The Atse Tewodros Project, coordinated by the Ethio-Italian writer-musician-performer Gabriella Ghermandi, is an initiative that forges collaborations between traditional Ethiopian and Italian musicians. The project’s repertoire includes songs from the Ethiopian Resistance that fought against the Italian Fascist Regime. By doing so, it reclaims the past, describes the course of human and migrant lives and creates the means to discuss plural identities.

The full group is composed of 9 musicians: Gabriella Ghermandi – vocals, Fabrizio Puglisi – piano, Misale Legesse – Ethiopian traditional drum set – Endris Hassen one string bow “Masinko”, Camilla Missio – bass guitar, Abu Gebre – ethiopian traditional flute “Washint”, Tommy Ruggero - drums and percussion, Anteneh Teklemariam - acoustic and electric krar (Ethiopian lyre), Misikir Mindaye Branche - vocals and backing vocals.

Gabriella Ghermandi, leader of the group says of herself “I grew up in a world filled with different sounds: Ethiopian, Italian, Congolese, Indian. My mother managed a clothing store in Addis Ababa, in the main street of the Piassa neighborhood. Next to hers was a music store run by a Greek woman, who sold instruments, record players, 33 and 45 rpm records. In her store I listened to the Beatles, Zorba and Rebetika Greek music. On my way home I would listen to the music of our Azmari singers.

When I finally reached home the radio was always on when my father, who could not stand Ethiopian music, was not there. He used to describe it as a continuous lament. But we loved it, and along with my neighborhood girlfriends I danced to it.

I listened to Italian singers; the music my Italian classmates loved. I also listened to our friend Geraldine’s favorite Congolese music, the Indian music of my Kashmiri neighbors, of course Bob Marley, also the British rock band Genesis and and and…

Finally, there were the war songs. I did not like them in those days. I used to go with my cousins to see the parades celebrating the anniversary of our victory at Adwa and the liberation from the Fascist occupation, just to laugh at the gestures of the warriors singing those war songs. When they opened their eyes wide, brandishing their swords and shields, they shouted threats to their enemies. I used to find them ridiculous. In those days, I would have considered anyone crazy who told me that one day I would recall them by imitating their gestures on the stages of theatres around the world to remember our elders who fought for freedom.

Music gives volume to unexpressed voices. Music doesn’t mean politics but goes into politics, into building society, into one’s life. Music is a way of giving the vision of a possible or impossible future.”