Gildo Kassa

Gildo was born in Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia. He got the name Gildo because of his first word as a baby was Gil - Gil, and this became Gil-do to mean "one who say gil - gil" in the Wolaytta language.[1] He was raised with in Protestant Christian which strictly prohibited music. He was inspired by his older brother Kamuzu Kassa to go into music.

Gildo has produced several hit songs, one of which being "Lageba new" ("I am gonna marry") featuring music crew Shakura.[2] Per The New Times of Rwanda, Gildo produced more than 300 singles, including more than 59 of his own songs.[3][4] As he stated in his interview with EBS television's "The Reggae and Afrobeat Music" program, his first works were reggae song by Jalud Awel: "Amta chaweta" and "Dagos yale sitota". Kassa is well known by customizing afrobeat to the Ethiopian traditional music, specifically the Wolaita and Tigrigna styles, naming his style "Ethio-shake". The songs he composed and produced were top hit and nominated in many Ethiopian's awards. Among those Sancho Gebre's songs titled "Atasayugn" and "Tanamo"; Yared Negu's song titled "Yagute"; Michael Melaku and Asgegnew Ashko collaboration song titled "Akukulu" were a few.

He is among the Afrimma 2020 Nominees under the category of Best Male East Africa. He is the only nominee from Ethiopia.[5][6] Aljazeera put his song "Lageba new" among the list of the songs that made Africa – and the world – dance in 2019.[7]