Seyfu Yohannes was an Ethopian soul/funk singer. Although Seyfu Yohannes is a very common spelling, his name is correctly spelled Sèyfou Yohannès. Yohannès , who died at age 26, recorded just six songs on vinyl. An independent pioneer he, along with Alèmayèhu Eshèté, was dubbed the Ethiopian James Brown. Sèyfou sang in particular with the Soul Ekos, the quintessential non-institutional band and his aura of Ethiopian soul-man is perceptible in his version of Mèla Mèla.