The 1997 Éthiopiques CD series exposed Ethiopia's rich musical history to the West, and the engrossing documentary Ethiopiques: Revolt of the Soul explores this past. Although I had always like and listened to African music, with Mali being my favourite, I was unfamiliar with the sound of Ethiopia. This was quite different! The focus of the movie is Francis Falceto, a French music journalist who created this well-known series, and his partnership with producer Amha Eshete. Together, they produced a compilation of 14 albums and 120 singles with Ethiopian musicians during a less oppressive era of Emperor Haile Selassie's reign.
The documentary explains how different Western styles, including jazz, funk, rock 'n' roll, and soul, influenced this contagious African sound. Eshete, who spent many years living in exile in the United States, describes the profound transformations that took place after the military takeover in 1974, which resulted in the cruel Derg regime's control until 1991. Ethiopia's music scene was significantly impacted by this political change.
Girma Beyene, the pianist and arranger for the Walias Band, is one of the Ethiopian musicians who provide viewers with insights throughout the movie. Playful animations are also incorporated into the documentary, giving the narrative a visually captivating touch.
With live performances and recordings for Mistakes on Purpose, the 30th CD in the Éthiopiques series, the documentary ends with Beynes' victorious return. In addition to honouring Ethiopia's rich musical legacy, Ethiopiques: Revolt of the Soul also shows how resilient its musicians have been in the face of political hardship.
