Ejigayehu Shibabaw, known by her stage name Gigi, is one of the most successful contemporary Ethiopian singers worldwide. She has brought the music of Ethiopia to wider recognition and developed it in combination with a wide variety of other genres.
Recently, she featured as one of the vocalists on the newly released Gladiator 2 soundtrack. Celebrated for her groundbreaking fusion of traditional Ethiopian music, Gigi brings a unique dimension to the soundtrack.
Gigi was born and raised in Chagni in northwestern Ethiopia. She has described learning traditional songs from an Ethiopian Orthodox priest in the family home. She moved to San Francisco around 1998 and it was her 2001 album, titled simply ‘Gigi’, that brought her widespread attention, showcasing her collaboration with jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. Her 2001 song ‘Guramayle’ featured in the 2006 documentary ‘God Grew Tired of Us’.
2003 saw the release of ‘Zion Roots’, under the band name Abyssinia Infinite on which several of Gigi’s family members contributed vocals. The album incorporated instruments such as the krar and the tabla. The track ‘Gole’ is sung in Agaw, the language of Gigi’s father’s village.
Her career has been marked by notable projects cementing her status as a global ambassador for Ethiopian music. Gigi is married to her producer Bill Laswell, and they have a son, Aman, who often accompanies his parents with vocals.
Source:
www.musicinafrica.net/directory/gigi-shibabaw
Gigi Features On Gladiator 2 Soundtrack
