Ras Tewelde

Ras Tewelde, born in Italy, started his artistic experience at the age of 14 with one of the first Italian reggae bands, Living In The Ghetto, where he was one of the three singers. From 1998 to 2002 he has been touring Italy, participating in several festivals, including the Rototom Sunsplash.

In 2004, Tewelde visited Ethiopia for the first time. He collaborated with the singer Dawit Geletu in the song and videoclip "Belsrà", which remained for a long time at the top of the local charts and was presented at the House of Rastafari of Rototom Sunsplash. Back in Italy, Tewelde began concentrating on new productions, starting with his first 7 inch album ‘Jah a di Teacha’, in 2005.

In 2007, he finally reached Kingston, Jamaica, where he collaborated with artists like Lutan Fyah, Half Pint, Teflon, Dean Frazer, Sly and Robbie and many more.
In the same year, he released his second 7inch, 'Babylon is Falling', a powerful combination with Lutan Fyah for Gold Cup Records and then other singles like ‘Ruff Road’, ‘Overstand di Powa’ and ‘I-ses’.

In 2008 Tewelde toured Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia, while continuing his activities in Europe with several talented European productions.
In 2009 and 2010 he performed on many stages, with Lion D and the 'Burnin Melody Tour', in Europe, backed by Livity Band and Bizzarri Sound.

At the same time, Ras Tewelde is also engaged in academic research and spends most of his time between Ethiopia and Jamaica, where he works in schools and universities. He is also the author of two publications on the issues of Rastafari culture and language in the Caribbean and Africa (' Forbidden Fruits' – Morlacchi d. and 'West of Eden' - Cambridge SP ed.).

In 2010, with Bizzarri Records, he started working on his first album featuring the already famous singles ‘Mama Africa’, ‘Everywhere I Go’ and many important combinations, such as the Jamaican legend Sugar Minott and the DJ’s Josie Wales, Stitchie and Louie Culture and other rising stars from Europe and Africa, like the Italian Lion D or Sahara Benji, a youth from Shashamane, Ethiopia.

Ras Tewelde has toured Italy and Europe with Lion D and The Livity Band for the Rastafari Children Tour. In November 2012 he toured the USA performing in the best reggae music clubs in California, Oregon and Washington with Jah Sun, Bizzarri Sound and Lion D, gaining a lot of new fans.