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wallias band

Biography

Walias Band (often spelled Wallias Band) is an Ethiopian jazz and funk ensemble that emerged from Addis Ababa’s vibrant hotel and club circuit in the early 1970s, becoming one of the most innovative groups of the Ethio‑jazz era.[3][2] Formed by members of the Venus Band, the group developed a distinct hard, polyrhythmic funk sound that blended traditional Ethiopian pentatonic scales with Western jazz, soul, and funk influences, and they quickly became in‑demand accompanists for leading vocalists as well as a formidable instrumental band in their own right.[3][2] Their regular performances at venues such as the Hilton Addis Ababa, Zula, and the Venus Club placed them at the center of Ethiopia’s nightlife during a politically turbulent period.[2][3]

In 1977 Walias Band recorded one of the rare Ethiopian instrumental LPs of the era, the album Tche Belew, which is now regarded as a classic of Ethiopian music and a landmark of Ethio‑jazz; the project featured vibraphonist and Ethio‑jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke and showcased the group’s sophisticated arrangements and deep, groove‑driven style.[3][2] In 1981 they became the first modern Ethiopian band to tour the United States, performing with singer Mahmoud Ahmed primarily for audiences of Ethiopian refugees, and several members—including Hailu Mergia, Girma Bèyènè, Mogès Habté, and Mèlakè Gèbrè—chose to remain in the U.S., where they later formed the Zula Band rather than return to Ethiopia under the Derg dictatorship.[3][4] The remaining core members continued performing under difficult political conditions in Ethiopia into the early 1990s, maintaining the group’s presence on the local scene even as the original lineup fragmented.[3]

From the late 1990s onward, Walias Band’s legacy expanded globally when French label Buda Records reissued much of their work in the influential Éthiopiques CD series, bringing tracks such as their instrumental "Musicawi Silt" to international attention.[3] That tune in particular became a popular dance number and has since been covered by numerous artists, helping to cement Walias Band’s reputation as foundational figures in Ethio‑jazz and Ethiopian funk.[3] Today, they are remembered both for their role as a backing band to major Ethiopian stars and for their own pioneering recordings, which encapsulate the creativity and resilience of Ethiopian musicians during a time of intense political upheaval.[3][1]

Fun Facts

  • Walias Band is credited as the first modern Ethiopian band to tour the United States, undertaking a landmark 1981 tour that primarily served Ethiopian refugee audiences.[3][4]
  • Their instrumental "Musicawi Silt" became an unexpected international hit decades after it was recorded, turning into a popular dance track and being covered by multiple artists once it was reissued in the Éthiopiques series.[3]
  • Several key members—including Hailu Mergia—used the 1981 U.S. tour as an opportunity to remain abroad and avoid returning to Ethiopia under the Derg dictatorship, later building new musical lives in Washington, D.C. and beyond.[3][4]
  • In the 1970s the band not only played original Ethio‑jazz and funk but also routinely performed covers of Western artists such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Santana, and The Meters for cosmopolitan hotel and club audiences in Addis Ababa.[2]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

  • Mulatu Astatke - Ethio‑jazz pioneer whose bandleading, composing, and collaboration with Walias shaped their sound and the broader direction of Ethiopian popular music. (Collaborative instrumental album in 1977 (including material later reissued in the Éthiopiques series).) [Mid‑1970s–late 1970s]
  • Western soul and funk horn players (e.g., King Curtis, Junior Walker, Maceo Parker) - Provided stylistic models for Walias Band’s hard, polyrhythmic funk sound and horn arrangements. (General influence on live sets and studio recordings, including Tche Belew and "Musicawi Silt.") [1970s]

Key Collaborators

  • Hailu Mergia - Keyboardist, arranger, and a central member/leader of Walias Band, helping define its Ethio‑jazz and funk sound. (Tche Belew (1977) and other 1970s recordings; later associated releases under Hailu Mergia & The Walias.) [Early 1970s–early 1980s]
  • Mahmoud Ahmed - Celebrated Ethiopian singer whom Walias Band backed on stage during their historic U.S. tour. (1981 U.S. tour performances for Ethiopian diaspora audiences.) [1981–early 1980s]
  • Girma Bèyènè - Pianist/arranger who played in Walias Band and later co‑founded Zula Band with other former members in the U.S. (Live work with Walias; subsequent work in Zula Band after 1981 tour.) [1970s–1980s]
  • Mogès Habté - Saxophonist and member of Walias Band who remained in the U.S. after the 1981 tour and joined Zula Band. (Walias Band recordings; later work with Zula Band.) [1970s–1980s]
  • Mèlakè Gèbrè - Member of Walias Band who stayed in the U.S. and helped form Zula Band following the group’s American tour. (Performances and recordings with Walias; subsequent work with Zula Band.) [1970s–1980s]
  • Yohannes Tèkola - Later bandleader for Walias Band who continued performing in Ethiopia after several colleagues remained in the U.S. (Ongoing performances under the Walias name in Ethiopia during the 1980s.) [1980s–early 1990s]

Artists Influenced

  • Zula Band - Group formed in the U.S. by former Walias members, carrying forward Walias’s Ethio‑jazz and funk approach in the diaspora. (Live performances and recordings by Zula Band drawing on Walias repertoire and style.) [Early 1980s onward]
  • Artists featured on the Éthiopiques reissue series - Walias Band’s reissued tracks, especially "Musicawi Silt," influenced international musicians and DJs exploring Ethio‑jazz and Ethiopian funk. (Covers and remixes of "Musicawi Silt" and inclusion of Walias material in DJ sets and compilations.) [Late 1990s onward]

Connection Network

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Discography

Top Tracks

  1. Muziqawi silt - instrumental (Ethiopiques, Vol. 13: The Golden Seventies (Ethiopian Groove))
  2. Muziqa muziqa (Ethiopiques, Vol. 13: The Golden Seventies (Ethiopian Groove))
  3. Metch ene terf feleghu (Ethiopiques, Vol. 13: The Golden Seventies (Ethiopian Groove))
  4. Muziqawi silt - Instrumental (Best of Ethiopiques - Golden Years of Ethiopian Music (L'âge d'or de la musique éthiopienne))
  5. Muziqawi Silt - Instrumental (Afrobeat Experience, Vol.1)
  6. Muziqawi Silt (Instrumental) (Wanted Afrobeat: From Diggers to Music Lovers)

Heard on WWOZ

wallias band has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.

DateTimeTitleShowSpotify
Dec 6, 202517:17muziqawi siltfrom heavenly ethiopiquesWorld Journeyw/ Logan