Bole2Harlem

The project has its roots in L'Orange Bleue, a New York cafe popular with African expatriates and where Schommer, Siraj, and Shibabaw would congregate.^[1] Schommer had grown up immersed in Ethiopian culture: his father had helped establish a university in Ethiopia,^[2] and consequently the family home was filled with Ethiopian art and stories.^[3] Shibabaw and Siraj had made a recording after they met in 2005. Schommer, Shibabaw, and Siraj discussed an "Abesha MC" concept, with Shibabaw representing traditional Ethiopian styles (see Ethiopiques), and Siraj representing new musical trends.^[4] Additional collaborators joined after hearing about the project through Schommer's other production activities.^[4] Schommer and Siraj also trace the concept to the transit culture of Addis Ababa, where weyalas rapidly call out the destinations of share taxis (for example, "Bole, Bole, Bole, Bole...").^[4] Schommer describes the idea of taking a New York taxicab and suddenly placing it and its passengers in Addis Ababa (thus, "Harlem, Harlem, Harlem, Harlem...").^[4] The album cover art features a minibus similar to the vehicles used as share taxis. Tigist Shibabaw died in early 2008 in Bahar Dar, Ethiopia.^[5]

(Duke Mushroom Presents) Bole2Harlem, Volume 1
Studio album by Bole2Harlem
Released	2006 (2006)
Recorded	Sounds of the Mushroom, Harlem MacSound, New York City
Genre	Hip hop, Ethiopian music
Length	58:15
Label	Sounds of the Mushroom
Producer	Duke Mushroom

Sounds of the Mushroom released Bole2Harlem, Volume 1 in June 2006.^[6] White Swan Records reissued the album in June 2011.^[7]

According to Schommer, the track "Hoya Hoye" exemplifies the crossing of Ethiopian and American cultures. He explains how the title is derived from a Halloween-like celebration, in which children chant "Hoya, hoye, HO, hoya hoye, HO" while clapping and pounding sticks (see Buhe).^[3][8] After hearing this chant sung in Addis Ababa, Schommer was further inspired by the beat of a hip-hop track he heard while walking through Harlem.^[3] During this same walk, he also heard a Gospel choir singing as he passed a church, and decided to add the refrain ("Feeling all right!") to the song. The blues scale heard on the song is actually an abbreviated Ethiopian scale.^[3]

The track "Bole 2 Harlem" appears on the compilation album Un Automne 2007.^[9]

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 Songs Written by:

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

Except:

• #4, 11: D. Schommer: Music, M.Siraj: Lyric
• #3, 12:D. Schommer: Music, J.Bashir, M.Siraj: Lyric
• #6: D. Schommer: Music, M.Siraj, D.Vieira: Lyric

Personnel

• David "Duke Mushroom" Schommer - Vocals, drums, percussion, beats, bass, keyboards
• Tigist Shibabaw - vocals
• Maki Siraj - vocals
• Fray - vocals, track 4
• Davi Vieira - vocals, percussion, track 5
• Dave Eggar - cello, #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, vocals, track 10
• Sam "Carpete" Effron - guitar, tracks 1–3
• Gregg Fine - guitar, track 7
• Khalid M'Zouz - hand clapping, tracks 1–2, 7–10

• The Rough Guide to the Music of Ethiopia (2012, World Music Network)