Éthiopiques, Vol. 16: Asnaqètch Wèrqu

Asnaqètch Wèrqu’s life was marked by loss, poverty, and struggle from a very young age. After teaching herself how to play the krar, she began expressing herself through music, and you can hear some of that pain in her stirring, quietly powerful vocals. As a female azmari (a class of traditional ethiopian entertainers) she was still looked down upon, but she used her music to talk about her experiences, and advocate for her right to be accepted and respected.