Mulu Wongel Church “A” Choir (Addis Ababa)

Mulu Wongel Church “A” Choir emerged in 1969 from a group of a few passionate members of the Ethiopian Full Gospel Believers’ Church (EFGBC; Amharic: Mulu Wongel) in Addis Ababa, who had previously sung individually and in a few groups. It was the Church’s first choir. While there were several contributing factors to the inception of the choir, the Araya Family Choir played a unique role in motivating and influencing its establishment.

The founding members of the choir numbered about ten, among them Getachew Mikre, Tsegaye Kabtimer, Zerfnesh Woldetsadik, Menbere Hezekias, Mekdes Belete, Kelem Belete, and Yalew Kebede. Getachew Mikre was the leader and coordinated the overall functions of the choir. He also used to accompany the choir’s singing on the accordion, whereas Bayiru Seyoum played the guitar. The key songwriters were Legesse Wetro (now Prof.), Addisu Worku, Yigezu Desta, Ejgayehu Beyene, Tesfaye Woldeyesus, Bitsiat Tirfe, Atalay Alem (Prof.), and Almaz Haile.

In 1970, the choir began its public service at Addis Ababa Mekane Yesus Church and Addis Ababa Adventist Church. In addition to worship services in church congregations, the choir also sang in schools, hospitals (e.g., Zewditu Hospital), at wedding ceremonies, funerals, and in the Addis Ababa stadium. The Jimma Philadelphia church invited the choir in 1971 to serve at a spiritual conference, and that marked the choir’s first ministry out of Addis.

In 1971, during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, the Mulu Wongel Church’s physical operations were closed for the first time. The choir was nevertheless invited to serve in many churches, even in such distant cities as Harar and Dire Dawa in the east and Arba Minch in the south. The seizure of power by the DERG military regime in 1974 led to severe persecution in many parts of the country. The atheist government officially closed the Ethiopian Full Gospel Believers’ Church. Some members of the choir were imprisoned, but the choir as such was not persecuted. Doors opened for the choir to serve in many other denominations.

During the Ethiopian Revolution, gatherings of more than five people were strictly prohibited. Hence, the choir was forced to meet, pray, and practice songs in smaller groups in private houses. The members of the choir took a risk in coming together and resuming services through the church’s underground schemes, yet they were covered and protected by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ whenever they held meetings in those difficult times.

The Mulu Wongel “A” Choir brought about a paradigm shift in presenting original gospel songs with Ethiopian national music styles and flavors (“Habesha zema”) during the early stages of its ministry. Previously, most hymns presented by evangelical church choirs in Ethiopia were translations of foreign works.

The choir’s music style included unison, half-solo, duet, quartet, and four-part harmonies, in Amharic and sometimes in English. Several observers believe that the messages of its gospel songs attracted more souls to Christ than the preaching and teaching delivered on Sunday services. Songs like Kemotim yadinal Eyesus (1970), Amlak eregnaye new (1970), Misgana Leyesus misgana (1974), Besheleko bitalf (1971), And ken yimetal (1971) Amelkalehu yihinin talak Geta (1973), and Linarf new wondim (1973) influenced many believers to live out practical Christian disciplines, glorify God, live an exemplary life, give testimony to others about the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ, and exhort believers to lead a solemn life in anticipation of the second coming of the blessed Bridegroom.

The Mulu Wongel “A” Choir also set an example by serving in denominations other than its mother church. Thus, the choir played a pivotal role in the movement and manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s work in Ethiopia. The more opportunities the choir got to sing, the more the Holy Spirit used it to rekindle believers in many churches. As a result, revivals occurred, and the work of the Holy Spirit was accepted in almost all denominations. Since then, the awakening of believers by the power of the Holy Spirit has been experienced throughout the country.

Numerous songs of the choir had a high broadcast share in the Christian radio service called Yemisrach Dimts. The program was prepared and presented by Dr. Nigussie Tefera. He underscores that the songs of the choir were not only the hallmarks and emblems of a severely persecuted church, but to many they were also sources of edification, admonition, and spiritual awakening.

Nigussie Tefera, Introduction to the choir’s DVD Kemotim yadinal, 2018 (cf. Discography below).

Albums

(1) Kämotəm yadənal [ከሞትም ያድናል, Jesus saves even from death]. Cassette produced [Q: recorded by YDCS?] and distributed by Mulu Wongel Believers’ Church, Addis Ababa, 1971.

(2) Məsgana [ምስጋና, Praises]. Cassette produced [Q: recorded by YDCS?] and distributed by Mulu Wongel Believers’ Church, Addis Ababa, 1973.

(3) Yä’ǝgziʼabǝher bäg [የእግዚአብሔር በግ, Lamb of God]. Cassette produced [recorded by YDCS?] and distributed by Mulu Wongel Believers’ Church, Addis Ababa, 1979.

(4) Ǝgziʼabǝherǝn amäsgǝnu [እግዚአብሔርን አመስግኑ, Praise God]. Cassette produced [recorded by YDCS?] and distributed by Mulu Wongel Believers’ Church, Addis Ababa, 1979.

(5) Wädoñal [ወዶኛል (?), He has loved me]. Cassette produced and distributed by Mulu Wongel Believers’ Church, Addis Ababa, 1992. [Q: ወድዶኛል, He has loved me?]

Mulu Wongel Church “A” Choir (Addis Ababa) 1 — vol. 5 (courtesy Adam Wole)

(6) Yägälilaw Iyäsus tänäs [የገሊላው ኢየሱስ ተነስ, Jesus of Galilee arose]. Cassette produced and distributed by Mulu Wongel Believers’ Church, Addis Ababa, 1993.

(7) Ǝwunätəm Geta näh [እውነትም ጌታ ነህ, Indeed, You are Lord]. Cassette produced and distributed by Mulu Wongel Believers’ Church, Addis Ababa, 1998.

(8) Amäsägənähalähu [አመሰግንሃለሁ, I paise You]. Cassette produced and distributed by Mulu Wongel Believers’ Church, Addis Ababa, 2010.

(9) Kämotəm yadənal [ከሞትም ያድናል, He (Jesus) saves even from death]. CD and DVD, music mixed by Natty Digital Studio and pictures produced by Close up Pictures, released and distributed by Mulu Wongel Believers’ Church, Addis Ababa, 2018.

Q: Picture of albums?