Meet One of the Promoters Behind This Weekend’s Teddy Afro Concert
By Faisale Shefawe
Published on 05/19/25
This week, Bakalu Ayalew (known to many as BK) is one of the busiest promoters in the DC area as he works to fill Eco Stage for Sunday’s Teddy Afro concert. He’ll stop by local Habesha markets, businesses and clubs, and he will also be receiving calls from people he barely knows asking for free tickets—but his answer will be clear: no more free tickets. As one of the concert’s promoters, BK’s focus is on making sure the night is a success for everyone involved, including the fans and the investors.
In the concert world, investors bring the money while promoters like BK bring the energy, the community and the crowd. Once a venue is secured, he’s one of the first people called. The more tickets sold, the better it is for everyone involved.
BK started promoting events in 2010 when he and his friends launched Addis Vibe to promote their own birthday parties and host Habesha events in the DMV area.
Their big break came in 2011 when they were hired to promote a concert featuring two Ethiopian legends—Ephrem Tamiru and Mahmoud Ahmed. That event opened new doors, not just because of the turnout but because it gave BK and his team the chance to work with iconic names and build their reputation.
This isn’t his first Teddy Afro concert either. In fact, BK has been promoting Teddy’s shows since 2012. He loves working on them because Teddy draws a passionate, loyal crowd that never misses a show. And Teddy always delivers—fans leave happy, excited and energized.
“My most profitable and proudest concert was The Superstar Show in 2012,” BK said. “Having both Mahmoud Ahmed and Teddy Afro on the same stage in one night was unforgettable.”
In 2017, when the Addis Vibe team went separate ways, the business landscape was already changing. Social media had become the best tool to reach fans and many promoters began shifting toward owning their own venues.
From 2017 to 2022, BK co-owned several popular spots in the DMV, including Glow Lounge in DC and Black Rose in Virginia. In March 2023, he opened Flair Restaurant & Lounge on 14th Street, just a few blocks from U Street. The restaurant offers a menu by a renowned chef, great drinks, music and weekend brunches. Walk across the bar and you’ll see flyers for the upcoming concert plastered all over the wall.
Promoters like BK still play a key role in the success of concerts. They own venues, stay connected to their community and know how to bring a crowd. That’s why more than two decades later, he’s still in the game. Now, his goal is to invest his own money and bring more artists from Ethiopia to stages across the US.
Asked about this weekend’s concert, he said, “We’re ready. We’re expecting between two and three thousand fans to come enjoy another great show.” One thing he’s certain of—Teddy never disappoints.