KQED's Forum Meklit Hadero Reimagines Ethiopian Folk Songs: Live in Studio
Jan 23, 2026
Meklit Hadero, an Ethiopian-born, San Francisco–based singer-songwriter and Ethio-jazz composer, reimagines folk songs with modern arrangements. She performs live with her band, explores Ethiopian scales and the krar, and reflects on diaspora, musical continuity, and creating the Immigrant Orchestra. The session blends tradition, jazz influence, and joyful communal singing.
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Song From Her Mother's House
- Meklit Hadero remembers "Ambassal" as the song her mother hummed while doing housework, making it a constant in her childhood home.
- She absorbed the song as a soundtrack of daily life and carried that memory into her reinterpretation on the album.
Song Selection Is The First Creative Move
- Meklit framed song selection as the project's first creative decision and rooted the work in Ethio-jazz as a touchstone.
- She then experimented with arrangements while honoring the source traditions.
Ethiopian Scales Create Distinct Vibes
- Ethiopian music often uses pentatonic five-note scales that create instantly recognizable sonic worlds.
- Meklit notes these scales differ from Western major/minor systems but can sit atop Western chords.