Ethiopiques Revisited: Francis Falceto, Amha Eshete, and the Global Journey of Ethiopian Music at Tadias Magazine

As international attention returns to the Ethiopiques series with new releases and a relaunch, Tadias Magazine revisits its past conversations with French musicologist Francis Falceto and Amha Eshete. The Ethiopiques series, produced by Francis Falceto, has been crucial in introducing Ethiopia’s modern musical legacy to global audiences since its 1997 launch. It compiles recordings from the 1960s and 1970s, featuring artists like Mulatu Astatke and Mahmoud Ahmed. Many of these original recordings were produced by Amha Eshete’s label, Amha Records. In a 2012 interview, Francis Falceto described his first encounter with Ethiopian records as a "revelation," leading to the creation of Ethiopiques. Tadias also highlighted Amha Eshete’s foundational role in documenting a generation of musicians in Addis Ababa between the late 1960s and early 1970s. His recordings became the backbone of the Ethiopiques collection. The series continues to connect original recordings from Addis Ababa’s music scene with new listeners worldwide.