Ethiopian music sensation Tewodros Kassahun, widely known as Teddy Afro, is set to release his highly anticipated new album, "Ethioprica," tomorrow, April 16, 2026. This marks his first album in nine years since the critically acclaimed "Ethiopia." The release, however, comes on the heels of a significant financial settlement, with the artist returning 33 million Birr to Sewasew Multimedia following the amicable termination of their four-year-old contract.
Teddy Afro's management confirmed that the artist repaid 25 million Birr, the initial advance he received, along with four years of accrued bank interest, bringing the total to 33 million Birr. Sewasew Multimedia also corroborated this information, stating that the contract was dissolved by mutual agreement due to differing views during the renewal process.
The "Ethioprica" album will be made available to listeners on Teddy Afro's official YouTube channel and various international music streaming platforms. This independent release deviates from the initial plan, which would have seen Sewasew Multimedia distribute the album.
The dispute between the iconic artist and the multimedia company had been a subject of intense speculation on social media, with some pages even attempting to link the disagreement to political agendas and circulating unverified information. However, sources close to the matter, including the "Ethiopicallink" entertainment and information radio program, clarify that the contract's dissolution was purely a business decision based on irreconcilable differences in proposed new terms.
The original agreement, signed four years ago, stipulated that Sewasew would pay Teddy Afro a total of 50 million Birr, with half of that amount, 25 million Birr, paid upfront. While the album was initially expected to be released four years ago, various disagreements prevented the contract from being renewed.
According to "Ethiopicallink," the core of the disagreement during the contract renewal discussions revolved around two key points. Sewasew Multimedia proposed including Teddy Afro's older songs on their application and offered an annual pre-payment for this right. This proposal was not accepted by Teddy Afro. Conversely, Teddy Afro requested an amendment to a clause in the original four-year-old contract concerning revenue generated from Caller Ring Back Tones (CRBT), a request that Sewasew Multimedia did not approve.
With neither party willing to concede on these new terms and the album's release date approaching, both sides mutually agreed to terminate the contract. A meeting held two weeks prior between Teddy Afro and the publishing company failed to resolve the differences, leading to the artist's decision to return the advance with interest.
Sewasew Multimedia issued a statement acknowledging the amicable separation, noting, "The contract was terminated by agreement due to ideas encountered during the work process."
Teddy Afro's "Ethioprica" is scheduled for release at 8:00 PM EAT on Thursday, April 16, 2026. While there were earlier reports of a Saturday release, Teddy Afro's management informed "Ethiopicallink" that the artist personally decided to bring the release date forward to Thursday, with the specific day, date, and time chosen for a particular reason known to the artist.
Teddy Afro remains one of Ethiopia's most celebrated and influential musicians, with a massive fan base. His return to the music scene after nearly a decade is eagerly awaited, and the independent release of "Ethioprica" marks a significant moment in his illustrious career.
Source: Telegram / tikvahethiopia