# Munit Mesfin

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**Munit Mesfin** (born 1981)[1] is an Ethiopian singer and songwriter best known for working in a [duo](/source/Musical_ensemble#Two_parts) with German vocalist and guitarist [Jӧrg Pfeil](/source/J%D3%A7rg_Pfeil).[2] Munit sings in her [mother tongue](/source/First_language) [Amharic](/source/Amharic) and English, with inspiration from traditional [Ethiopian songs](/source/Music_of_Ethiopia).[3] Some of her music includes [vocalization without words](/source/Non-lexical_vocables_in_music). Mesfin has a focus on social issues and female empowerment.[3]

## Early life

Munit Mesfin was born in 1981 in [Addis Ababa](/source/Addis_Ababa), Ethiopia. Her mother is Dr. Tewabech Bishaw, a public health professional and a pioneer, who was the first female public health officer in Ethiopia.[4] Her father is Prof. Mesfin Abebe, Ethiopia's first soil scientist, who has worked his whole life for the protection of Ethiopia's natural resources, especially its soil.[citation needed] Both of her parents grew up in the city of [Jimma](/source/Jimma), Ethiopia.[citation needed]

Munit moved to [India](/source/India) at the age of ten because of her mother's work with [UNICEF](/source/UNICEF). She moved to [Windhoek](/source/Windhoek), [Namibia](/source/Namibia), at fourteen, where she completed her [GCE Ordinary Levels](/source/GCE_Ordinary_Level). At sixteen, she moved to the United States, where she attended [Northfield Mount Hermon School](/source/Northfield_Mount_Hermon_School) in [Northfield, Massachusetts](/source/Northfield,_Massachusetts).[3] She went on to study economics and government at [Smith College](/source/Smith_College), a private women's liberal arts college in [Northampton, Massachusetts](/source/Northampton,_Massachusetts).[3][5] During her youth, Munit performed with various local choirs.[6] While at Smith, Mesfin performed with the college's [a capella](/source/A_capella) group, the [Smiffenpoofs](/source/Smiffenpoofs).[5]

## Musical career

While living in Washington, D.C. after college, Munit was a backup singer for [Ethiopian-American](/source/Ethiopian-American) soul singer [Wayna](/source/Wayna).[6] She worked with many other Ethiopian musicians, including her brother, [Jorga Mesfin](/source/Jorga_Mesfin), an [Ethio-jazz](/source/Ethio-jazz) saxophonist.[7] After living abroad for almost 20 years, Munit returned to Ethiopia in 2007 during the celebration of the [Ethiopian Millennium](/source/Ethiopian_Millennium), where she met her frequent collaborator, Jӧrg Pfeil.[8]

Since then, the pair have released two albums as Munit and Jӧrg: *Just the two of us: Live at the coffee house*, in 2008, and , released in March 2013.[9]

## Personal life

Munit Mesfin is married and has three children.[3]

## References

1. Shelemay, Kay Kaufman (2021). *SING AND SING ON : sentinel musicians and the making of the ethiopian american diaspora.*. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 249. [OCLC 1241245393](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1241245393)

1. ["Munit and Jorg to Perform During DC Soccer Tournament Week at Tadias Magazine"](http://www.tadias.com/06/24/2013/munit-and-jorg-to-perform-at-dc-soccer-tournament-week/). *www.tadias.com*. Retrieved 5 July 2018.

1. Editor (5 January 2015). ["Munit Mesfin | Africainterviews"](http://www.africainterviews.com/munit-mesfin/). *www.africainterviews.com*. Retrieved 5 July 2018.

1. Mesfin, Munit (11 May 2014). ["To My Mother. By Munit Mesfin, Daughter and Mother"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140714234957/http://www.thenewafrica.info/mother-munit-mesfin-daughter-mother/). *The New Africa*. Archived from [the original](http://www.thenewafrica.info/mother-munit-mesfin-daughter-mother/) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.

1. ["Singing for Big Change « – Smith College Office of Alumnae Relations Smith College Office of Alumnae Relations"](https://alumnae.smith.edu/spotlight/singing-for-big-change/). *alumnae.smith.edu*. Retrieved 5 July 2018.

1. Kiviat, Steve (1 July 2013). ["See Some Ethiopian Music This Week (Because There Will Be a Lot of It)"](http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2013/07/01/see-some-ethiopian-music-this-week-because-there-will-be-a-lot-of-it/). *Washington City Paper*. Retrieved 4 July 2018.

1. ["Meklit Brings Ethiopian Jazz to the Bay Area – June 23, 2017 – SF Weekly"](http://www.sfweekly.com/music/allshookdown/meklit-brings-ethiopian-jazz-to-the-bay-area/). *SF Weekly*. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2018.

1. ["Ethiopian Music Festival in Washington D.C."](http://www.ethiosports.com/2013/07/02/ethiopian-music-festival-in-washington-d-c/). *Ethiosports*. Retrieved 5 July 2018.

1. ["Munit and Jorg in ፪::2 – Addis Standard"](http://addisstandard.com/munit-and-jorg-in-%E1%8D%AA2/). *Addis Standard*. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2018.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Munit Mesfin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munit_Mesfin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munit_Mesfin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.