Mulatu Astatke

Few musicians can claim to have kickstarted a whole genre, but Mulatu Astatke can rightly be called the father of Ethio-jazz, a fusion of traditional Ethiopian sounds with funk, soul and Latin rhythms. The vibes player and arranger forged his style in late '60s Addis Ababa, though Astatke's music was later suppressed by his nation's Derg military junta. Since the '90s, Ethio-jazz has undergone a process of rediscovery, with Astatke recording new music, collaborating with other artists (most recently in 2019 with Patti Smith and Soundwalk Collective) and continuing to delight with his improvised live shows.