Elias Melka

Born and raised in a neighborhood called Abenet, located in the heart of Addis Abeba, Elias Melka rose to become a giant of Ethiopian music, producing all the best songs and albums of the last two decades. He was raised in an evangelical protestant family, which gave him the opportunity to be familiarized with modern musical instruments from childhood. He received his first guitar from his father and joined a music school during the summer before his 12th grade, according to his brother, Abenezer Melka. After high school he went to Yared Music School and graduated with distinction. Zion religious music band was Elias’ first band and it was here that his talent for music started to shine. After this, Elias played the guitar in Medina Music Band, Zema Lastas and Afro Sound to name but just a few. He then turned his focus to producing and creating the sounds that would define his generation. Ethiopia is home to hundreds of musical styles and Elias started sampling some of those sounds for his work early on. Fusing the Guragigna with the modern, the modern with Oromoo music, sampling unique Kunama sounds and producing songs, Elias created a body of work made beautiful as much by its curation as the musical genius of the man behind it all. This body of work consists of more than 20 albums he produced and just as many albums and singles he collaborated with other producers, singers and songwriters. A discography of Elias Melka’s work is a collection of the best of Ethiopian music of the past two decades with artists like the late Mikaya Behailu, pop artists Zeritu Kebede and Gossaye Tesfaye among some of the most successful singers who are highly influenced and guided by Elias from their early days in the music industry. But it wasn’t just singers/songwriters that Elias cracked open the door for; most producers and composers who worked with Elias went on to become well known names in the national scene of contemporary Ethiopian music. The type of influence Elias wielded over Ethiopian sound is yet to be rivaled and his mark will be heard for generations to come. On October 04, 2019, Elias Melka died at the age of 42 from medical complications caused by diabetes and kidney failure, sending shock-waves through not just the music industry, but the country at large