The Hullegeb Festival is returning to Jerusalem, bringing Jewish-Ethiopian heritage into focus within the city’s rich cultural scene.
Produced by Confederation House and under the artistic direction of Effie Benaya, this annual event runs from June 17-19 and unfolds across venues such as Confederation House, Yellow Submarine, HaMazkeka, Mahol Shalem Dance Center, and the First Station.
As Benaya notes, the festival “highlights the creative and renewing forces of the Israeli-Ethiopian cultural scene, even amid concerns over hostages, ongoing war, and uncertainty.”
This year’s program offers a rich, multilayered exploration of cultural resilience and artistic innovation. Theater productions such as Come for Buna: A Story about Coffee trace the arc of the Beta Israel community from the First Temple period through their immigration to Israel. Stolen Dance tells the story of a young artist fighting to preserve his voice in the face of adversity. A new dance work by the Beta Ensemble, Maharen-Na (“Have mercy on us” in the ancient Ge’ez language), presents traditional Ethiopian mourning rituals through a contemporary lens. The Zu-Ethiopia troupe offers a vibrant showcase of regional dances performed in traditional costume.
AvevA Dese makes her return
The closing performance, led by singer Tamarada, weaves Ethio-jazz, Afrobeat, and Israeli folk music into a finale that feels both rooted and expansive.
Among the most anticipated moments of the festival is the return of singer-songwriter AvevA Dese, who will perform at HaMazkeka on June 17. For the artist, now based in Los Angeles, this is more than a concert; it is a return to her creative and emotional origins.
AvevA, the soulful Ethiopian-Israeli singer-songwriter, has long embodied the dynamic tension between ancient heritage and contemporary expression.
Born in Israel to Ethiopian immigrant parents, she grew up balancing two worlds, a duality that became the foundation of her musical voice. “There’s a deep strength in where I come from,” she says. “But I also had to find where I belong. Music helped me bridge that gap.”
Her sound, rooted in the rhythms and tonalities of Ethiopian music, yet fluent in soul, pop, and groove, first captured national attention with her breakout on The Voice – Israel. That early recognition led to collaborations with artists such as Idan Raichel, performances at state ceremonies including Israel’s Independence Day, and international tours spanning venues from the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, to clubs and festivals across France, Germany, Canada, Russia, and the UK.
Her 2016 debut album, Who Am I?, established her as one of Israel’s most distinctive emerging voices. Its 2019 follow-up, In My Thoughts, expanded her sonic palette and emotional depth. For AvevA, music has never been just about sound. “I write from what I live,” she explains. “From the tension between cultures, from the struggle to be seen, from the beauty of difference.”
Two years ago, she and her partner Liron, who is pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship, moved to Los Angeles with their young son, Leyo, seeking new professional opportunities and a chance to grow artistically. The transition was complex and made even more difficult by the events of October 7 in Israel.
“After October 7, it was hard to function, let alone make music,” she reflects. “Even though we were not under fire, the trauma was still present. We experienced it differently, but it was heavy.”
Amid this emotional landscape, she released “Mad World,” the first single from her forthcoming EP. The song captures the weariness of chasing validation in a world that measures worth by output, image, and achievement, while holding on to the deeper values she was raised with: community, connection, and a more intentional life.
“It’s a story of values clashing,” she explains. “The pressure to succeed vs the desire to belong, the pursuit of things that shine vs the need for something real.” She calls the song “a deep breath” and a reminder that self-worth isn’t something we earn, it’s something we return to.
On June 17, AvevA will present a new live show at HaMazkeka, featuring songs from her upcoming EP alongside tracks from her earlier albums. The performance promises a rhythmic, soulful blend of pop and Ethiopian influences, with Eden Nir on guitar and Ben Ayalon on percussion. At 37, AvevA continues to forge her path on her own terms, gracefully navigating the intertwined roles of artist, partner, mother, and activist.
Her work extends beyond the stage. She is actively involved with Friends by Nature, a nonprofit fostering leadership and social change within Ethiopian-Israeli communities and beyond. For AvevA, creativity and commitment go hand in hand. As the Hullegeb Festival unfolds, her voice, rooted in personal truth and driven by a longing for connection, will no doubt be one of its most resonant and timely offerings.
Hullegeb Festival for Israeli-Ethiopian Creation at Confederation House, June 17-19, for tickets and more information (02)5399360, www.confederationhouse.org