Matiwos Ortabo Gadebo [ማቴዎስ ኤርታቦ; Hadiyyisa: Maatiwoos Ortaabo] was born in Qoto, Shone district, Kambaata and Hadiyya county, former South Showa Region, in 1970. At the age of 10 years, he converted to Christianity after an evangelist had prayed for him and healed him from chronic sickness. This extraordinary experience led him to devote his life to praying, reading the Bible, and composing songs in local languages.
In 1984, Matiwos began singing his spiritual songs at the Onama Mekane Yesus Congregation. At that time, he sang without musical accompaniment. Later, Mr. Tesfaye Wotango accompanied him on accordion and sometimes on guitar. Matiwos sang in various congregations and also at conferences, e.g., the Abonsa Parish conference in 1986 and the Lemu Parish conference in 1990. Matiwos became well-known for singing both in the Kambaata and Hadiyya languages.
Albums
(1) Yesusu ga’ayoke [የሱሱ ገአዮኬ, Jesus is calling you]. Cassette in the Kambaata language, released by the South Central Synod, Hosanna, 1990.
(2) Muramoobee’i daajji [ሙረሞቤ ዳጅ, Unseizing river]. Cassette in the Hadiyya language, released by the South Central Synod, Hosanna, 1990.
(3) Geletu E’llohe [ገለቱ ኢሎሄ, You are worthy of thanks]. Cassette in the Kambaata language, released by the EECMY South Central Synod, Hosanna, 1991.
(4) Yesuus lobane [ኢየሱሱ ሎበኔ, Jesus is great]. Cassette in the Hadiyya language, released by the South Central Synod, Hosanna, 1991.
(5) Yesuus tiiraakko [ኢየሱስ ቲራኮ, Jesus untied me]. Cassette in the Hadiyya language, released by the South Central Synod, Hosanna, 1995.
Manuscript
» View Matiwos Ortabo’s handwritten songbook
Refrains and songs in hymnbooks
Waa’i galaxxamona (2013)
No. 227, 447, 470, 579, 584, 591
- The lyrics of the last 3 songs were taken from Galaxxi mazmulluuwwa, 1987
Connect
» Follow Matiwos Ortabo on Facebook
» Visit Matiwos Ortabo’s YouTube channel
Audio (commercial and freemium)
» Check Matiwos Ortabo’s tracks on
- YouTube Music
Video
Collection of worship songs with interview (time stamp: 5:55 min), compiled in 2015:
» Watch individual songs and worship service
Testimony
published in 2020:
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