The Hullegeb Festival opens with the Israeli premier of vocalist-songwriter-actress Abby Lakew. An Ethiopian-American, Lakew represents the new wave of Ethiopian artists who rest upon traditional Ethiopian song but continue to discover new musical worlds. Lakew will appear with successful veteran Ethiopian vocalist ; Aregahegn Worash, a much-loved guest in Israel, who has had a 35-year international career, and vocalist-saxophonist Abatte Barihun, one of the founders of the Israeli-Ethiopian musical scene and the Hullegeb Festival.

This is Lakew’s first appearance in Israel. She was born in Gondar to a family with artistic inclinations. When she was 13 she moved to the US where, in 2007, she recorded her first album, combining traditional and contemporary Ethiopian songs in Amharic and in English. Since then she has appeared before Ethiopian communities around the world and in Ethiopia, where she starred in the popular film Eyerus. In 2017 Lakew released her second album, Yene Habesha, contributing all of the proceeds to an organization that operates shelters for the aged, disabled and homeless. Worash, a generation older than Lakew, has 11 albums to his credit to date and has collaborated with other great vocalists on four additional albums. Worash has an extensive international career that has brought him to numerous appearances in Israel.

Abby Lakew, vocals; Aregahegn Worash, vocals; Walid Saeed, keyboard; Abatte Barihun, saxophone; Tsira, guitar; Joseph Westley, drums