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 singing originating in the Ethiopian Church, she has brought Ethiopian music to wider appreciation and developed it in combination with a wide variety of styles.
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Recording career
2003 saw the release of Zion Roots, under the band name Abyssinia Infinite. Frequent collaborator Bill Laswell returned to play guitar, 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 Agewña, the language of Gigi's father's village.
Gigi's voice may be heard in the Hollywood film Beyond Borders, in which Angelina Jolie portrays an aid worker during the Ethiopian famine of the 1980s.
Controversy
Gigi has been criticised by some conservatives in Ethiopia, for breaking out of the traditional role of women in the Ethiopian Church. For instance, the song "Adwa" on her album Gigi is a cry of mourning for soldiers who died in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. This type of song is traditionally sung by men in Ethiopia.
Discography
- Tsehay, 1997
- One Ethiopia, 1998
- Gigi (Guramayle), 2001
- Illuminated Audio, 2003
- Zion Roots Abyssinia Infinite and Gigi, 2003
Featured on:
- Future 2 Future by Herbie Hancock
Quotes
- "I grew up singing in the Ethiopian Church, which is actually not allowed for women [sic], but there was a priest at my home who taught me how to sing the songs. And I listen to a lot of West African music, South African music, hip-hop, and funk, so you feel all that in the melodies. Even if it's in Amharic, people can appreciate the music." - Gigi, as quoted on her official website
- "With a single bold stroke, Gigi stands as the most important new African singer on the scene today" - Afropop Worldwide
External links
- Gigi Home Page
- Afropop Worldwide (NPR program)