"Hullegeb" is the Amharic term for multifaceted. The term depicts the vibe of this unique festival held in Jerusalem from December 19-25, 2013, showcasing a wide variety of artists in the different fields of performing arts, bridging cultural gaps and connecting audiences through music and theatre. 

The Ethiopian-Israeli community is one of Israel's thriving culture generators, creating new styles of music, theatre and art that are influencing the work of many Israeli artists.

This year the Festival opened with a performance by world renowned Ethiopian vocalist Mahmoud Ahmed, one of the most famous and prominent singers in Ethiopian music. This was the first time that the Festival hosted an outstanding musician from Ethiopia. Ahmed performed together with an Israeli combo of nine musicians, led by saxophonist and vocalist Abate Berihun. Ahmed's performance in Israel was initiated by Berihun, an Ethiopian-born Israeli, who performed with Ahmed for over a decade.

More from the Festival:

Ester Rada, Soul-Funk-Jazz singer, performed a tribute to Nina Simone. An Iconic singer in the world of Soul, Jazz, R&B and Blues, Simone inspired Rada to perform a series of her most famous songs at the Yellow Submarine music center in Jerusalem.


 Ester Rada (Copyright: Adi Harari)

Ayala Ingedashet, a singer who made her debut as a soloist for the Navy Corps Ensemble, performed her single "Flesh and Blood" against racism.

The Hullegeb Israeli-Ethiopian Theatre showcased their new comedy "Tsufit Pikado" about an ex-prisoner in search of her disappeared sister.


 Hullegeb Israeli-Ethiopian Theatre  (Copyright: Moshe Malka)

The Reggae combo Zebulon Dub System performed a variety of Reggae styles, both traditional and modern, in a wide range of languages including Amharic, Tigrinya and Gurage.

The Festival closed with a performance by Shlomo Grunich and the Sheba Choir. Celebrating 20 years, this choir of young Israeli Ethiopians has represented Israel on stages around the world. The choir performs songs symbolizing the absorption of Ethiopian immigrants into Israeli society, and is a source of pride to their community.


 Shlomo Gronich and the Sheba Choir (Copyright: Ora Lapidot PR)