1960s – 2020sPeak: 1970s
Ethio-jazz
About Ethio-jazz
Ethio-jazz is the hypnotic fusion that vibraphonist Mulatu Astatke forged in the late 1960s, welding the five-note Ethiopian scales and their signature tizita melancholy to jazz harmony, Latin rhythm, and funk. Built in Addis Ababa and later revived worldwide through the Éthiopiques reissue series, its smoky, off-kilter grooves became a global crate-digger obsession. It remains one of Africa's most distinctive contributions to instrumental music.