Mulatu Astatke

Ethiopian musician

Born: 19 December 1943
Jimma
Country: Ethiopia
Active: 1963–
Record labels: Philips Records, Amha Records, Buda Musique
Discography: 13 albums

Biography

Mulatu Astatke is a jazz musician who plays percussion instrument, vibraphone and Wurlitzer Electric Piano. Mulatu Astatke was born on 19 December 1943 in Jimma. The music is usually filed under music of Africa and Ethio-jazz. Record labels: Philips Records, Amha Records and Buda Musique. The discography here lists 13 albums, from “Mulatu of Ethiopia” (1972) to “Mulatu Plays Mulatu” (2025). Honours include Fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences.

Mulatu Astatke (Amharic: ሙላቱ አስታጥቄ, romanized: Mulatu Ästaṭḳe; French transliteration: Astatqé; born 19 December 1943) is an Ethiopian musician and arranger considered the father of "Ethio-jazz". Born in Jimma, Mulatu was musically trained in London, New York City, and Boston where he combined his jazz and Latin music interests with traditional Ethiopian music. Mulatu led his band while playing vibraphone and conga drums—instruments that he introduced into Ethiopian popular music—as well as other percussion instruments, keyboards, and organs. His albums focus primarily on instrumental music, and Mulatu appears on all three known albums of instrumentals that were released during the Ethiopian Golden Age of Music in the 1970s.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Mulatu of Ethiopia 1972

Ethio Jazz 1974

Assiyo Bellema 1994

Memories 2000

Live at Broad Casting, Cargo, London (17 April 2008) 2008 · Live

Inspiration Information, Volume 3 2009

Mulatu Steps Ahead 2010

Timeless Mulatu Astatke 2010

Sketches of Ethiopia 2013

Cradle of Humanity 2016

To Know Without Knowing 2020

Tension 2024

Mulatu Plays Mulatu 2025

Awards

Fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument does Mulatu Astatke play?

Mulatu Astatke is known for playing percussion instrument, vibraphone and Wurlitzer Electric Piano.

When and where was Mulatu Astatke born?

Mulatu Astatke was born 19 December 1943 in Jimma.

What are Mulatu Astatke's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Mulatu of Ethiopia (1972), Ethio Jazz (1974), Assiyo Bellema (1994), Memories (2000) and Live at Broad Casting, Cargo, London (17 April 2008) (2008).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.