Legesse Wetro (Prof Dr) - Ethiopian Gospel Music

Legesse Wetro Kebede was born in Cire, Arsi Area, Oromia Region in 1950. From 1967-1972 he studied physics at Addis Ababa University. Having worked at the university for nine years as a lecturer in Physics, Legesse enrolled for further studies at Addis Ababa University (MSc, 1985), University of Sheffield (MSc, 1988) and University of California, Riverside (PhD, 1993). Back in Addis Ababa, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Astrophysics and became an acclaimed researcher, commended educator (also on the radio) and member of several scientific societies. Besides, he was a key person in the establishment of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (first satellite launched in 2019).

Attracted by their prayer fellowship, Legesse Wetro joined the organizers of the Christian Students Fellowship at Addis Ababa University in 1967. He was also one of the founding members of Mulu Wongel “A” Choir and sang with the choir regularly at the worship services of the church. From 1970 onwards, he began to sing as a solo singer on various occasions. In 1974 he was invited to serve on a Mulu Wongel ministers conference in Addis Ababa. Dr Legesse also sang at a Mulu Wongel Church conference in Debre Zeit in 1976. Until his death in 2017, he was an active member of Qetena Hulet Mulu Wongel Church.

Legesse Wetro wrote around 80 gospel songs. The various topics include Christmas, Easter, the works God has done through Jesus Christ and the adoration of God. The title song of his cassette, Nu wädde Egziabeher bet, is an invitation to worship God. Pastor Debebe Lemma and Mr Negash Yemi accompanied Dr Legesse’s songs with accordion and guitar.

Album

(1) Nu wäddä Ǝgziʼabǝher bet [ኑ ወደ እግዚአብሔር ቤት, Come to the house of God]. Solo CD, recorded in 1999; released by Qetene Hulet Full Gospel Church, Addis Ababa, 2020. [Dr. Legesse dedicated the album as a gift for the Mulu Wongel Church building.]