Kamuzu Kassa
- Composer songwriter and producer
Kamuzu Kassa (Ge'ez: ካሙዙ ካሳ; born 2 September 1990) is an Ethiopian composer, songwriter and producer. Kamuzu started his career composing spiritual songs, but when he composed music for Kako Getachew in 2007 he joined the secular world of music and became a public figure. Following this, Kamuzu composed music for Ethiopian artists Hamelmal Abate, Surafel Abebe, Jalud Awol, and many others.[1]
Early life
Kamuzu was born in Beklo Segno, Wolayita, Ethiopia, and raised in Wolaita Sodo. He was born to a Protestant Christian family and his father was a health professional and the mother a housewife. Kamuzu's passion for music grew in the church choir, and slowly spread to the outside.[2]
In 1994, Kamuzu enrolled in Bele primary school in the town of Bele (Wolaita). In 2000, his family left Bekilo Segno and went to Sodo. Following this, Kamuzu resumed his primary school in Ligaba Beyene Aba Sebsib primary school and he left this school when he was passed to the grade 9 and joined Sodo Comprehensive High School in 2002.[3]
Career
Kamuzu composed music for Eyob Deno's, a local gospel singer and preacher, album which is entitled "Halo Bado", Wolaitta language, successfully in 2004. Following this, he started to compose music for non-gospel singers as well. In 2007, he composed a single which is entitled "Aroge Arada" for Kako Getachew and this paved the way for him to the secular world of music.
In 2006, Kamuzu went to Addis Ababa and started to compose music in his own studio called "Shakura". In this studio, he composed more than 2,000 songs[2] for beginners and most popular singers.[4]
Awards
Ministry of Culture and Tourism awarded him for his contribution to Ethiopian Music in 2021.[5] Kamuzu awarded Addis Music Award's Best Composer of the Year in 2018.[4] Also Fana Broadcasting Corporate, awarded him for his contribution to Ethiopian Music on 27 September 2021.[6]
References
- ^ Semonegna (24 April 2020). "Ethiopian Music (Amharic): Hamelmal Abate – Andande (አንዳንዴ)". Semonegna Ethiopia. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Kamuzu Kassa". Music In Africa. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ Fortune, Addis. "Music Composing Business Blooms, Despite Hurdles". Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Addis Music Award, best Movie of the year, 2011 E.C". mirtmirt.com. 11 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ Wolaita Zone chief Administrator’s /ወላይታ ዞን ዋና አሰተዳደር/. "የሃገር ባለውለታ ወንድማማቾች ተሸልመዋል". Facebook. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "የፋና ላምሮት የአሸናፊዎች አሸናፊ የፍጻሜ ውድድር በደማቅ ሥነስርዓት ተካሄደ". Welcome to Fana Broadcasting Corporate S.C. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.