Gildo Kassa

Gildo Kassa (Ge'ez: ጊልዶ ካሳ, born April 6, 1995) is an Ethiopian musician. He is the producer leading the charge in contemporary Ethiopian music by fusing traditional elements of songwriting and instrumentation with the global appeal of Afrobeats.

This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by his given name, Gildo, and not as Kassa.

Gildo Kassa
Kaasa Giildda
Pronunciationkɑsɑ ɡɪldɑ
Born
Gildo Kassa

(1995-04-06) April 6, 1995
Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia
Nationality Ethiopian
Occupation
  • Composer
  • Singer
  • Songwriter
Years activesince 2013
OrganizationShakura
Family
  • Kamuzu Kassa (brother)
  • Zinaw Kassa (brother)
Awards
  • Ethio Zodaic
  • Addis Music Award

Early life

Gildo was born in Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia. He got the name Gildo because of his first word as a baby was Gil - Gil, and this became Gil-do to mean "one who say gil - gil" in the Wolaytta language.[1] He was raised with in Protestant Christian which strictly prohibited music. He was inspired by his older brother Kamuzu Kassa to go into music.

Career

Gildo has produced several hit songs, one of which being "Lageba new" ("I am gonna marry") featuring music crew Shakura.[2] Per The New Times of Rwanda, Gildo produced more than 300 singles, including more than 59 of his own songs.[3][4] As he stated in his interview with EBS television's "The Reggae and Afrobeat Music" program, his first works were reggae song by Jalud Awel: "Amta chaweta" and "Dagos yale sitota". Kassa is well known by customizing afrobeat to the Ethiopian traditional music, specifically the Wolaita and Tigrigna styles, naming his style "Ethio-shake". The songs he composed and produced were top hit and nominated in many Ethiopian's awards. Among those Sancho Gebre's songs titled "Atasayugn" and "Tanamo"; Yared Negu's song titled "Yagute"; Michael Melaku and Asgegnew Ashko collaboration song titled "Akukulu" were a few.

He is among the Afrimma 2020 Nominees under the category of Best Male East Africa. He is the only nominee from Ethiopia.[5][6] Aljazeera put his song "Lageba new" among the list of the songs that made Africa – and the world – dance in 2019.[7]

References
  1. "EBS TV 'Kidamen Keseat'". www.facebook.com. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  2. Isama, Antoinette. "The songs that made Africa – and the world – dance in 2019". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  3. "The Ben, Sherrie Silver nominated for AFRIMMA 2020". The New Times | Rwanda. September 14, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  4. "Gildo Kassa from Ethiopia". Popnable.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  5. Correspondent, Local (September 12, 2020). "AFRIMMA 2020: Full List Of Nominations". ABTC. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  6. Ezeh, Mario. "Afrimma 2020 Nominees". AFRIMMA. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  7. Isama, Antoinette. "The songs that made Africa – and the world – dance in 2019". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
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