Aster Aweke

Template:Short description Template:Patronymic name Template:Infobox musical artist Aster Aweke (Template:Langx; born 1959)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is an Ethiopian singer-songwriter. Aster's voice has attracted broader public popularity, especially tracing back in 1990s singles and her single "Abebayehosh" in Ethiopian New Year. She is best known for her 1999 album Hagere and her 2006 album Fikir. She moved to the United States in 1981, and she returned to Ethiopia in 1997.<ref name="Aster Aweke">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AsterBioAllMusicHarris">Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life

Aster Aweke was born in Gondar in 1959.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> She moved to Addis Ababa as a child with her father, who was senior civil servant in the imperial government of Haile Selassie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Aster hails from the Gurage ethnic group.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In a 1990 interview with Amy Duncan of The Christian Science Monitor, Aster discussed how her parents disproved of her musical ambition: "My family opposed me, but I just kept going and going... That's my life. I tried everything, but music makes me so happy."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Career

Aster enjoyed listening to Ethiopian musicians like Tilahun Gessesse and Bizunesh Bekele, as well as American musicians like Donna Summer and Aretha Franklin.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> When she was thirteen years-old, she decided to join Hager Fikir Theatre and auditioned by singing Bizunesh's song to join the theater as a dancer and vocalist.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In her teen years, she performed through clubs at Addis Ababa with famous bands including Shebelle Band, Roha Band, Ibex Band and Hotel D'Afrique Band.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Her style gradually influenced by Bizunesh Bekele and performed songs by Donna Summer and Aretha Franklin. She began as a solo career in 1977 through the release of her debut album, and followed with three more albums within the year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1981, she moved to the United States. She temporarily settled in the San Francisco Bay Area of California and then within two years moved to Washington, D.C. She briefly attended Northern Virginia Community College, specializing in computer science, as well as learning formal musical education, which she took a distaste towards.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> During her time in the D.C. metropolitan area, she performed in restaurants and clubs. During her time in Washington, Aster released her U.S. major label debut Aster. Aster was released by Columbia Records in 1990 after a 1989 release by British independent label Triple Earth.<ref name=":0" />

In 1997, after more than 15 years abroad, Aster returned to Ethiopia, where she was warmly welcomed by thousands of fans awaiting her at Addis Ababa airport.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Aster Aweke owned and operated a cafeteria in Addis Ababa called Kabu, which was named after her song "Kabu". The cafeteria ceased operations in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 3 January 2023, Aster released Soba. The album comprises a collabrative work of other artists.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Discography

Albums

Title	Year	Label
Aster	1990	Triple Earth, Columbia/CBS Records<ref name="Aster Aweke"/>
Kabu<ref name="Aster Aweke"/>	1991	Colombia/CBS Records
Ebo	1994	Barkhanns
Live in London	1995	Barkhanns
Hagere	1999	Kabu Records
Sugar	2001	Kabu Records
Asters Ballads	2004	Kabu Records
Fikir	2006	Kabu Records
Checheho	2010	Kabu Records
Ewedhalew	2013	Kabu Records
Musica	2017	Kabu Records
Sebebu	2017	Kabu Records
Chewa<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2019	Kabu Records
Soba<ref name=":1" />	2023	Kabu Records

Contributing artist

• Ethiopian Groove (1994) - The Golden Seventies (Buda Musique)
• Unwired: Acoustic Music from Around the World (1999) - (World Music Network)
• The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia (2004) - (World Music Network)

Featured singles

• Taitu (2014) - Yegna<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Abesha.com - Aster's Ballad's (Review)
• [[[:Template:AllMusic]] Allmusic - Aster Aweke]
• African Legends Aster Aweke World Music
• Sheger Video - Ethiopian Music and Fun Videos Template:Webarchive
• Africanmusiciansprofiles.com - Aster Aweke
• zefen.com - Aster Aweke Template:Webarchive
• Interview with Aster Aweke