ere Mela Mela (Ere Mela Mela)
   Songs like this have made Mohamoud Ahmed one of the greatest post-war singers in Ethiopia. This is probably his biggest hit, both in Ethiopia and abroad.
2. Ya Selame Lalo (Live In Paris)
   When this irresistible shuffle was recorded in Paris, at least the Ethiopian fans jumped around and danced the eskeusta, the ecstatic shoulder-movement.
3. Wey Fikir - Your Love (Live in Paris)
   This song uses the trick of following a slow first half with an uptempo second half to great effect.
4. Tezita Garedew (Live In Paris)
   Melting soul ballad mentioning 'tezita', the keyword in Ethiopian culture. It means 'melancholia, longing', and is equivalent of saudade, duende, blues.
5. Bey Terigne - Call Me (Soul of Addis)
   This love song has Mohamoud singing from his toes again. One can hear that he learned the trade in the Haile Selassi's Imperial Bodyguard Band, back in the sixties.
6. Yasdestal - Transported with joy (Almaz)
   First single Mahmoud Ahmed recorded, in december 1971. This music, played by the Venus Band, is more outrageously orchestrated than Ahmed's later work.
7. Tezita (Live in Paris)
   The alternative national anthem of Ethiopia. Not the best version, but this concert recording demonstrates the way Mohamoud performs these days: no more expensive bands but a trio with synthesizer and rhythm box.
8. Abet (Soul Of Addis)
   Shake your shoulders to this one. Ethiopian dance classic in the funky Guragina-style that is Mohamoud's specialty.
9. Titesh - Never Mind (Soul of Addis)
   They say Ethiopian singers express feelings their audiences are too shy to air. This one says "Never mind". 
10. Selam (Soul Of Addis)
    During his schooldays in Gulage, moonlighting as a shoeshine boy, Mohamoud was already singing along to the Ethiopian songs blasting from the radio's in the cafe's and fantasizing about Addis.
11. Ambassel (Almaz)
    Beautiful jazzy version of the evergreen Ambassel, with a nice flute solo.

All songs are full versions, in glorious hi-fi. For reasons of sound quality I've only included songs that are available on CD.
You can find the link to a Mahmoud Ahmed live YouTube-clip in the video section of Golden Fiction.