In East Africa, Ethiopian hip-hop has grown into one of the most important cultural moments for the young folks. One of the best artists to represent that culture is Lij Michael. He brings the culture of Addis Ababa to the surface. 

His real name is Michael Taye or Faf. Michael is an Ethiopian artist who has been rising globally brining Ethiopian hip-hop culture to the world. He was born and raised in the capital City of Ethiopia in 1986. Michael attended Ethiopian Andante High School, with the opportunity to continue to higher education later. Before he began his music career, he earned a diploma in IT. The spark for music came when he started working as an emcee, appearing in musical shows in college institutions. As an emcee, he entertained the audience by performing Ethiopian hip-hop.  

He’s written his own songs he has collaborated with artists like Sami Dan and Bisrat Surafer. He was nominated for an MTV music award AMAs in 2016, held in Johannesburg for African musicians, which helped him grow his status as one of the best Ethiopian rappers. In 2020, he received the African Artist of the Year award. Michael keeps the relationship with his fans close, which has helped him gain a loyal fan base (including myself) who affectionately call him Faf.  

In 2025, Lij Micheal re-released a breakthrough album, Zaraye Yihun Nege, on major streaming platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube. It is a 15-track project. One of my favorite songs, Eshururu, was on that album. It translates to hush or lullaby to soothe babies. This song in particular carries both traditional and nostalgic meanings in Ethiopia. The background music gave me nostalgia as I listened to it. It made me reflect on songs we used to listen to when we were children, with repeated upbeat tunes that resonated with kids’ ears. The lyrics show respect to traditional music set in a small town called Bati in the northern part of Ethiopia, which is famous for its unique musical style and marketplace culture. This album allowed him to tour Europe and other countries.  

There are two songs that I listen to on repeat this year. የሺ– Yeshi and ዜማዬ- Zemaye. Both songs are my favorite listens this year. Yeshi is very warm and affectionate. The song is about the early stage of a crush to a like to and then to love. The woman’s name, Yeshi, is repeated over the course of the song like a private conversation we are privy to. Even though both songs are about love, the second song is a love that has gone through all the cracks and tests. This love has been forming for a long time, as he says she is “my melody.” The first two characters, ዜማ -Zema, spell melody, and the last, ዬ -yah- my, give it a possessive touch. He is saying ”she is my melody.”

His releases include Atgebam Alugn (2021), Addis Arada (2024), and upcoming projects in 2025/2026.

These songs are giving Devotion. Admiration. Chef’s Kiss.

katelinah Frost