“Words of Life” audio tracts

The organization now called “Global Recordings Network” (website) produced several “Words of Life” audio recordings in Ethiopia as early as in the 1950s and 1960s.

In some languages, indigenous gospel songs were used as bridges between the (mostly translated) audio tracts.

The number of songs on the individual albums is estimated on the basis of the respective playlist and may therefore differ from the actual number. The year of copyright does not indicate the date of recording, but the year of publication (possibly a few years later).


Cushitic

Afar
Words of Life, vol. 1 (about 2 songs), © 1967
Words of Life, vol. 2 (about 2 songs), © 1967

Arusi (Arsi Oromo)
Words of Life, vol. 1 (2 long tracks with songs), © 1967
Words of Life, vol. 2 (1 song), © 2007

Awngi: Kwolla
Words of Life (2 long tracks with songs), © 1963

Borana (Borana Oromo)
Words of Life (about 7 songs), © 1966

Borana: Gabbra
Words of Life, vol. 1 (about 6 songs), © 1978
Words of Life, vol. 2 (about 7 songs), © 1986
Words of Life, vol. 3 (several songs), © 1986
Songs (approx. 42 minutes, no date [1986?])

Burji
Songs (approx. 40 minutes), © 1987
Words of Life (about 2 translated songs included), © 1966

Gedeo
Words of Life (several songs [although not indicated]), © 1959

Guji (Guji Oromo)
Words of Life (about 8 songs), ©1959

Hadya [Hadiyya]
Words of Life, vol. 1 (about 5 songs), © 1959
Words of Life, vol. 2 (about 3 songs), © 1959

Kambatta [Kambaata]
Words of Life, vol. 1 (about 1 songs), © 1959
Words of Life, vol. 2 (about 2 songs), © 1959

Komso [Konso]
Words of Life (about 1 song), © no date

Oromo: Wellega
Words of Life (about 7 songs [cf. “Galata Waaqayyoo”?]), © 1967

Sidamo
Words of Life, vol. 1 (about 13 + 2 songs), © 1957
Words of Life, vol. 2 (about 1 song), © 2007

Somali
Words of Life (about 7 songs), © 1966

Omotic

Aari
Words of Life (about 3 songs), © 1967

Banna [Hamer-Banna]
Jesus is the Road to Heaven (about 1 song), © 2017

Bench
Words of Life, vol. 1 (about 12 songs), © 1959
Words of Life, vol. 2 (about 17 songs), © 1959

Daasanech
Music, Songs, Bible verses (about 14 songs), © 1997

Dezi [Dizin]
Words of Life, vol. 1 (about 5 songs), © 1966
Words of Life, vol. 2 (about 1 song), © 1966

Gamognia [Gamo]
Words of Life, vol. 1 (about 1 song), © 1959
Words of Life, vol. 2 (about 1 song), © 2007

Kafa
Words of Life (about 3 songs), © 1967

Male [Maale]
Words of Life (about 1 song), © 1967

Oyda
Words of Life (1 single track with 1 [?] song), © 1959

Wolayta
Acts 1-5 (several chants included), no date
John & Romans selection (chants included), no date

Yemsa [Yem]
Words of Life (about 1 song), © 1958

Nilo-Saharan

Anuak [Anywaa]
Words of Life, vol. 1 (about 6 songs), © 1979
Words of Life, vol. 2 (about 4 songs), © 1979
Words of Life, vol. 3 (about 6 songs), © 1979

Berta
Words of Life (about 2 songs), © 1956

Gumuz: Gesso
Words of Life (about 1 song), © 1967

Kunama [mainly in present Eritrea]
Words of Life (about 5 songs), © 1967

Nuer (Eastern)
Words of Life (about 4 songs), © 1966

Tashena [Me’en: TishenaI]
Words of Life, vol. 2 (about 2 translated songs), © 1966

Semitic

Amharic
Words of Life, vol. 1 (about 2 songs), © 1966
Words of Life, vol. 2 (about 5 songs), © 1967

Tigre [in present-day Eritrea]
Words of Life (about 5 songs), © 1967

Tigrinja [Tigrinya]
Words of Life, vol. 1 (about 4 songs), © 1956
Words of Life, vol. 2 (about 3 songs), © 1967
Words of Life, vol. 3 (about 5 songs), © 1983


Further reading

Ritter, Stefan. „Talking Tracts“: Beobachtungen zur Theologie und Komposition der hadiyyasprachigen Kassetten Words of Life I & II. Senior paper presented to ELM, Hermannsburg, 2004. [View online]

Thompson, Phyllis. Count It All Joy: The Story of Joy Ridderhof & Gospel Recordings. Los Angeles, CA: Gospel Recordings, 1978. [Ch. 8: To Africa (including Ethiopia); view online]

Videos

“Words of Life” in Southern Ethiopia
(ft. SIM missionary Dick McLellan, probably late 1960s)

Interview with the founder, Joy Ridderhof (c. 1974):

70th anniversary (2009):