Addis Ababa, Ethnological Museum4

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Addis Ababa (the name means 'new flower') is of fairly recent origin - Menelik II founded the city in 1887 but is an important administrative centre not only for Ethiopia but also for the whole of Africa. Situated in the foothills of the Entoto Mountains and standing 2,400 metres above sea level it is the third highest capital in the world. The city has a population of about four million.

The Ethnological museum hosts the cultural aspects of the people and traditions of the tribes of Ethiopia. The second floor houses an art gallery built-up around two themes. The first is a musicological exhibition, with all kinds of traditional music instruments: drums like the kabaro or negareet, flutes (washent, fanfa), as well as stringed instruments like the krar and begena. The second has a more religious character, with both Ethiopian Islamic and Orthodox Christian art represented by calligraphy, icons, crosses and other pieces from different periods.

Fanfa

A kebero is a double-headed, conical hand drum used in the traditional music of Eritrea and Ethiopia. A piece of animal hide is stretched over each end, thus forming a membranophone.

Negareet

A large version of the instrument is also used in Orthodox Christian liturgical music, while smaller versions are used in secular celebrations

Ethiopian PaintingPriest having a kebero, a traditional drum made out of animal hide

The sistra of contemporary Ethiopia are

strictly religious instruments played only by male deacons and priests to accompany

sacred chants.

Messenko Guitar

Krar

Messenko Guitar

Wa

she

nt

Gere Gambella

The krar or kraar is a five- or six-stringed bowl-shaped lyre from Eritrea and Ethiopia. The instrument is tuned to a pentatonic scale. A modern krar may be amplified, much in the same way as an electric guitar or violin.

Chancha (Konso)

BegenaChancha (Konso)

Religion in Ethiopia consists of a number of faiths. Among these mainly Abrahamic religions, the most numerous today are Orthodox Christianity, followed by Islam. There is also a longstanding but small Jewish community.

The Kingdom of Aksum in

present-day Ethiopia and

Eritrea was one of the first Christian

countries in the world, having

officially adopted Christianity as the

state religion in the 4th century.

Ethiopia has close historical ties to all three of the world's major Abrahamic religions. Christians form the majority of the population

Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian states in the world

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, an Oriental Orthodox Church which is the largest Christian denomination in Ethiopia (it claims that 50% of the Ethiopian population are church members) and was part of the Coptic Orthodox Church until 1959, is the only pre-colonial Orthodox church in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The apostle St. Matthew is said to have died in Ethiopia

Christianity in Ethiopia dates to the 1st century AD, and this long tradition makes Ethiopia unique amongst sub-Saharan African countries.

Christianity in this country is divided into several groups. The largest and oldest is the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is an Oriental Orthodox church in Ethiopia that was part of the Coptic Orthodox Church until 1959, when it was granted its own Patriarch by Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa Cyril VI.

Roman Catholicism has been present in Ethiopia since the 16th century, and numbers 536,827 believers. In total, Christians make up about 60% of the total population of the country

Although Christianity existed long before the rule of King Ezana the Great of the Kingdom of Axum, the religion took a strong foothold when it was declared a state religion in 330 AD. Pinpointing a date as to when Christianity emerged in Ethiopia is uncertain.

According to church historian Nicephorus, the apostle St. Matthew later preached the Christian Gospel to modern-day Ethiopia (then called Colchis) after having preached in Judea

Saint George defeating the dragon and saving the princessSt. George the dragon killer was the patron saint of soldiers.

The Garima Gospels (two Ethiopic illuminated manuscript gospel books housed in Ethiopia's Abba Garima Monastery) are thought to be the world's oldest illuminated Christian manuscripts.

With the emergence of Islam in the 7th century, Ethiopia's Christians became isolated from the rest of the Christian world.

The head of the Ethiopian church has been appointed by the patriarch of the Coptic church in Egypt, and Ethiopian monks had certain rights in the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Ethiopia was the only region of Africa to survive the expansion of Islam as a Christian state.

Processional Cross, mid-20th century. Silver plated metal alloy Brooklyn Museum

The first stamp in a 5-value set commemorating the “Production of Early Manuscripts” issued by Ethiopia on 16 June 1989 depicts the stretching of vellum on a frame as part of the preparation process.

Illuminated Gospel late 14th–early 15th century, Amhara region Metropolitan Museum of Art

The second value commemorating the “Production of Early Manuscripts” issued by Ethiopia on 16 June 1989 depicts ink horns and pens used to write on the parchment or vellum once it’s prepared to receive ink

Text: Internet

Pictures: Alin Samochis

Sanda Foişoreanu

Jean Moldovan

Internet

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu

www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Alemu Aga playing on the David Harp, the BEGENA from Ethiopia- Tew Simagn Hagere Traditional