Ethiopian star Hailu Amerga has officially released his long-awaited new album Ahun, and it’s already sparking conversations across the music scene. The 13-track project — featuring songs like “Man Ale Endanchi,” “Zem Ale,” “Ahun,” “Nafke Nafke,” “Shege,” “Sorene,” “Kalshbet,” “Ayewachew,” “Yetm Ayadrs,” “Zemdwa Zemde,” “Elel Alch Nbse,” “Eshem,” and “Emegnalu”  delivers a powerful mix of emotion, craft, and cultural depth.

For longtime fans, Ahun feels like the moment Hailu has been building toward since his early days with the genre-bending Jano Band. Where that group pushed boundaries between rock and traditional Ethiopian sounds, Hailu’s solo journey has leaned into soul, introspection, and a smoother modern edge. On Ahun, he fuses all of those worlds grounding them in lived experience and forward-looking production.

The title itself, Ahun (“Now” in Amharic), sets the tone for the album’s urgency and honesty. Across its 13 songs, Hailu reflects on time, love, memory, and growth. Each track unfolds with its own personality  from the pulsing rhythm of “Man Ale Endanchi” to the soaring melancholy of “Zem Ale” and the meditative close of “Emegnalu.”

Musically, Ahun is textured and deliberate. Traditional instrumentation meets lush synth layers and clean vocal production. Hailu’s signature voice  at once powerful and vulnerable  stays at the center, anchoring the album’s shifts in mood and style.

More than just a collection of songs, Ahun feels like a reflection on where Hailu Amerga stands today: an artist embracing his past while charting a bold new direction. It’s introspective without being quiet, vibrant without chasing trends.

With Ahun, Hailu doesn’t just remind us who he is  he reintroduces himself. The result is one of the most compelling Ethiopian releases of the year and a defining statement from an artist who’s fully arrived in his “now.”