Kamuzu Kassa
Kamuzu Kassa (Ge'ez: ካሙዙ ካሳ; born 2 September 1990) is an Ethiopian composer songwriter and producer. Kamuzu started his career composing spiritual songs, but when he composed music for Kako Getachew in 2007 he joined the secular world of music and became a public figure. Following this, Kamuzu composed music for Ethiopian artists Hamelmal Abate, Surafel Abebe, Jalud Awol, and many others.[1] Until his self-suspension in 2018, he composed more than 2000 music.[2]
Kamuzu Kassa | |
|---|---|
| ካሙዙ ካሳ | |
| Born | 2 September 1990 |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 2004–present |
Early life
Kamuzu was born in Beklo Segno, Wolayita, Ethiopia, and raised in Wolaita Sodo. He was born to Protestant Christian parents who are a health professional father and housewife mother. Kamuzu's passion for music grew in the church choir, and slowly spread to the outside.[3] Kamuzu got his name following his father's inspiration by Hastings Kamuzu Banda's, the Prime Minister and later President of Malawi from 1964 to 1994, middle name.[4][5]
In 1994, Kamuzu attended his primary school in the town of Bele (Wolaita) at Bele Primary School which is the capital of the district his hometown belongs to, but in 2000, his family left Bekilo Segno and went to Sodo. Following this, Kamuzu resumed his primary school in Ligaba Beyene Aba Sebsib primary school and he left this school when he was passed to the grade 9 and joined Sodo Comprehensive High School in 2002.[6]
Career
Kamuzu composed music for Eyob Deno's, a local gospel singer and preacher, album which is entitled "Halo Bado", Wolaitta language, successfully in 2004. Following this, he started to compose music for non-gospel singers as well. In 2007, he composed a single which is entitled "Aroge Arada" for Kako Getachew and this paved the way for him to the secular world of music.
In 2006, Kamuzu went to Addis Ababa and started to compose music in his own studio called "Shakura". In this studio, he composed more than 2,000 songs[3] for beginners and most popular singers.[7]
Works
Kamuzu became more popular after composing "Ele Aba" for Berhanu Tezera. Next to this he successfully composed music for Jalud Awol the song entitled Yergib amora. In 2009, he also composed a full album for Tigist Woyiso, his future wife. Also he composed more than 2,000 singles for Neway Debebe, Teddy Afro, Tibebu Workiye, Tamrat Desta, Hamelmal Abate, Abeba Dessalegn, Tadele Roba, Fikiraddis Nekatibeb, Shewandagn Hailu, Abinet Agonafer, Gosaye Tesfaye, Abush Zeleke, Hailye Tadesse, Tadele Gemechu and Bisrat Surafel in single and albums.[5]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Ele Aba" | Berhanu Tezera |
| 2 | "Yergib Amora" | Jalud Awol |
| 3 | "Aroge Arada" | Kako Getachew |
| 4 | "Enen Yaye" | Aster Awoke |
| 5 | "Sindelela" | Aster Aweke |
| 6 | "Che Feres" | Aster Awoke |
| 7 | Yachi neger (album) | Jalud Awol |
| 8 | Negus (album) | Jalud Awol |
| 9 | "Fiyorina" | Teddy Afro |
| 10 | "Aydenegitim" | Teddy Afro |
| 11 | "Hibongo" | Sintayehu Tilahun |
| 12 | "Zim Kemil Biye" | Abinet Agonafer |
| 13 | "Ayawkunim" | Abinet Agonafer |
| 14 | "Sew Ale" | Abinet Agonafer |
| 15 | "Gedan Kegna" | Tadele Gemechu |
| 16 | "Sebabuyako" | Tadele Gemechu |
| 17 | Semay (album) | Hailima Abidrehman |
| 18 | "Yene Konjo" | Helen Berhe |
| 19 | "365" | Helen Berhe |
| 20 | "Yayin Awaj" | Helen Berhe |
| 21 | "Fitawrari" | Helen Berhe |
| 22 | "Enat" | Helen Berhe |
| 23 | "Sebebu" | Helen Berhe |
| 24 | "Andande" | Helen Berhe |
| 25 | Mengedegna (album) | Kako Getachew |
| 26 | "Tihun Woy" | Bisrat Surafel |
| 27 | "Afalgugn" | Bisrat Surafel |
| 28 | "Hed Meles" | Bisrat Surafel |
| 29 | "Eyuat" | Bisrat Surafel |
| 30 | "Yebet Sira" | Bisrat Surafel |
| 31 | Mengedegna (album) | Bisrat Surafel |
| 32 | "Atinkuat" | Bisrat Surafel |
| 33 | "Ansi Male" | Bisrat Surafel |
| 34 | "Ayzosh" | Neway Debebe |
| 35 | "Majete Album" | Nina Girma |
Awards
Ministry of Culture and Tourism awarded him for his contribution to Ethiopian Music in 2021.[8] Kamuzu awarded Addis Music Award's Best Composer of the Year in 2018.[7] Also Fana Broadcasting Corporate, awarded him for his contribution to Ethiopian Music on 27 September 2021.[9]
References
- Semonegna (24 April 2020). "Ethiopian Music (Amharic): Hamelmal Abate – Andande (አንዳንዴ)". Semonegna Ethiopia. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- "Kamuzu Kassa". Music In Africa. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- "Kamuzu Kassa". Music In Africa. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ኤሊያስ መልካ የሚነካ የሚዳሰስ አይመስለኝም ነበር፡፡ /ካሙዙ ካሳ በሻይ ሰአት/, retrieved 4 November 2021
- ethiopia music Kamuzu Kassa Interview, retrieved 4 November 2021
- Fortune, Addis. "Music Composing Business Blooms, Despite Hurdles". Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- "Addis Music Award, best Movie of the year, 2011 E.C". mirtmirt.com. 11 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- Wolaita Zone chief Administrator’s /ወላይታ ዞን ዋና አሰተዳደር/. "የሃገር ባለውለታ ወንድማማቾች ተሸልመዋል". Facebook. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- "የፋና ላምሮት የአሸናፊዎች አሸናፊ የፍጻሜ ውድድር በደማቅ ሥነስርዓት ተካሄደ". Welcome to Fana Broadcasting Corporate S.C. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
Photos
Kamuzu Kassa with current Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr, Abiye Ahmed
Kamuzu Kassa with former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desaglen
Kamuzu Kassa with current Ethiopian Prime Minister and music producer Michel Hailu /miki jano/
Having Conversation about Ethiopia album with the prime minister.
Kamuzu Kass with African first women Olympic Gold medalist and current Ethiopian Athletics Federation President Derartu Tulu
Kamuzu Kassa with father of African Jazz Music Dr, Mulatu Astateke, and the legendary Roha band keyboardist current Ethiopian Music Association President Dr. Dawit Yifru