About Ayaléw Mèsfin & Black Lion Band

With about twenty singles and a dozen tapes released since 1974, Ayaléw Mesfin deserves a retrospective collection of his own, so distinct is his style: passionate, almost angry and ultra-fast - a sort of crypto-punk before its time. Indeed his first band was named Fetan Band - Speed Band. Singer, author, composer, arranger, he was later a faithful member of the Tequr Ambessa / Black Lion Band, every bit as speedy. Ayaléw Music Shop is still one of the best-stocked shops in Addis Ababa with collectors' items from the golden years - though the singer left some years ago to try his luck in the USA.