Addis Ababa City Mayor Office in collaboration with the Ethiopian Musical Sector’s Association Union (EMSAU) has planned to host a virtual concert to be aired on three TV channels including the State TV on Sunday, August 23.
The hosts notified that in addition to the state TV Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, the concert will be aired live on Fana Broadcasting Corporate, and Addis Ababa city TV Addis Media Network starting from 3 PM local time.
The concert has a plan to raise funds to support the city administration’s coronavirus response which includes providing financial aid to musicians whose jobs are majorly impacted by the pandemic.
The virtual concert will feature performances from Fikreaddis Nekatibeb, Zeriu Kebede, Betty G, Haile Roots, Johnny Raga, Henok Mehari, Moges Teka, Gete Aniley, Zerubabel Mola, Rahel Getu, and more.
The EMSAU released music album “Nigat” in May having promised to the Mayor of Addis Ababa Takele Uma during the launching event to donate the benefit of the album for COVID – 19 responses of the city administration.
As public gatherings such as night clubs and concerts got banned in Addis Ababa to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, musicians whose incomes were based on night performances were heavily impacted and The EMSAU has also been calling for more support from the business community in the city.
In response, some senior musicians and fans earlier this week have raised more than half a million birr to provide support for 77 fellow musicians in need of financial support.
The music union has said that it has a plan to raise more funds by releasing the second and third series of the album “Nigat” in the near future.