Kebebush Atebo - Ethiopian Gospel Music

Kebebush Atebo Aloto [ከበቡሽ አጤቦ] was born in Weraboya, Durame District, Kambata County, former South Shewa Region, in 1965. Kebebush began singing in her local Kale Heywet Church as a member of the youth Choir in 1975. Reading the Bible and listening to Bisrata Wongel (the Amharic program broadcast by Radio Voice of the Gospel) led her to compose songs and to sing as a solo singer since 1977. Two years later, Kebebush was one of the founding members of the Mishgida Parish Choir at Taza Secondary School. A harmonica player used to accompany Kebebush musically. Later, her brother accompanied her on guitar.

During the Ethiopian Revolution, Kebebush sang at various spiritual conferences, including one in 1981 at a conference organized by Weraboya Kale Heywet Church and in 1984 at the Mishgida Parish Conference. Due to the message of some of her songs, which suggested that suffering would pass soon, and her commitment to motivating young people to attend church services, the revolutionary cadres imprisoned Kebebush several times. She was the first gospel singer to worship God in the Kambaata language and the first woman to serve as a solo gospel singer in that county. Her ministry encouraged several women to be involved in church ministry or public services.

Albums

(1) Wa’lle! Maganiichch mechochi’nun [ዋሌ! መገኒች መጮጭኑን, Come! Let us hear from God]. Cassette in the Kambaata language, released by the Kambaata and Hadiyya Bible Translation Office, Hosanna, 1988/89. [1981 A.M.]

(2) Tsalooteen yalkelekelegn [ጸሎቴን ያልከለከለኝ, God did not reject my prayers]. Cassette with songs in the Amharic language (accompanied on guitar by Tesfaye Gabbiso), released by EECMY South Central Synod Studio, Hossana, 1990/91. [1983 A.M.]

KebebushAtebo v2 340p Web 1 — vol. 2 (Amh. no. 1)

(3) Meganii huje jeechut tanneet [መገኒ ሁጄ ጄቹት ተኔት, This is the time that God acts]. Joint cassette [who are the other singers?] with songs in the Kambaata language, released by Getayawkal & Biruktawit Recording, Addis Ababa, 1996/97. [1989 A.M.]