Biography

Netsanet Mellesse

At the heart of Addis Ababa nights in the 1980s, on the stage of the Hilton where the Wallias Band held court, a young woman with disarmingly natural charm took the microphone. She began “Dodge,” a track that would become a classic. That day, Netsanet Mellesse’s destiny shifted — she became the pop voice of Ethiopia’s first band.

In brief


Full name	Netsanet Mellesse (also spelled Melesse)
Birth	1960s, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Genre	Ethiopian music, pop, ethio-funk
Notable works	“Dodge”, Yelal Doju, Spirit of Sheba, Fertuna
Awards	Selected for Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia (2004), Holding Up Half the Sky (Shanachie)
Status	Active (resides in Toronto, Canada)

Key dates

Year	Event
1960s	Born in Addis Ababa; joined church choir as a child
Early 1980s	Music studies at Yared School of Music University
1983	First album Yelal Doju, immediate success
1991	Album Tizita; departure for Toronto
1992	Spirit of Sheba on Shanachie (United States)
2004	Album Fertuna, participation in Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia
2013	Album Liben, signed with Adika Communication & Events

Career: From Hilton to Toronto

Born into a pious family, Netsanet Mellesse grew up immersed in liturgical singing and began performing as a child in the Estefanos church choir. Inspired by Whitney Houston, Madonna, and Aretha Franklin, she enrolled at Yared School of Music University in Addis Ababa. Her solo career took off unexpectedly: her older sister, radio producer Beserate Wengel, convinced her to appear on Tadesse Muluneh’s Sunday show. On stage, she performed English hits, a Sudanese track, and Miriam Makeba’s “Malaika” — captivating the programmers of the Wallias Band. The group then invited her to sing at the Hilton Hotel, where they played all night long.

The Wallias Band, named after the walia ibex, was the most beloved jazz and funk ensemble in the capital. Heir to the Venus Band, they played all night with a panting polyrhythmic groove. It was Netsanet who infused the group’s raw sound with a pop dimension, creating a more accessible register while remaining deeply Ethiopian. Her first solo album, Yelal Doju (1983), exploded: the title track, sweet and catchy, permeated popular culture. Minew Jal (1985) and Tew Jegena Belew (1987) confirmed her style, built on calm melodies and modest lyrics.

In 1991, Netsanet and her family left Ethiopia for Toronto. Her album Tizita — which means nostalgia in Amharic — reflected this rupture between two worlds. But Ethiopian music experienced a global rediscovery thanks to the Éthiopiques compilations. Shanachie Records invited her to record: Spirit of Sheba (1992) revealed her to Western audiences, and her contribution to Holding Up Half the Sky (1997, a compilation dedicated to African female voices) distributed her work across the Atlantic. In 2004, she appeared on The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia. Upon returning to Ethiopia, she released Fertuna (2004), praised for its authenticity, followed by Liben (2013). Meanwhile, a gospel album testified to her faith, and she funded the construction of a church.

Major works

Work	Year	Why it’s essential
Yelal Doju (album)	1983	First solo album, instant success
“Dodge” (song)	1983	Iconic track featured on Rough Guide (2004)
Spirit of Sheba (album)	1992	Revealed to Western audiences on Shanachie
Tizita (album)	1991	Nostalgic song bridging two worlds
Fertuna (album)	2004	Strong comeback, authentic lyrics

Legacy

Netsanet Mellesse embodies the dual belonging of Ethiopian artists born between two worlds. Young musicians continue to draw from her repertoire, and her collaboration with the Wallias Band remains an essential chapter in Ethiopian music history.