BIOGRAPHY
Aster Aweke (Amharic: አስቴር አወቀ; born 1959) is a celebrated Ethiopian singer-songwriter. Renowned for her unique voice, she gained widespread popularity with her 1990s singles and the Ethiopian New Year hit "Abebayehosh." Her prominent albums include Hagere (1999) and Fikir (2006). She relocated to the United States in 1981 and returned to Ethiopia in 1997.
Aster grew up listening to Ethiopian musicians like Tilahun Gessesse and Bizunesh Bekele, alongside American artists such as Donna Summer and Aretha Franklin. At thirteen, she auditioned for Hager Fikir Theatre by singing a Bizunesh song, aiming to join as a dancer and vocalist.
During her teenage years, she performed in various clubs around Addis Ababa with popular bands like Shebelle Band, Roha Band, Ibex Band, and Hotel D'Afrique Band. Her style was heavily influenced by Bizunesh, and she often performed songs by Donna Summer and Aretha Franklin. Aster launched her solo career in 1977, releasing her debut album and three more within the same year.
In 1981, Aster moved to the United States, initially settling in the San Francisco Bay Area before relocating to Washington, D.C., within two years. She briefly attended Northern Virginia Community College, focusing on computer science and formal music education, though she didn't enjoy the latter. While living in the D.C. area, Aster performed in various restaurants and clubs. In 1990, Columbia Records released her U.S. major label debut album Aster, following an earlier 1989 release by British label Triple Earth.
After spending over 15 years abroad, Aster returned to Ethiopia in 1997, where she was warmly received by thousands of fans at the Addis Ababa airport. She also owned a café in Addis Ababa called Kabu, named after her song, which operated until 2015. On January 3, 2023, Aster released Soba, an album featuring collaborative works with other artists.