Songs By Ethiopian Singer Ejigayehu Shibabaw (Gigi)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post features five sound file & videos of Ethiopian singer Ejigayehu Shibabaw (Gigi). Information about this vocalist is also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT ETHIOPIAN SINGER GIGI
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigi_(singer)

Ejigayehu Shibabaw, or Gigi as she is popularly known, is one of the most successful contemporary Ethiopian singers worldwide. Coming from an ancient tradition of song originating in the Ethiopian Church, she has brought the music of Ethiopia to wider appreciation and developed it in combination with a wide variety of other genres.

Gigi was born [in 1974] and raised in Chagni in northwestern Ethiopia. She has described learning traditional songs from a priest in the family home, in spite of the Ethiopian Church generally prohibiting women from singing or playing music in church until the Derg era. She lived in Kenya for a few years before moving to San Francisco in about 1998.

Gigi recorded two albums for the expatriate Ethiopian community, but it was her 2001 album, titled simply Gigi, that brought her widespread attention...Palm Pictures owner Chris Blackwell, who had years earlier introduced reggae to the mainstream through his former label, Island Records and Gigi's producer (and later, husband) Bill Laswell, decided to use American jazz musicians (including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Pharoah Sanders and others) to accompany Gigi on the new album.

The result was a fusion of contemporary and traditional sounds. The album was a critical success internationally and generated controversy in her home country for such a radical break with Ethiopian popular music...This release was soon followed by Illuminated Audio, an ambient dub style remix of the album by Laswell.

2003 saw the release of Zion Roots, under the band name Abyssinia Infinite. Bill Laswell played guitar and keyboard (instead of his usual bass), and several of Gigi's family members contributed vocals. The album was a return to a mainly acoustic sound for Gigi, incorporating instruments such as the krar and the tabla. The track "Gole" is in Agaw, the language of Gigi's father's village...She released her sixth album, Gold and Wax on Palm Pictures, in 2006.

...In 2010, she recorded Mesgana Ethiopia with Material, released on the M.O.D. Technologies label.

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FEATURED SONGS
Information about what any of these songs mean would be greatly appreciated.

Example #1: Gigi-the best



Ybayoyo, Uploaded on Nov 17, 2007

hard to find artist,yet one of the best Ethiopian singers out their!!!

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Example #2: Ethiopian...GiGi Shibabaw



EthioNiGisT, Uploaded on Mar 1, 2009

an Agew song called "Gole" by GiGi
i think the song would've been better with a real traditional agew beat in the background..but thats just my opinion

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Example #3: GIGI, Ethiopia



Fabfishsos, Uploaded on Mar 26, 2008

the beautifull song ABA ALEM LEMINE

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Example #4: "Eskemeche" by Gigi Shibabaw



ethi0nz, Uploaded on Mar 12, 2010

AREGNGWADE BICHA QEY NEW KELEMU
One love, one Ethiopia!!!!
Ethiopians unite for our mother Ethiopia!!
Toko Ethiopia(Oromiffa)
Ande Ethiopia(Amharic)
Hade Ethiopia(Tigrigna)

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Example #5: Ethiopian jazz by GiGi : Mengedegna withTabla Beat Science



Endexye, Uploaded on Feb 14, 2010

ጂጂ አንት መንገደኛ

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to Ethiopian singer Gigi, and all of the musicians affiliated with her recordings.

Thanks also to the uploaders of these featured sound files and videos.

And finally, thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.