Culture of Ethiopia - Music

Music

The music of Ethiopia is extremely diverse, with each of Ethiopia's ethnic groups being associated with unique sounds. Some forms of traditional music are strongly influenced by folk music from elsewhere in the Horn of Africa, especially Somalia. However, Ethiopian religious music also has an ancient Christian element, traced to Yared, who lived during the reign of Gabra Masqal. In northeastern Ethiopia, in Wollo, a Muslim musical form called manzuma developed. Sung in Amharic, manzuma has spread to Harar and Jimma, where it is now sung in the Oromo language. In the Ethiopian Highlands, traditional secular music is played by itinerant musicians called azmaris, who are regarded with both suspicion and respect in Ethiopian society.

Read more about this topic:  Culture Of Ethiopia

Famous quotes containing the word music:

    Poetry
    Exceeding music must take the place
    Of empty heaven and its hymns....
    Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)

    When in our music God is glorified,
    and adoration leaves no room for pride,
    it is as though the whole creation cried Alleluia!
    Frederick Pratt Green (b. 1903)

    While the music is performed, the cameras linger savagely over the faces of the audience. What a bottomless chasm of vacuity they reveal! Those who flock round the Beatles, who scream themselves into hysteria, whose vacant faces flicker over the TV screen, are the least fortunate of their generation, the dull, the idle, the failures . . .
    Paul Johnson (b. 1928)