Ethiopian National Defence Force Band

Ground Forces Band The first permanent military band in the country took the form of the Imperial Bodyguard Band (Kibur Zebegna) of the Ethiopian Empire, being formed in 1929 under Swiss conductor Andre Nicod. It originally consisted of just over a dozen chosen slaves from Welega. It was the first African nation to implement western style military music conventions. In 1943, the Ground Force Music Department was founded upon the order of the Minister for War, Ras Abebe Aregai, after Emperor Haile Selassie return from exile in England two years before. It initially consisted of 65 members, with Alemu Wolde Selassie and Agop Nalbandian (An ethnic Armenian, who was the brother of Arba Lijoch Fanfare bandleader Kevork Nalbandian) serving as instructors. It received assistance from the British Royal Corps of Army Music, most recently between 2007-2012. == Duties ==

Since its inception, the Ground Force Band, and now the ENDF Band, has been brought out to perform music on various events, such as state visits, official holidays, and state funerals. The band has itself trained the Tigray and Somali marching bands. ==See also==