Getachew Kassa

Getachew Kassa is an Ethiopian vocalist and percussionist. Since he started playing with a band called Fetan Band – or Speed Band – at the Patrice Lumumba Bar in Wube Berha in the 70’s, Getachew established himself as one of the most accomplished[1] Ethiopian musicians of the period[2] Notable songs include “Addis Abeba”,[3] “Tiz Balegn Gize”, “Yekereme Fikir”, “Bertucan nesh lomi” “Bichayan Tekze” “Agere Tizitash”. He played for various groups, such as the Sehebelles band, the Venus band, and later with the Walias band. His songs Tezata Slow and Fast were featured on the album Ethiopiques, Vol. 10: Ethiopian Blues & Ballads.[4]

Getachew also lived in the USA for many years. In the mid-1980s he toured through the states and drew attention to the fate of the people who had been struck by hunger in Ethiopia. His self-image as a "world citizen" brought him the status of an illegal immigrant. But it was not until the year 2012 that Ethiopia returned. IN 2012, Nahom records released The Best of Getachew Kassa [5] Kassa was a part of the Stay Strong Project's Stay Strong Orchestra alongside Alemayehu Eshete [6] and a songwriter and singer.[7]