Aster Aweke[ʔəsɨteɾɨ ʔəwək'ə] (Amharic: አስቴር አወቀ; born 1959)[1] is an Ethiopian singer-songwriter. Aster's voice has attracted broader public popularity, especially tracing back in 1990s singles and her single "Abebayehosh" in Ethiopian New Year. She is best known for her 1999 album Hagere and her 2006 album Fikir. She moved to the United States in 1981, and she returned to Ethiopia in 1997.[2][3]
Early life
Aster Aweke was born in Gondar in 1959.[4] She moved to Addis Ababa as a child with her father, who was senior civil servant in the imperial government of Haile Selassie.[5] Aster hails from the Gurage ethnic group.[6]
In a 1990 interview with Amy Duncan of The Christian Science Monitor, Aster told of the opposition of her music ambition from her parents: "My family opposed me, but i just kept going and going....That's my life. I tried everything, but music makes me so happy."[7]
In her teen years, she performed through clubs at Addis Ababa with famous bands including Shebelle Band, Roha Band, Ibex Band and Hotel D'Afrique Band.[11] Her style gradually influenced by Bizunesh Bekele and performed songs by Donna Summer and Aretha Franklin. She began as a solo career in 1977 through the release of her debut album, and followed with three more albums within the year.[12]
In 1981, she moved to the United States. She temporarily settled in the San Francisco Bay Area of California and then within two years moved to Washington, D.C. She briefly attended Northern Virginia Community College, specializing in computer science, as well as learning formal musical education, which she took a distaste towards.[13] During her time in the D.C. metropolitan area, she performed in restaurants and clubs. During her time in Washington, Aster released her U.S. major label debut Aster. Aster was released by Columbia Records in 1990 after a 1989 release by British independent label Triple Earth.[13]
In 1997, after more than 15 years abroad, Aster returned to Ethiopia, where she was warmly welcomed by thousands of fans awaiting her at Addis Ababa airport.[14]
Aster Aweke owned and operated a cafeteria in Addis Ababa called Kabu, which was named after her song "Kabu". The cafeteria ceased operations in 2015.[15] On 3 January 2023, Aster released Soba. The album comprises a collabrative work of other artists.[16]
^ abHarrington, Richard (October 11, 1990). "ETHIOPIAN SOUL". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
^"All-Music "Aster Aweke:- Artist Biography by Craig Harris"". AllMusic. By 1981, Aweke had become disillusioned by Ethiopia's oppressive political climate and relocated to the United States. Temporarily settling in the Bay Area of California with plans to pursue an education; within two years, Aweke continued on to Washington, D.C., the site of the largest Ethiopian population in the U.S. ... When she arrived in her homeland in 1997 for the first time since she'd left in 1981, {she} was greeted by thousands of loyal followers awaiting her plane.
