Eritrea is an East African country. Its cultural heritage is closely linked to its neighbor, Ethiopia, of it was recently a province. Eritrean music is especially similar to that of the Ethiopian province of Tigray. Perhaps the most famous Eritrean musician in history was Teklé Tefsa-Ezighe , some of whose music was banned by the Ethiopian government in the 1970s. Also of note is Bereket Mengistab , who has had a lengthy career, and 60s legend Haile Ghebru .

Eritrean music has a unique rhythm that sets it apart from the rest of Africa. Modern popular stars include Mengistab, mentioned above, Osman Abdulrihm , Abrar Osman , Abraham Afwerki , Yemane Gebremichael , Idris Mohamed Ali , Tsehaytu Beraki , Atewebrhan Segid and Berekhet Mengisteab . In 2003, Eritrea banned Amharic language music [1].

Traditional instruments include the stringed kraar, kobar and the wata .

Dutch punk band The Ex covered the Eritrian liberation folk song "Huriyet" on their 2004 release Turn.