Ibex Band [Addis Abeba]

During the 1970s and 1980s, Ibex Band was an extremely prolific studio and live group, backing artists such as Aster Aweke, Girma Bèyènè and Mulatu Astatke, and appearing on more than 200 albums and thousands of singles. During a period of political oppression in Ethiopia, Ibex Band managed to reinterpret and breathe new life into traditional melodies, creating a vast repertoire of irresistibly cool dance music. The sound of countless musicians would be shaped and inspired by them in the decades to come.
At the heart of it all is Selam Seyoum Woldemariam’s guitar playing; smooth as honey, constantly in a dancing dialogue with Giovani Rico’s bass grooves, as deep as if they came from the bottom of the Rift Valley. Add two saxophones, a drum kit and an organ, and the IBEX sound is complete: with traditional melodies, jazz improvisation and infectious rhythms, the six-piece group crafts a sound that is as classic as it is timelessly distinctive – a seamless blend of sexy soul, improvisation and enchanting harmonies.
Stereo Instrumental Music is the tonly official album that lists Ibex Band as the sole main artist. It was released in 2025 by the Swedish-Ethiopian label Muzikawi…