Fendika Cultural Center

Fendika Cultural Center is a live music and arts venue led by the dancer Melaku Belay. It is now inside the Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa hotel on Meskel Square. It presents azmari music, traditional dance and Ethio-jazz.

What to expect

Fendika started as an azmari bet, a house where azmari singers play and improvise verses for the audience. Melaku Belay began to manage it in 2008 and made it a wider arts centre in 2016. The programme includes azmari nights with traditional dancers, the Ethiocolor band, Ethio-jazz bands, poetry and art shows. Fendika also runs a street festival at Timket each January. It received the Prince Claus Award in 2020.

Why it moved

The first venue was a compound on Zewditu Street in Kazanchis. The city cleared the area for redevelopment and the compound was demolished on 23 October 2024. Fendika has performed at the Hyatt Regency since December 2024. The space has its own entrance and includes the Fendika art gallery, which is free to visit. A new building, the Grand Fendika, is planned for the Kazanchis site. Carlo Ratti Associati showed the design in August 2025.

Good to know

Fendika does not publish fixed show times or a cover charge. Call +251 91 154 7577 or check its Instagram page before you go. The hotel stands on Meskel Square, in the centre of the city.