The “A” Choir of the Full Gospel Believers’ Church in Soddo, the capital of the Walaytta Zone (also known by vernacular names such as Wolayita, Wolaytta, etc.), was established in 1980. The choir’s organizers were the then leaders of the congregation, Belete Habtegiorgis, Roman Samuel (Evangelist), Samuel Degsaw (Evangelist), Amsale Arega, and Bezabih Bancha. Evangelist Samuel Degsaw served as the choir’s leader for a long time.
The founding members also included Adilla Hadero, Tsehay Dola, Tirfe Tomas, and Aster Elias. Most of them composed songs. Already as a teenager, Samuel Borsamo wrote songs for the choir. Later, he became a well-known gospel singer in Ethiopia. Bezabeh Bancha (a blind person) and Alemayehu Anega were the music players from the choir’s inception.
Already in 1980, the choir sang outside the congregation. The Full Gospel Believers’ Church (also known as Mulu Wongel Church) of Badessa had invited them to sing at their evangelistic conference. Badessa was also where communist cadres imprisoned choir members and confiscated their musical instruments for the first time.
During the military regime (1974-91), there was great persecution throughout much of Ethiopia. The cadres ordered the official closure of the congregation’s ministry. Some choir members (e.g., Tirfe Tomas and Aster Elias) were imprisoned because of their faith and even tortured. However, many doors opened for the singers to serve secretly. The choir was invited to sing in individual homes and clandestine meetings of various denominations in Soddo and beyond.
After the regime’s fall in 1991, the choir resumed singing publicly. Apart from their local congregation, the singers served in many other cities, including Adaba, Addis Ababa, Hawassa, Shashamane, and Shone. They were invited mainly by congregations, in some cases also by World Vision.
Walaytta Mulu Wongel “A” Choir has been a strong supporter of the ministry of its congregation in Soddo. It played a significant role in promoting the Good News of Jesus Christ. This choir also served as a role model for others by serving various congregations and denominations, in addition to its mother church.
Albums
(1) Egziabeher ayene [እግዝአብሔር አየን, God visited us]. Audio cassette produced and distributed by Walaytta Mulu Wongel Believers’ Church in 1989.
(2) Egziabeher fiker naw [እግዚአብሔር ፍቅር ነው, God is love]. Audio cassette produced and distributed by Walaytta Mulu Wongel Believers’ Church in 1992.
(3) Yemaytefa tesfa [የማይጠፋ ተስፋ, A living hope]. Audio cassette published and distributed by Walaytta Mulu Wongel Believers’ Church in 2015.
(4) _ _ _ [_ _ _, _ _ _] CD/VCD recorded by _ _ _ in 2024.
Connect
» Visit Walaytta Mulu Wongel “A” Choir‘s YouTube channel (old music videos)
» Visit Walaytta Sodo Mulu Wongel Church‘s YouTube channel (new music videos)
Audio
» Listen to albums and songs
Video
» Watch worship services
Pictures
