Abby Lakew
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Short description|Ethiopian singer}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Abby Lakew
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Gondar, Ethiopia
| origin = Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|actress}}
| label = Nahom Records
| associated_acts =
| years_active = 2005–present
| genre = {{hlist| Ethiopian music | R&B | pop}}
| instruments = Vocals
}}
Abby Lakew is an Ethiopian singer from Gondar who gained public attention after releasing "Manale" in 2005. She sings in Amharic and English. {{cite web|date=|title=List of Albums by. Abby Lakew | Album ID: 17 | Abby Lakew | Music of Ethiopia | Habesha Hub|url=http://www.hubesha.com/audio.php?arid=4&abid=17|accessdate=15 February 2016|website=Hubesha.com}} {{Dead link|date=May 2019|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}
Early life and career
Lakew was born in Gondar, Ethiopia.{{cite web|author=Zenobia Bel|url=http://www.ethiogrio.com/music/27061-abby-lakew.html |title=Abby Lakew |website=Ethiogrio |date= |accessdate=15 February 2016}}{{cite web |author=Biography Abby Lakew |url=http://www.koraawards.com/en/music/biography-abby-lakew/ |title=Biography Abby Lakew - Kora |website=Koraawards.com |date=3 January 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402074922/http://www.koraawards.com/en/music/biography-abby-lakew/ |archive-date=2 April 2019 |url-status=dead }} She moved to the United States when she was 13, and went to high school in Dallas, Texas.
In 2005, Lakew released her debut studio album, Manale. The song of the same title incorporated with R&B element. Manale was produced in two languages, Amharic and English, in New York Studio. The album development cost US$40,000.
Lakew is also known for her work in traditional films. She was in the 2012 film, Eyerus, portraying a woman who struggles with her country life and moves to an urban area for adjustment. {{citation Needed|date=June 2024}}
"Shikorina" was released in 2012 followed by "Endemiwedeh" and "Abrerew" in 2014. On 16 June 2015, Lakew released her successful hit "Yene Habesha", it has viewed over 54 million viewers on YouTube by May 2021.{{Cite web|title=Addisfortune- The Largest English Weekly in Ethiopia!|url=https://addisfortune.net/addisfortunefeature/new-age-new-media-new-reach-and-more-money/|access-date=2020-09-12|website=addisfortune.net}} The development and release delayed due to the death of her elder sister which led Lakew to foster her nephews in addition to raising her biological son.{{Cite web|title=Ethiopian Singer Abby Lakew Donates All Proceeds from Album to Charity|url=https://www.ezega.com/News/NewsDetails/4844/Ethiopian-Singer-Abby-Lakew-Donates-All-Proceeds-from-Album-to-Charity|access-date=2020-09-07|website=www.ezega.com|language=en}} In 2017, Lakew released her sophomore album Yene Habesha.
At the 2016 Kora All-Africa Music Awards, Lakew was nominated for Best Traditional Female Artist for Africa. {{cite web|last=Masinge |first=Mathew |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201601120093.html |title=Zimbabwe: Masike Nominated for Kora Awards |website=AllAfrica.com |date=12 January 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2016}}
Her song "Guragew" was released on 26 September 2018. On 10 September 2020, Lakew released "Messay". The music video reached over 915,000 viewers on YouTube as of 28 September, surpassing her 2015 single "Yene Habesha". {{Cite web|title=Messay by Abby Lakew from Ethiopia|url=https://popnable.com/ethiopia/songs/342832-abby-lakew-messay|access-date=2020-09-28|website=Popnable.com|language=en}}
Philanthropy
On 14 October 2017, Lakew announced she would be donating profits from her album to Mekedonia, a charitable organization that funds the elderly and disabled people. Lakew told The Reporter that:
{{quote|After visiting various non-governmental organizations while in Addis Ababa to take part in “Addis Ababa Concert 2” which was held last year, I decided to donate all proceeds from the CD sales of my new album to Mekedonia.}}
Discography
- Manale (2005) {{Cite web|title=Opening Performance: Abby Lakew and Aregahegn Worash|url=https://www.jerusalem-theatre.co.il/eng/Events/815/Opening_Performance%3A_Abby_Lakew_and_Aregahegn_Worash|access-date=2020-09-29|website=Jerusalem Theatre|language=en}}
- Yene Habesha (2017)
- Messay (2020)
- Gondere Wa (2022)
- Zendro Base ( 2024)
References
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Category:21st-century Ethiopian women singers