The Tigray Cultural Group, a cornerstone of cultural preservation since its inception in the 1960s and revitalized in August 2004, remains dedicated to celebrating Tigray’s rich traditions. This ensemble of musicians, dancers, and artists has graced prestigious stages both in Ethiopia and abroad, including notable performances in Angola and Qatar.

In collaboration with Muzikawi, the group has released their highly anticipated album, Sounds of Ashenda, on Friday, August 16, 2024. The album is available on Muzikawi’s YouTube channel as well as on all major digital streaming platforms.

Sounds of Ashenda album showcases a unique musical project, bringing together six singers from various regions in Tigray (Raya, Tembene, Agame, Enderta, and Axum) for the first time. The album features instruments crafted by the Tigray Cultural Group and includes public lyrics and melodies.

Most of the songs on the album are sung around Enderta and Tembene. The songs focus around praising girls who play Ashenda, announcing the arrival of Ashenda and the adornments girls who play Ashenda use to beautify themselves with.

 
The Ashenda festival, celebrated in Tigray from August 22 to August 30 among Orthodox Christians, honors the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and marks the end of the Filseta fasting season. During the festival, women and girls celebrate by adorning themselves with papyrus, paper reed, and Nile grass, which they tie around their waists. They engage in lively movements, clapping, and drumming, performing traditional songs, including the popular chant “Ashenda is here.”

Recorded in 2013 E.C., Sounds of Ashenda stands as a tribute to Tigray’s enduring cultural legacy and vibrant musical traditions.