Bole2Harlem

Bole2Harlem

Company type	Musical group
Industry	Music
Founded	2005
Founder	David "Duke Mushroom" Schommer
Defunct	2006
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Products	Music albums

Bole2Harlem represented a unique musical partnership merging traditional Ethiopian music with American hip hop influences. Their sole album, Bole2Harlem, Volume 1, was launched in 2006. The ensemble was created by producer, songwriter, and percussionist David "Duke Mushroom" Schommer, who collaborated with Ethiopian vocalists Tigist Shibabaw (the late sibling of singer Gigi) and Maki Siraj. The name of the group pays homage to Bole, a district in Addis Ababa known for its international airport, and Harlem in New York City, where Schommer and Siraj resided.

History

The collaboration began at L'Orange Bleue, a café in New York frequented by African expatriates, where Schommer met Siraj and Shibabaw. Schommer’s background was profoundly shaped by Ethiopian culture due to his father’s involvement in founding a university in Ethiopia, which exposed him extensively to Ethiopian art and narratives. In 2005, after Shibabaw and Siraj recorded together, they conceived the idea of an "Abesha MC," with Shibabaw representing authentic Ethiopian traditional sounds (as exemplified in Ethiopiques), while Siraj reflected modern influences. Additional artists joined through Schommer’s production contacts. The concept also draws inspiration from Addis Ababa’s bustling transit scene, where share taxi drivers rapidly announce destinations such as "Bole." Schommer imagined inserting a New York taxi into the Addis Ababa context ("Harlem, Harlem..."). The album artwork depicts a minibus styled like local share taxis. Tigist Shibabaw passed away in early 2008 in Bahar Dar, Ethiopia.

Bole2Harlem, Volume 1

Released by Sounds of the Mushroom in June 2006 and reissued by White Swan Records in June 2011, Bole2Harlem, Volume 1 showcases the blend of cultures.

The track "Hoya Hoye" exemplifies this cultural synthesis. Its name originates from a traditional chant linked to a Halloween-like festival that inspired Schommer during his time in Addis Ababa. He fused this chant with a hip-hop rhythm from Harlem and incorporated a Gospel choir segment recorded near a Harlem church. The melody employs a blues scale influenced by Ethiopian musical scales.

Additionally, "Bole 2 Harlem" appears on the compilation album Un Automne 2007.

Track listing

1. "Bole 2 Harlem" - 4:12
2. "Hoya Hoye" - 4:08
3. "Enseralen" Gojo - 5:27
4. "Ametballe" - 4:56
5. "Hi Loga" - 4:19
6. "Endegena" - 4:47
7. "Home" - 5:55
8. "Ya Selam" - 3:54
9. "Aya Bellew" - 4:41
10. "Harlem 2 Bole" - 2:28
11. "Quralew" - 1:47
12. "Ensaralen Gojo (Remix)" - 8:58
13. "Africaye!" - 2:28

All compositions credited to:

• D. Schommer: Music
• M. Siraj, T. Shibabaw, D. Schommer: Lyrics

Exceptions include:

• Tracks #4 and #11: Music by D. Schommer; Lyrics by M. Siraj
• Tracks #3 and #12: Music by D. Schommer; Lyrics by J. Bashir and M. Siraj
• Track #6: Music by D. Schommer; Lyrics by M. Siraj and D. Vieira

Personnel

• David "Duke Mushroom" Schommer – Vocals, drums, percussion, beats, bass guitar, keyboards
• Tigist Shibabaw – Vocals
• Maki Siraj – Vocals
• Fray – Vocals (track 4)
• Davi Vieira – Vocals, percussion (track 5)
• Dave Eggar – Cello (track 3)
• Henok Temesgen – Electric bass (tracks 4-5)
• Robert Aaron – Horns (tracks 2,4,6,7,13)
• Joewarn Martin – Keyboards (tracks 2-7)
• Balla Tounkara – Kora and vocals (track 10)
• Sam "Carpete" Effron – Guitar (tracks 1-3)
• Gregg Fine – Guitar (track 7)
• Khalid M'Zouz – Hand claps (tracks 1-2,7-10)

Featured contributor

• The Rough Guide to Ethiopian Music (2012, World Music Network)

External links

• (Archived)