News about Teferi Assefa’s sudden death was met with tremendous shock and sadness. Social media is flooded with personal recollections of what Teferi meant to people; how he shared his wealth of knowledge generously and was an inspiration.
Teferi attended a prestigious music college in Poland where he obtained his Master’s Degree in jazz drumming (Minor in percussion). Teferi displayed both talent and passion; he began performing in live jazz concerts across Europe before relocating to America where his musical career continued to flourish.
Teferi was particularly interested in educating global audiences about Ethiopian music. Award winning Lasta Sound artistically fused classic Ethiopian songs into world-music rhythms (turned into a movie). Wudasse was the first live recorded Ethio jazz group, fusing traditional Ethiopian songs and rhythms with conventional jazz (featured in the movie Lambadina).
Bands he set up with friends included Eshi Havanah, Urban Vibes and Kayne Lab and he was instrumental in advocating for the Jazz department at the Yared Music School. His illustrious musical career included performing with renowned musicians including Mulatu Astatke, Tilahun Gessese, Aster Aweke, Mohammud Ahmed and others. As a musicologist, Teferi implemented a first of its kind study of Ethiopian rhythms; it was his life time mission to research, collect and learn indigenous and authentic tribal rhythms which became part of founding his popular Negarit Band.
Teferi leaves us with an amazing legacy of the musical heritage of Ethiopia to inspire futuregenerations. He created a unique and blended Ethio fusion jazz reflecting his own international musical journey, tragically ending much too soon… And for those of us lucky enough to have known him personally, the warmth of his friendship, his humility and the knowledge of his abiding love for his family will never be forgotten.
What’s Out extends our deepest condolences to Teferi’s family.
By Arabella Stewart