Acceptable and Unacceptable Music among Amharic-Speaking Evangelical Ethiopians
by Jan Magne Steinhovden
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Profiles of mentioned musicians (with music videos)
[page numbers to be adjusted]
- [p. 3] Dawit Getachew
- [p. 4] Elias Melka
- [p. 4] Jorga Mesfin
- [p. 4] Yonas Gorfe
» See overview of profiles of persons with a
former career in “secular” performing arts
Group presentations on spiritual & secular music
- Panel discussion on zäfän
(Kiya Talk Show, 2016)
Presenters: Solomon Abebe Gebremedhin, Yonas Gorfe, Negussie Bulcha
- Teaching on mäzmur
(Yetintu Kristina channel, 2018)
Presenters: Pastor Debebe Lemma and Pastor Tesfaye Gabbiso
- Group discussion on worship
(GMM TV, 2021)
Presenters: Pastor Tesfaye Gabbiso, Pastor Debebe Lemma, Reta Paulos (Rhythm National Choir), Gezahegn Mussie
- On Yonas Gorfe’s Book Bet yaṭaw betäña
(Hintse Book Club, 2021)
Presenters: Reta Paulos, Sarah Abdalla
- Oromo discussion and presentations on spiritual songs
(Mo’aa TV, 2017)
Presenters: Lensa Gudina, Rev. Fekadu Begna
Individuals on mäzmur and zäfän
- Debebe Lemma (Pastor)
- Getachew Belete
- Gezahegn Mussie (Pastor)
- Sime Tadesse
- Tamirat Haile (Pastor)
- Tesfaye Gabbiso (Pastor)
- Yonas Gorfe
- Zelalem Mengistu (Pastor)
- ZGrace
Organizations promoting the music ministry of Protestant Churches
- Mahlet Institute of Worship and Music
(published criteria for its award of excellent gospel musicians)
Mahbär qəddusan and music in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
- “Sing praises with understanding (Psalm 47:7).” Instruction on the Mahbär qəddusan website to sing Yaredic hymns instead of ‘profane’ and ‘heretic’ songs. https://eotcmk.org/e/sing-praises-with-understanding-psalm-477/
- Mahibere Kidusan TV (YouTube channel)
Mahbär qəddusan produced several albums.
» View vignette of Mahbär qəddusan
For further study, view pages on:
- Yared the Melodious (Saint)
- Liturgy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
- Ethiopian Orthodox gospel music
Further readings
Ashenafi Kebede. “The Bowl-Lyre of Northeast Africa. Krar: The Devil’s Instrument,” Ethnomusicology 21, No. 3 (1977): 379-95. [Online version; subscription barrier]
Black, Stephanie. “Word Study on Zäfän.” Unpublished paper. (Summary, as printed in J.M. Steinhovden, M.A. thesis, p. 49):
Delling, Gerhard. “ὕμνος, ψαλμός [etc.],” in Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 8, eds. G. Kittel, G. Friedrich, tr. G.W. Bromiley, p. 489-503. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1972 [reprint 1993, German original: 1969]
Emnet Tegafaw. The Dualistic Tension between Spiritual vs. Secular in the Ethiopian Evangelical Churches and its Implication on the Understanding of Zefen and Mezmur (Spiritual vs. Secular Music). Thesis, Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology. Addis Ababa, 2013.
Fabry, Heinz-Josef et al. “שׁיר šîr […] sing; song” in Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, vol. 14, eds. G.J. Botterweck, H. Ringgren, and H.-J. Fabry, tr. D.W. Stott, p. 609-646. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans, 2004. [German original: 1992-93]
Kammerer, Stefan. “Musik, Musikinstrumente,” Wissenschaftliches Bibellexikon im Internet (WiBiLex). Created in 2006 (continually updated). [You may want to use Deepl.com, etc. to get a draft translation of the Germany original]
Tesfatseyon Asa. Christian Understanding Towards Secular Songs: With Special Reference to Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Chano Mille Congregation. BTh paper, Mekane Yesus Seminary. Addis Ababa, 2020. [Chano Mille is located about 10km north of Arba Minch]
» For a study of adjacent biblical and theological concepts such as “holyness” and “purity,” please consult the relevant reference works.