Girma Woldemichael with guest Melat Mengesha

A central figure from the golden age of Ethio-Jazz, Girma Woldemichael’s journey is one of extraordinary resilience and artistic triumph. Born in Ethiopia under conditions of extreme poverty, he was raised in an orphanage in Addis Ababa. It was there that at age 13 he was given his first pair of shoes, and shortly thereafter handed his first musical instrument, a clarinet, told to learn it, and aim to make a living by playing music.

A few years later, now also playing the saxophone, he found work playing in the clubs in the city that were then filled with lovers of the new genre of Ethio-Jazz – a genre that fuses Ethiopia’s distinctive pentatonic scales with jazz, funk, soul and Latin rhythms—popularized in the west by Mulatu Atsatke, who, alongside Woldemichael, was one of the original members of the Ethio Stars Band. From that point on, Woldemichael was the choice saxophone player called on to perform alongside some of Ethiopia’s most iconic artists, including such stars as Aster Aweke, Mahmoud Ahmed, Alemayehu Eshete, Tilahun Gessesse and more.

Following the political upheaval of 1974, when Ethiopia’s Derg regime suppressed much of the country’s artistic expression, Woldemichael fled to Canada as a refugee. Settling in Toronto, he balanced the challenges of immigrant life, supporting his family while working as a taxi driver, with an unwavering dedication to music. Over the years, he continued to perform across Canada, the United States and internationally, collaborating with leading Ethiopian artists and keeping the spirit of Ethio-Jazz alive.

Woldemichael released his new album, NAFQOTÉ in May 2026, marking an exciting new chapter, featuring a collaboration with acclaimed hip-hop producer Arthur McArthur — a JUNO Award winner and Grammy nominee known for his work with major international artists including Drake, Wiz Khalifa and Logic.