Girum Mezmur

Girum Mezmur is an accomplished Ethiopian guitarist, performer, and producer with over two decades of experience in the music industry. He is widely recognized for his significant role in the revival of Ethio-jazz in Addis Ababa, blending traditional Ethiopian sounds with jazz influences. Girum is not only a talented musician but also an educator—he co-founded the Jazzamba Music School and teaches at the Yared Music School, nurturing new generations of Ethiopian musicians. He serves as the musical director of the Addis Acoustic Project, a popular jazz group in Addis Ababa, and has toured internationally with various Ethiopian bands. Girum has also been the artistic director of the Acacia Jazz & World Music Festival since 2010, helping to promote jazz and world music in Ethiopia.

His music is characterized by a fusion of jazz with Ethiopian popular music idioms, and he is known for his clear, harmonically sophisticated guitar style. Girum has collaborated on projects that merge different African musical cultures, such as the pan-African band with desert bluesman Alhousseini Anivolla, exemplifying his commitment to exploring and connecting diverse African music traditions. His efforts have positioned him as a key figure in East Africa's contemporary music scene and cultural revival.

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