Join us in the Sukkah for a live performance by Gili Yalo-- a singular musical voice whose rhythms and storytelling embody his rich Ethiopian Jewish heritage and sound. This Sukkot gathering and concert will be accompanied by a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

This event will take place as part of Sukkot in The Neighborhood – a festival of Jewish arts, culture, and spirituality taking place in an art installation Sukkah in Brooklyn. Read the full line-up HERE.

If cost is an obstacle to your participation in this event, please reach out to info@theneighborhoodbk.org to request an accommodation.

ABOUT THE ARTIST: (NOTE- I know it's not normal for us to put the bio in the copy, but I feel like it's really important here! - MD)

Gili Yalo combines Ethiopian roots with Soul, Funk, Psychedelic and Jazz music. The result is an exceptional, rich, vivid melody accompanied by Gili’s unique voice with lyrics in both English and Amharic.

The music made by Gili Yalo embodies his own personal story, which inspired the rhythm and flow of the whole project. And what a story he has to tell: Operation Moses was the covert evacuation of Ethiopian Jews from Sudan during a famine in 1984. These Ethiopian Jews fled from their native land on foot to refugee camps in Sudan.

Together with his family, Gili Yalo made this perilous trip, walked through the desert towards the Promised Land and sang to his beloved ones. In the course of this exhausting and emotional journey, the music encouraged Gili and his family to keep on moving. 


Gili Yalo’s band is made up of four musicians, including guitar, bass, keyboard and drums. An entrancing rhythmic motion is apparent when listening to Gili’s music, from the groove, beat and flow, and up to the lyrics, concept and style of the project. Today Gili Yalo’s music gives a new meaning to traditional Ethiopian music. The expression of his story through an advanced music production represents his own personal triumph.