User:Mr. Kamuzu Kassa

The Ethiopian Music Producer and song writer Mr, Kamuzu Kassa was born in

Wolaita Zone ( Bekulo Segno small village ) in September 2,1986.

His Father Kassa Lalle is a health professional running private pharmacy business

and mother Konjit Salto is a house Wife. He is the 6th child of 8 children in the family

and was obliged to face all kinds of challenges and opportunities as a member of

big family like most of Ethiopian regular kids.

School


 * Elementary School - Bele (Wolaita Zone) from Sep 1994 to June 2000.
 * Junior Secondary School – Ligaba Beyene Aba Sebsib (Wolaita Soddo) from Sep 2000-June 2002.
 * High School- Soddo Comprehensive High School from Sep 2002 to June 2004.

Early life Musical Exposure and Inspiration

His father, who used to be a huge fan of modern singers of his age (b/n late 1960 to 1970 E.C, had regular access to newly released albums which were played by cassette recorders. Kamuzu being raised in such environment have got unlimited opportunity to listen to a wide range of music of the stars of the generation like Tilahun Gessess, Mohamoud Ahmed and Hirut Bekele in his very childhood stage. This habit of listening to music continuously lately turned in to addiction which resulted in serious illness accompanied by depperation and loss of appetite when the music player was taken away from him for any reason.

He nearly lost his life to this illness and related complications before one of his brothers  identifies the cause of disease by accident and treated him by music therapy which cured Kamuzu effectively.

Kamuzu started playing music during his late childhood in Bele town (Wolita) where he had access to locally made traditional instrument called “ Kirar” in Amharic. Inspired by his eldest brother who owned guitar and used to play occasionally at family and church ceremonies, Kamuzu stood up to take the challenge of playing “Kirar” and eventually start to spend time and energy by practicing it.

No one paid attention when Kamuzu frequently refused to go out to the football field where anybody at his age would be very happy to be. But he knows exactly what he wants and where he wants to be in order to meet his soul’s hunger which is music. He always preferred to stay at home with his brother who owned Guitar at that time and used to play usually after work rather than going to play football.

It eventually became clear that Kamuzu unlike all other children of his age interested in guitar than playing football. As the months passed by Kamuzus ability to entertain the family by his small “Kerar” grown incredibly. Inspired by Kamuzu’s progress, everybody in the family started to practice “Kirar” and weekly Kirar talent show and contest became regular family event. The winner of “Kirar” contest was entitled to right (access) to play Guitar for the night as a prize award. It was very highly unlikely to see other winners than Kamuzu which was always remembered by all his family as unnoticed early indicator of his potential and talent.

Kamuzu’s exposure to international music came late during his mid teenage life when his brother Akalu Kassa bought digital world space satellite radio set which had more than 50 international music and news channels from across the globe. It has got 24 hours of music transmission from all kinds of genres such as Pop, Hip Hop, Reggae, Jazz, Country, Rock etc from western and number of eastern Asian, and African music. Kamuzu benefited a lot from this satellite radio by tuning from one channel to another for years everyday and every Moment.

Career


 * 1st released single in October 2005 (Local Studio in Wolaita Soddo).
 * Moved to Addis Abeba in December 2005 arranged music for various Gospel singers.
 * 1st single in Addis for Haymanot Girma in April 2007.
 * 1st famous single with Kako (Aroge Arada) in November 2007.
 * Different studios in Addis from March 2007 up to January 2009 and arranged dozens of typical Ethiopian traditional music including Amharic, Oromo and other various southern nation’s peoples songs.

His own studio (Shakura) launched in February 2009 followed by release of famous songs of Berehanu Tezera, Featuring  (Mamilla & Kichini) entitled “Ele,Ele Yaba” Amharic Wolitgna languages mixed. This music was credited by many as a breakthrough moment of Kamuzu into Ethiopian music industry  because it didn’t take very long to see number of singers including some famous and senior singers start to knock on his door or visit his small studio.

Encouraged by industry response and audience feedback he didn’t hesitate to take the opportunity to introduce his potential and talent which he has always believed to be naturally gifted and borne with.

When emerged as a new young and talented music arranger he came with his own new style created by fusing rhythmic south Ethiopian music with other contemporary or typical traditional music with which he managed to attract nearly all Ethiopian music followers. His tireless effort to learn and uncompromised steady passion for music facilitated significantly to his fast track success in revolutionizing Ethiopian music. He has contributed a lot and paved the way for dozens of Ethiopian ethnic music to get recognition nationwide and brought to light by introducing musical lines that provoke spontaneous emotions and appeal to anyone who listens to the music with its amiable and universal taste. He believes that his extraordinary exposure to local, national and international music through his early childhood to late teenage life helped him a lot in building his professional career and exploit huge potential within.

Due to various family reasons he was moving from place to place in number of zones of the region and has always been exposed to different cultures and traditions which helped him to understand the kinds of traditional music played by local people during different occasions.