Ethiopian Jazz and Beyond

Admas was an innovative Ethiopian trio formed in early 1980s Washington, D.C., by keyboardist Tewodros “Teddy” Aklilu, bassist Henock Temesgen, and guitarist/producer Abegasu Shiota. Rooted in Ethio jazz and Ethiopian pop, the group absorbed and synthesized the vibrant multicultural sounds surrounding them; Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latino, Afro-American, go-go, reggae, highlife, samba, and early electronic music—reflecting the dynamic diasporic experience of Ethiopian youth in the D.C. area.

The band’s only release, Sons of Ethiopia (1984), was a home-recorded, genre-blending instrumental album that expanded traditional Ethiopian sounds with synthesizers, drum machines, and global rhythms. Originally self-released in a limited edition, the album became a cult favorite among collectors and DJs, eventually reissued in 2020 by Frederiksberg Records with extensive liner notes that highlight the group’s musical vision and its historical context within Ethiopian music and geopolitics.

Admas represents a unique and forward-looking expression of Ethiopian diaspora identity; experimental, cross-cultural, and deeply rooted in community.