Meet the Ethiopian Marching Band, the 2025 Spasskaya Tower Festival Debutants

Joining the line-up of the 2025 Spasskaya Tower International Military Tattoo is the Ethiopian National Defence Force Marching Band. Between August 22 and 31, the ensemble will perform on the famous cobblestones of Moscow’s Red Square to showcase their vibrant African spirit and incredible music abilities.

All the way from the mysterious and far-away land of Ethiopia, musicians are coming to Moscow with an array of unique traditional melodies and classical masterpieces, complimented by a mix of contemporary hits. Guests of the Festival will also be treated to the tunes of various national instruments, including the kebero, a large hand drum, the masenqo, a one-string bowed lute, and the Ethiopian one-string fiddle.

The ensemble’s origins can be traced back to the 19th century when Emperor Menelik II directed the creation of a special music unit whose main purpose was to cover military parades and state official visits. Ever since, the Ethiopian military musicians have consistently carried out their ceremonial duties with the utmost dignity.

Today, the band is actively involved in all significant national celebrations, and has the privilege of representing Ethiopia overseas, sharing tales of the resilience of the Ethiopian military and the rich cultural heritage of the nation.

The band is currently under the supervision of Major General Endalkachew Weldekidan Dega who is also Head of the Training Department of the Ethiopian Armed Forces. In addition to relentlessly practicing and perfecting their renditions of national pieces and military classics, Ethiopian musicians are highly committed to passing on their knowledge and fostering the next generation of artists.
Over 1,500 of the world’s most talented performers will gather in Moscow for the Seventeenth Spasskaya Tower International Military Tattoo, with some of the top military and law enforcement creative teams already eager to hit the historic cobblestones of Red Square. In 2025, the Festival’s outstanding production will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War Victory and pay homage to all those who have been bravely fighting for their homeland.

The Spasskaya Tower Military Tattoo enjoys the unwavering organizational and/or financial support of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Moscow Government Department of Culture.