A gifted singer, a humble spirit, and an audacious dreamer who is redefining the way we think of Ethiopian music one pluck of the guitar and one listener at a time.

Posted:  Wednesday, July 7, 2010


Name:  Munit Mesfin

Born:  Addis Abeba

Current Residence:  Northern Virginia

Munit is different.  Her sound is different, her music is different, her work ethic is different, and in a world full of performers who are intent of chasing fame and money, her dedication to family is different.  This is what makes Munit so great to listen to, when you go to her concerts; you do not hear the typical sounds of music that is prevalent on the radio stations these days.  Munit is dedicated to her craft, and along with her brother, each show is intimate concert where the audience feels like they are a part of the production.

Born in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia and then going on to live a large part of her life in India and Zambia, Munit brings an infusion of sound that is by extension the story of her life.  She plays alongside her brother Jorga, who is an accomplished jazz musician.  Together, like siblings recounting the stories of their lives, they transform a room into a concert hall with the strumming of guitars and the melodies of live instruments.

Munit is a young achiever of the week for many reasons, but the one that stands out above all is her dedication to chasing her dream in accordance with her work ethic and her world view.  She did not take the easy way, she did not conform to fit the sounds of contemporary music—she dared to explore a way forward with a new sound.  This is what makes Munit who she is; this is what makes Munit’s music stand out amongst the cacophony of sounds we are bombarded with.