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:

    Slow, slow, fresh fount, keep time with my salt tears;
    Yet slower yet, oh faintly gentle springs:
    List to the heavy part the music bears,
    “Woe weeps out her division when she sings.”
    Droop herbs and flowers;
    Fall grief in showers;
    “Our beauties are not ours”:
    Oh, I could still,
    Like melting snow upon some craggy hill,
    Drop, drop, drop, drop,
    Since nature’s pride is, now, a withered daffodil.
    Ben Jonson (1572–1637)

    The band waked me with a serenade. How they improve! A fine band and what a life in a regiment! Their music is better than food and clothing to give spirit to the men.
    Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)

    There was never yet such a storm but it was Æolian music to a healthy and innocent ear.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)