Getachew Alemu
a market stall district in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Getachew Alemu, at 73, has nestled himself into the rhythms of Addis Ababa's market district. After spending decades managing numbers and people's stories at night, he found solace and intrigue in the delicate minutiae others overlook, like the stop of a second hand on a clock face. His music, rich with the tactile abrasions of daily life, draws heavily from the sonic textures of his world: the market's chatter, the hotel's creaking floors, the whisper of dust settling overnight.
About
Obsession
The particular stillness of a stopped clock
Voice
Mechanical hum beneath breath
Genre
Ambient Ethiojazz
Instrumentation
Kalimba, traditional Ethiopian krar, sampled market and lobby sounds
Vocal Style
Soft whispers, breathy and intimate
Production Style
Produced in the hotel's lobby during the quiet, early morning hours
Influences
The market's ambient noise, the clicking of adding machines, motels—places where stories linger
Selected 1 time · Last: July 31, 2026