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17-year grip of a hard-line old-school maoist regime called the derg. since then, the town has been enjoying something of a musical renaissance. but the story of ethiopian music all the way back to the beginning has been about finding ways to skirt authority, to mock it, even. to say what you want to say one way or the other. ♪ the azmari are ethiopia's original freestyle rappers. they've been around for centuries, voicing criticism, dissatisfaction, dissent, even when others could not. >> anthony: so, how old? >> marcus: maya, how old is azmari, i would say, what, 2,000 years? >> maya: yeah...

>> marcus: oh, they changed it. >> maya: they changed it, they made it big. >> marcus: yes. >> anthony: i leave marcus alone with his father. this is between them. >> marcus: yes. >> tsegay: aberagodana. >> marcus: aberagodana? i like it. i like aberagodana. >> maya: he wants us to see your foot actually. he wanted to see how you guys look alike. >> marcus: i wasn't ready for this. >> maya: they look alike. >> marcus: yeah. proof! proof.

And those who had the authority, they had the chance to work together, to cooperate, or they were enemies. >> anthony: right. anyone deemed an enemy of the state, and this could be a very dangerously loose definition, but usually and typically included the educated, the well-off and anyone associated with the former government were hunted down, shunned, jailed, harassed and often straight out killed. maya's dad was all those things, an educated landowner and part of the rural tribal administration from the selassie time. most people who had the means left the country. >> petros: i know this gu...

>> marcus: actually, it looks spicier than it is. >> anthony: good. very good. though a continuing bone of contention with his father, marcus and maya have sponsored the girls, moving them all to the city and getting them into school. in the countryside, these girls faced a likelihood of forced marriage, even abduction, and very little chance of the kind of future they might have now. so how did that go over with the family when you said, "i'm going to try to help here." >> marcus: i mean, my dad was like, "absolutely not. we need them on the farm." >> anthony: right. >> marcus: it couldn't ha...

Gets it every time he comes. he gave her bullets. he tells her, "this bullet next time is yours if don't bring your husband." so my dad always came to visit us in nighttime, so he never been really home or around during the daytime. >> anthony: so for most of that time your father had to live in hiding. >> maya: yeah. >> petros: yeah, and then we all survived by the grace of god, and we are blessed for this.