I Faram Gami I Faram

The Spanish-sung opener of Afro-Latin Soul, remade in 2010 with Ethiopian singing.
Mulatu Astatke, from Afro-Latin Soul (1966)

Written by
Mulatu Astatke
Released
1966
Length
2:25
Album
Afro-Latin Soul

Mulatu wrote the tune and recorded it in New York in 1966 as the opening track of Afro-Latin Soul. It is the one vocal piece on an otherwise instrumental record, sung in Spanish. Tangari of Pitchfork described the original as a typical boogaloo vocal.

Mulatu remade it for Mulatu Steps Ahead in 2010 with the Either/Orchestra. Gashaw of the Ethiopian National Theatre sings the lead, with salsa backing vocals, and Tangari called the result a much more distinctive version than the original. Mulatu played the song at his Red Bull Music Academy lecture in Toronto in 2007.

More songs by Mulatu Astatke

Yèkèrmo Sèw, Yègellé Tezeta, Tezeta

Sources

  1. Mulatu Astatke, Wikipedia
  2. Afro-Latin Soul, Discogs
  3. Mulatu Astatke: Mulatu Steps Ahead, Pitchfork (2010-03-29)
  4. Mulatu Astatke Lecture (Toronto 2007), Internet Archive