Music is a language of feelings….
By Zenebe Bekele

We studied songs in early ages through tradition. A father, who is dissatisfied in his daily life, murmurs for himself with a song of Ingurguro.

He utters about his life condition and tries to get a mental relief by his own singing. There is no hand clapping according to a simple time scheme, it is a free song, a song that penetrates the soul of the singer, what so ever the melodic line and its timber is. After the Western civilization has marched into Ethiopia like a conqueror in triumph. An Ethiopian has dissociated himself from his old customs, and broken the unseen ties which bind him to the spirits of his forefathers. He sometimes tempted to invert his values. However, the long lived music tradition of the society has a separate section for all types of feelings. As Zefen is, to a performance that breaks out spontaneously into dancing. Ingurguro in its part has a power of rendering a mental relief and prepare oneself for calculated risk. In this regard, Kirrar is said to have a vanguard roll in simple musical themes of patriotic songs. It follows regular stages from. The simple declamatory messages of grievance to Anger. Here are some examples:

Ex. “ Mikeruligne Beten - Aqatilatalehu
zim bila iyechesetch - yebela imeslalehu.”

In an extra ordinarily free sequence this part contains grievance, while the thematic construction of the following part is based on anger.

Ex. “Yema Bet tefto - Yema libej,
Ye Awrie mefencha – yihonal inji.”

In the same line Mezmur style serves for similar purposes especially for young Students.
And ye Gobez Aleqas (Soldiers)

Ex.1a “ atinesam woy – atinesam woy
ye Ethiopia Jegna – ayidelehim woy?”
Tenes! Tenes! etc.

Ex.1b atilewum woy! Atilewum woy!
Ye Teqil Ashker – ayidelehim woy!
Belew! Belew!

Ex.2 “Ethiopian – Ethiopian – Yemitishu,
Tagelulat - atishishu.
Hagerin - Hagerin – yemitishu,
Tewagulat – atshishu.” etc.

These types of musical pieces aggravate feelings and make oneself to glower at, and think about throttling his enemy. It elevates one’s moral to the highest stage of self confidence and pride, to score the point of Ethiopia ness.

 

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