Galata kee Yesus [Thanks to you, Jesus]. Edited by Tasgara Hirpo. Hermannsburg: Missionsbuchhandlung, 1993. [50 songs selected from Galata Waaqayyoo (1990/91).
Source: FH Interkulturelle Theologie (Hermannsburg), Library
Note
Rev. Tasgara Hirpo was already working on a songbook for young and old in 1981. He writes in his autobiography, pp. 178‒79:
“During my time as a lecturer at the Mekane Yesus Seminary we had many discussions, for example about the charismatic movement in 1981. The charismatic movement became influential in our congregations all over Ethiopia. People had experienced God personally and expressed themselves loudly. While the services used to be rather formal and quiet, suddenly young people were shouting and speaking in tongues, singing and springing ‒ that was a big change [p. 179] and became a challenge.
I took the songs translated by Oneesimos Nasib from European hymns and the new songs written and composed by the young people and arranged them together in one new hymnbook. Then I told the members of the church that the older people should not sit quiet and just listen when the younger were singing, and the young people should not just be quiet when the older sang; but we all would sing together.” [Paragraph brake and emphasis added]
Rev. Tasgara Hirpo’s Curriculum Vitae
[Compare Tasgara Hirpo, My Life, 271‒72]
1935 Born in Kormee, Wallaggaa, Ethiopia
1943 School in Callia Eekka
1951-54 Bible School and Elementary School in Mandii
1955-58 Theological training in Najjoo and Naqamtee
1958 Ordination and Naqamtee and installation in Kormee
1959-60 Post-graduation course in Marangu, Tanzania
1961-62 Pastor in Kormee and Sibuu-Koobbaraa congregations
1962-70 Theological studies in Germany
1971-81 President of the [EECMY] Western Synod
1973 Marriage with Almut Tumat in Hermannsburg
1974 Beginning of the Ethiopian Revolution
1975-76 Birth of our children in Aira
1977-78 My family in Germany
1978-83 Living in Makanissa/Addis Ababa
1979 ff. Teacher at the Mekane Yesus Seminary
1981-83 Co-worker with the Oromo Bible translation team
1983 Leaving Ethiopia for Ventnor, N.J., USA
1983 Re-joining my family in Hermannsburg, Germany
1983 Resuming the Oromo Bible translation
1988 Working in the Department of Inner Mission etc. of the ELM
1988 Founding Oromosprachige Ev. Gemeinde … BRD (OSEG e.V.)
1992 Starting the Oromo Bible transcription into qubee
1995 The New Testament and Psalms printed in qubee
1997 The entire Oromo Bible printed in qubee
2000 Retirement at the age of 65
2005 Founding Menschenrechte am Horn von Africa (MRHA)
2007 The second printing of the Oromo Bible in qubee
2009 Award of Honorary Doctor in Literature in Addis Ababa
2023 Lifetime achievement recognition from the Global Oromo Communities Association in Washington D.C., USA
Further reading
Tasgara Hirpo. My Life with the Oromo Bible in Ethiopia and Beyond. Südheide-Hermannsburg: Ludwig-Harms-Haus, 2025. [ISBN 978 3 911032 03 2]
Cross-reference
Sagalee Lubbuu Galata Waaqayyof. Mimeograph, edited by Lamessa Bato. [Addis Ababa] 1969/70. [View online]