Muluu Baqqalaa is an Oromo songwriter and vocalist born in the town of Lemen, Qarsa Malima, a small settlement sixty kilometres from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Born to a working class family in Oromia, Mulu and her siblings were sent to school at an early age and imbued with a spirit of hard work, spiritual practice, and hope. Living in an unstable political and social environment led Mulu to seek expression in the arts. Of her tumultuous childhood, she says -

“I was raised in an environment where my people, the Oromo, have been victimised and subjected to gross human rights violations by different Ethiopian regimes. In front of myself and other children of my age, my family members, neighbours, and other relatives were subjected to torture and sadly put to death. These challenges led me to express the traumatic experiences of my childhood through the arts. I started singing for the freedom of my people, became consistently fascinated by the arts, and eventually realised that I had become completely engrossed in the world of music.”

She left her studies at the age of nineteen, and began recording her first album, Damaa Shoolee Kiyaa, with producer Ibrahim Saide and engineer Dawit Yusuf Sammamish. The album is a collection of recordings, ranging from love songs, protest songs, and spiritual anthems. Mulu speaks of the process of establishing herself as a prominent artist in Ethiopia, refining her practice into an exploration of the boundaries between politics, culture, and love.

“I began my career as a singer in 2007 with the release of my debut single, "Damma Shoolee". This song was well received by the Oromo community and helped me gain recognition as a vocalist. I performed this song both locally and internationally, and it earned me a lot of praise and a solid reputation. Since then, I have released 22 singles. My songs are classified into three kinds: advocating for human rights, promoting Oromo culture, and portraying love. I have a passion for songwriting, both in terms of lyrics and poems.”

She continues - “It was a difficult time. I am a student, I don’t have any clothes, I don’t have work. When you become an artist, you have to find money for studio costs, recording, everything. It was very difficult. If you don't have talent, it's very difficult. It’s always hard.”

Since this time, Mulu has gone on to record and self-release a sophomore album, Akanaa Dubiin, working with composer and engineer Dawet Taddesa and Tamrat Kebade. The album follows a similar pattern, gathering together songs that focus on Mulu’s interest in politics, culture and love. The album’s opener, Tokkumee, is described by Mulu as a song for peace, translating into English something akin to ‘We are One’.

It is followed by tunes like Kottumee, translating as ‘please come’ - a heartfelt and vulnerable call for love. Finally, the album’s title track, the powerful Akanaa Duubiin, is an anguished, frustrated anthem rallying against injustices and displacement of the Oromo people in Ethiopia.

In 2017, Mulu was invited by the Oromo community to perform in Australia. Whilst performing to gatherings of Oromo diaspora across the country, Mulu learnt of increased violence and hardship at home. Says a close friend of Mulu, speaking over the phone in Melbourne, Australia:

“There was plenty of fear. Mulu sings political things - she came to Australia to sing, but when she tried to go back it was very dangerous, a lot of her friends were in jail. They were hiding.”

Mulu decided to settle in Australia, and to attempt to pursue her career and speak out for the rights of the Oromo community from her new home in Fitzroy, Victoria. It has been a difficult journey and one fraught with compromise and challenge, particularly for a single woman writing and performing in a language completely foreign to her new community.

Understanding the landscape of the Australian music industry came as something of a shock to Mulu, particularly around artist’s wages and the low value placed on live music by the Australian community. She has also faced numerous challenges in finding a place for her practice in a scene dominated by English-speaking performers and social media personalities.

“This country doesn’t pay big money. When you perform in Ethiopia, you get paid big money. The more famous singers don’t speak in my language. The chance of success is really low for me. They will never know, these people.”

Despite this, Mulu is optimistic about her adopted home. She says - “In future, with good promotion, will come opportunity to perform. Big festivals? Maybe! Maybe something will happen.”

Ultimately, Mulu sees herself as a performer, a vehicle for the advancement of culture and representation of her people.

“Being a singer, I help my people. When I sing I give a voice to my people, I share my culture, I write a story. I write my language. I share my culture to another community. I practice good things - the language of the majority here is English, but it’s my goal to be build a steady career. I hope to make an album that reaches a wider audience.”

She closes by addressing her listeners, you, those holding this document in your hands. It is a physical record of a singer, a voice for an oppressed people, and an individual struggling to make ends meet in a tumultuous world.

“My people, hats off to you! Today, I am here because of your support, and I am trying to fulfil your expectations."

Muluu Baqqalaa
Melbourne, Australia
February 2023