Mahmoud Ahmed

First aired on TV on the BBC Two on 29 September 1989, this second episode of the documentary series "Under African Skies", a grand project aimed at presenting the rich diversity of contemporary African music of those days and known for its unforgettable memento "A celebration of the new sounds of a continent. " traverses the nostalgic roots and the euphoric contours of Ethiopian music of the '80s.

A documentary film on an extraordinary artist called Asnaketch Worku who is as much a cultural icon to Ethiopians as Billie Holiday is to Americans and Edith Piaf to the French. Asnaketch lived her life on the edge of her artistry, over the edge of her passions. She brought high standards to theater and excitement to music in conservative Ethiopia in the 1950's-60's. Her gift and transparent nature made her infectious to audiences not only in Ethiopia but also around the world.

Francis Falceto découvre lors d'une soirée dans sa ville natale de Poitiers un album de musique éthiopienne. Son engouement est le point de départ à la redécouverte de tout un pan de cette musique qui a bien failli disparaitre. Il part à la rencontre de cette génération perdue de musiciens, dans l'idée de rééditer ces albums qui deviendront mythiques.