It’s
not easy for Israeli stars to get noticed overseas, but with her
winning combination of moxie, luck and talent, Ester Rada makes
everything look possible. The child of Ethiopian Jewish immigrants to
Israel, she was born in Kiryat Arba, a settlement in the West Bank not
far from Hebron.
Now, she’s been deemed one of Israel’s rising musical
stars, with the BBC featuring her as part of its “Africans in the Holy
Land” program that aired in late April. Rada, 29, who lives today in Tel
Aviv, performed as the opening act of Alicia Keys' concert in Israel.
She recently put out her first full-length album, after releasing an EP
entitled “Life Happens” with four of her songs.
Although she tried to
distance herself from her Ethiopian roots when she was a teenager, she
later embraced her heritage as part of her music. Rada sings primarily
in English, combining elements of soul, funk, jazz, hip-hop, African and
reggae for a fusion that is truly unique.
By: Ilene Prusher
