Nyström, Karl

Life and ministry

Karl Nyström was born in 1866. He served with Swedish Evangelical Mission (SEM) in the following places:

  • Lamu [Kenya] 1893 (“Fourth Oromo Expedition”)
  • Harer 1894
    (afterwards ‘medical’ training [homeopathy] in Europe)
  • Imkullu 1896-97
  • Beleza 1898-1911

Karl Nyström was fluent in Tigrinya and a gifted hymn writer. He and Karl Winqvist did not have a harmonious working relationship.

In 1911, Nyström left SEM and joined the Swedish Mission Bibeltrogna Vänner (Bible-true Friends) as their leader in Eritrea. He continued his work there and in Tigray until 1932.

Dr Nyström passed away in 1946.

Songs in hymn books

Mäzmur sälam, 2nd ed., 1907

  • Edited by Karl Nyström

Mäzmur sälam, 1920

  • Edited by Karl Nyström

Picture

2nd from left: Rev Karl Nyström with colleagues
participating in the 4th Oromo expedition in 1893.
(adapted from a photograph at the SEM Archives)

Further reading

1. Selected sources

Nyström, Karl (ed.). Mazmur salām. [2nd ed.; by K. Nyström] Asmarā: Misyon swédésé, 1907. [134 p.; Uppsala Univ.]

—. Fridssånger [= Mazmur salām]. Asmara 1920 [= 1923?; Stockholm, Kungliga biblioteket]

—. Maṣḥaf fidal: zarbā tegreñā / Sillabario della lingua tigrigna. Asmara: Tipografia della Missione svedese, 1905 [64 p.]; 2nd ed. 1922 [127 p.]

2. Literature

Arén, Gustav. Evangelical Pioneers in Ethiopia: Origins of the Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus. Stockholm: EFS; Addis Ababa: The Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, 1978. [See p. 379-80; view online]

—. Envoys of the Gospel in Ethiopia: In the Steps of the Evangelical Pioneers 1898-1936. Stockholm: EFS förlaget; Addis Ababa: The [Ethiopian] Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, 1999. [See p. 196, 258-61; view online]

Lundström, Karl Johan, edited by Ezra Gebremedhin. Kenisha: The Roots and Development of The Evangelical Church of Eritrea (EC) 1866-1935. Trenton, NJ; etc.: The Red Sea Press, 2011. [See pp. 196, 280, 283]

Nilsson, Marianne. Chapter 2 in forthcoming book on Ethiopian Gospel Music.