The Guardian, UK
June 16 2011
Haile Selassie witnesses an Armenian marching band
January 1924: Number 3 in our series of the 50 key events in the
history of world and folk music
John Lewis The Guardian, Thursday 16 June 2011
On a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in January 1924, Haile Selassie witnessed
a marching band of Armenian refugees, all survivors of the Ottoman
genocide. Moved by their plight and impressed by their music, he
invited all 40 of them to become his state band in Addis Ababa. Over
the next 50 years, countless Ethiopian bands followed the same line-up
and forged a stately brand of jazz-funk, fostering unique talents such
as Mulatu Astatke, Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayehu Eshete.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jun/16/halle-selassie-armenian-marching-band
June 16 2011
Haile Selassie witnesses an Armenian marching band
January 1924: Number 3 in our series of the 50 key events in the
history of world and folk music
John Lewis The Guardian, Thursday 16 June 2011
On a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in January 1924, Haile Selassie witnessed
a marching band of Armenian refugees, all survivors of the Ottoman
genocide. Moved by their plight and impressed by their music, he
invited all 40 of them to become his state band in Addis Ababa. Over
the next 50 years, countless Ethiopian bands followed the same line-up
and forged a stately brand of jazz-funk, fostering unique talents such
as Mulatu Astatke, Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayehu Eshete.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jun/16/halle-selassie-armenian-marching-band