Girma Bèyènè

This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by their given name, Girma, and not as Bèyènè.

Girma Bèyènè (Amharic: ግርማ በየነ), born in Addis Ababa, is an Ethiopian lyricist, composer, arranger, vocalist, and pianist, most active during the golden era of Ethiopian vinyl records (1969–78). He is a great performer, even now on his old age. He is expressed by many as "Ethiopian gem". He only recorded four songs as a vocalist, but arranged more than 60 titles, and collaborated on at least 25 other tracks.^[1] Girma left Ethiopia during the Derg military dictatorship to live in the United States, where he disappeared into the diaspora and ceased to play music.^[1] He released a new album in 2017, part of the Ethiopiques collection.^[2]

Discography

Contributing artist

• Éthiopiques Volume 8: Swinging Addis (2000, Buda Musique)
• The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia (2004, World Music Network)
• Éthiopiques Volume 22: Alèmayèhu Eshèté, featuring Girma Bèyènè (2007, Buda Musique)

Lead artist

• Éthiopiques Volume 30: "Mistakes On Purpose", Girma Bèyènè & Akalé Wubé (2017, Buda Musique)