Meklit's 'Kemekem' Video Is An Ethiopian Love Ode To The Afro

An office courtship develops through dance in Meklit's music video for "Kemekem (I Love Your Afro)," featuring pianist Samuel Yirga.

Meklit's 'Kemekem' Video Is An Ethiopian Love Ode To The Afro

​Photo illustration by Kaushik Kalidindi, Okayplayer.
Poetry

The 10 Best African Poems of All Time

These are the lines that have woken imaginations and stirred souls across the continent and beyond.


Ethiopian-American songstress Meklit Haderoreinterprets a traditional Ethiopian love song in "Kemekem (I Like Your Afro)," her Amharic-sang single alongside pianist Samuel Yirga. Following a successful crowdsourcing campaign which called for "Afro coiffed folks of all ages,” Meklit is sharing the elegant and beautifully-choreographed music video for her standout tune from last year's We Are Alive LP (Six Degrees Records). In it, an office courtship develops through a series of call-and-response dances backed by Meklit's blend of traditional azmari soundscapes, soul, jazz and R&B. Watch the Pete Lee-directed music video for "Kemekem (I Like Your Afro)" featuring Samuel Yirga below.

​Photo illustration by Kaushik Kalidindi, Okayplayer.
Poetry

The 10 Best African Poems of All Time

These are the lines that have woken imaginations and stirred souls across the continent and beyond.

10  Songs That Make Us Extremely Proud to be African
News

10 Songs That Make Us Extremely Proud to be African

For Africa Day, we asked our OkayAfrica staff members to reflect on a song that makes them feel proud to be African.