Etenesh Wassié quartet + opening act

Show & Culture

ARADA, Etenesh Wassié quartet [France, Ethiopia] Etenesh Wassié - vocals Mathieu Sourisseau - acoustic bass Sébastien Bacquias - double bass Fabien Duscombs - drums Etenesh Wassié is an adventurer with an extraordinary personality. She discovered her voice early and began her career at 20 in the early 1990s in Addis Ababa, performing in azmaribèts—cabarets that preserve a tradition of sung improvisation rich in double meanings. In Ethiopia, the azmari tradition, carried by these "griots" of East Africa, remains strong and is part of daily life. Etenesh stood out with her three-piece suits, humor, and sharp wit, earning her a unique place in this scene. Invited by several musicians from Addis, she collaborated both on stage and on recordings and gained increasing attention from the Ethiopian music scene. She was spotted by Francis Falceto, director of the Éthiopiques record collection, who invited her to appear on several albums. Her music then caught the attention of Le Tigre des Platanes, who invited her to tour with them. This marked a new cycle for Etenesh, developing her international career. From 2007 to 2010, she toured in France and Europe with Le Tigre des Platanes, then as a duo or trio with Mathieu Sourisseau. In 2024, she began a new chapter with Paolo Angéli. The new album, Arada, released in March 2026, is the result of work begun on stage in 2018 as a trio and also a new beginning, with guest musicians, turning the trio into a quartet with Fabien Duscombs on drums.