Rahel Yohannes: key obituary facts
Is Rahel Yohannes dead? Yes. Rahel Yohannes died on July 5, 2026, at age 79.
Cause of death: Rahel Yohannes's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Rahel Yohannes known for?
Rahel Yohannes was an Ethiopian singer and musician.
More about Rahel Yohannes
Born: May 5, 1947.
Occupations: Singer, songwriter, instrumentalist.
Genres: Ethiopian music, tizita.
Instruments: Vocals, krar.
Years active: 1980s–2026.
Rahel Yohannes, the Ethiopian singer and musician whose work helped define contemporary tizita, died on July 5, 2026.
She was 79. Born in Addis Ababa on May 5, 1947, Yohannes became known as a singer, instrumentalist and songwriter with a career that stretched from the 1980s to 2026.
Her repertoire included songs such as “Arada,” “Tizita,” “Menelik,” “Liguazew” and “Hagere Ethiopia,” and she was widely associated with Ethiopian music played on vocals and krar. Before entering music, she pursued work in hospitality and earned diplomas from Ras and Ghion Hotels. She was later discovered by vocalist Ketema Mekonnen and went on to record 13 studio albums, including Anchi Bale Deri.