Jazz Concert featuring Meklit Hadero

Meklit Hadero is an Ethiopian-American vocalist, songwriter, and composer whose performances have taken her to renowned stages across four continents. She is the former Chief of Programs at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco and is a sought after thought leader and speaker, including at TED Stages, the United Nations, and National Geographic Storytellers Summit. She has been an Artist-in-Residence at Stanford University and Harvard University. Meklit is co-founder, co-producer, and host of Movement, a podcast, radio series , live performance series and community building initiative uplifting the songs and stories of immigrant musicians.

A Piece of Infinity (2025, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) features powerful collaborations with harpist Brandee Younger and saxophonist/flutist Camille Thurman. On the album, Meklit reimagines Ethiopian traditional songs in her signature San Francisco Ethio-Jazz style, from classics like "Ambassel" and "Tizita," to little known gems like "Geefata," a communal song of celebration from her father's tribe Kembata. Meklit adds three originals as well, including "Lefeqer Enegeza," a collaboration with Ethiopian poet Alemtsehay Wedajo. The album title reflects just a piece of the infinite beauty and power held within Ethiopian traditional music.

By attending this event, you grant the Smithsonian Institution permission to photograph, film, videotape you and/or record your voice and likeness in connection with or the promotion of the project.

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Host or Publisher National Museum of African Art