Mulatu Astatke

Mulatu Astatke (born 19 December 1943) is an Ethiopian musician and arranger widely regarded as the father of Ethio-jazz. Born in Jimma, he received formal musical training in London, New York City, and Boston, where he developed a fusion of jazz and Latin music with traditional Ethiopian sounds. As a bandleader, Mulatu performed on the vibraphone and conga drums—both of which he introduced to Ethiopian popular music—as well as other percussion instruments, keyboards, and organs.