Ethiopian music refers to music from Ethiopia. It often describes a specific type of music with a unique scale system called pentatonic, which has five notes and includes large spaces between some notes.
In the Ethiopian Highlands, music uses a basic scale system called qenet. There are four main qenet modes: tezeta, bati, ambassel, and anchihoy. Three other modes are variations of these: tezeta minor, bati major, and bati minor. Some songs are named after their qenet, such as tizita, which is a song about memories. When played on traditional instruments, these scales are not adjusted (notes may be slightly different from Western tuning). However, when played on Western instruments like pianos or guitars, they use the Western-tempered tuning system.
Music in the Ethiopian Highlands is usually monophonic (one melody) or heterophonic (multiple melodies played together). In some southern areas, music is polyphonic (multiple parts sung at the same time). For example, Dorze polyphonic singing (called edho) may use up to five parts, and Majangir uses four parts.
Musical instruments
In the highlands, traditional string instruments include the masenqo (also called masinko), a one-string bowed lute; the krar (also called kirar), a six-string lyre; and the begena, a large ten-string lyre. The dita (a five-string lyre) and musical bows (including a rare three-string version) are among the stringed instruments found in the south.
The washint is a bamboo flute commonly used in the highlands. Trumpet-like instruments include the ceremonial malakat, used in some regions, and the holdudwa (an animal horn, similar to a shofar), which is mainly found in the south. Embilta flutes have no finger holes and produce only two tones: the fundamental note and a fourth or fifth interval. These flutes may be made of metal (common in the north) or bamboo (common in the south). The Konso and other groups in the south play the fanta, or pan flute, which has six holes.
In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, religious music uses the senasel, a type of sistrum. Clergy also use a walking stick called mequamia to keep rhythm. In the past, rural churches used a dawal, made from stone or wood, to call people to prayer. The Beta Israel use a small gong called a qachel for religious music, though qachel may also refer to a small bell. The toom, a lamellophone, is used by the Nuer, Anuak, Majangir, Surma, and other Nilotic groups. Metal leg rattles are common in the south.
The kebero is a large hand drum used in Orthodox Christian ceremonies. Smaller kebero drums are used in secular celebrations. The nagarit, played with a curved stick, is often used in secular events like royal functions or announcements, though it also has a religious role among the Beta Israel. The Gurage and other groups in the lowlands commonly play the atamo, a small hand drum sometimes made of clay. In Gambela Region, the Anuak use three types of drums: the anedo (small), odola (medium), and bul (large), each associated with different rhythmic patterns in songs. A special drum called tom-tom is used in the southwestern part of the country, in Gambella Region. Drumming is a key feature of fast songs in the south, where groups like the Kenbata, Hadiya, Gedeo, and Sidama perform traditional belly dances similar to those of Middle Eastern or Arabic cultures.
Traditional music and characteristics
Ethiopia has a long history that includes both difficult and interesting times. Its arts and culture have also been around for a very long time and are full of fascinating traditions. Ethiopian music and culture have played an important part in human history. The music of Ethiopia shows many parts of the country's history and society, such as military actions led by leaders. It includes songs about war, love, and pride in the nation. These songs also celebrate victories and encourage people to support certain causes. Music also expresses the spiritual beliefs of Ethiopians. These songs and melodies are played using many traditional instruments.
Music in Ethiopia began in the highlands, where a strong tradition of storytelling and writing was developed. In this area, traditional music is often played by traveling musicians called azmaris, who are respected in their communities. As this music spread across the country, it took on features from the different regions it reached, depending on local customs, culture, and religion. Ethiopian music and culture have been shaped by religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, among others. Ethiopia is home to more than 75 different ethnic groups, each with its own unique styles of traditional music.
Characteristics of the traditional music
Music from the highlands of Ethiopia uses a system of musical scales called qenet. This system includes four main scales: tezeta, bati, ambassel, and anchihoy. It also includes three additional scales: tezeta minor, bati major, and bati minor. Ethiopian music also uses pentatonic scales, which have five notes and large spaces between them. These spaces help create the unique sound of the music.
Ethiopian music is known for its complex and detailed rhythms. These rhythms often include unusual time patterns and syncopation, which is when beats are played in unexpected places.
Traditional Ethiopian singing uses many vocal techniques. These include melismatic singing, where one note is sung with many sounds, ornamentation, which adds extra sounds to notes, vocal slides, and call-and-response singing, where singers take turns. Instruments used in Ethiopian music include the masinko, krar, washint, begena, kebero, and tom-tom.
Different areas of Ethiopia have their own unique musical styles. This is because Ethiopia has more than 75 ethnic groups, and each group has its own traditional music and sounds.
Music in Ethiopia plays an important role in culture and society. It is often used during religious ceremonies, festivals, and social events. It helps performers express emotions such as joy, sadness, longing, or love, and it shares these feelings with listeners. This ability to convey strong emotions is an important part of Ethiopian traditional music.
Traditional dances
Ethiopia has many different tribes and ethnic groups, each with their own music, cultures, and traditions. Experts say Ethiopian dances are not grouped by their purpose but by how unique they are. There are more than 150 different dance styles in Ethiopia. The Oromia region is the largest, and its dances vary by location. Two well-known dances are “Shewa Oromo” and “Harar Oromo.” The Shewa Oromo dance has special costumes and movements. Women wear two-piece leather outfits decorated with shells. Men wear fur on their heads, resembling a lion’s mane, and use sticks during the dance. One surprising feature is the quick, sharp neck movements of the women.
In the northern region, Tigrayans perform smooth, circular dances with movements of the shoulders and neck. In the center of the country, the Amharas dance with strong movements of the upper body and neck. The Oromos in the central and southern regions perform dances with jumping and full-body movements. The Gurages have dances that require skill in moving the arms, legs, and body. People from the South Region, such as the Welayita, Kenbata, Sidama, and Dawro, perform popular belly dances with fast, rhythmic beats.
The Eskista is a traditional dance from the Amhara ethnic group, performed by men, women, and children. It is known for the strong shoulder movements shared with the shim-shim dance of the Tigrinya people in Eritrea. Dancers move their shoulders in a rolling and bouncing way, shift their chests, and move their necks in different directions. The style of the dance can change based on the performers and the situation, such as songs about war, hunting, shepherding, love, or work. The best dancer is often chosen as the leader of the group or the best singer.
The Eskista dance allows the dancer to act as a storyteller, using body movements to share the traditions and life of the community. The dance, along with music and singing, represents the values and culture of Ethiopian society.
Religious and secular music
Religious music is very important in Ethiopian Orthodox society and plays a major role. The word "mezmur" refers to Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo music. There is also a wide variety of Islamic music. Protestant music has become more popular since the 2000s, when it was widely shared through CDs, and it has recently grown further with digital downloads.
Some Ethiopian religious music includes ancient Christian traditions that date back to Yared, who lived during the time of Emperor Gebre Meskel (Son of Kaleb of the Aksumite Empire) in the 6th century. Yared is known as the father of Ethiopian-Eritrean traditional music and is credited with creating the chant called "Zema," which is used in religious music. Zema is divided into three types of chants: Ge'ez, Ezel, and Araray. "Manzuma," which began around 1907, is sung in Amharic and Oromo and is especially common in areas like Dire Dawa, Harar, and Jimma, where many Ethiopian Muslims live. In the Ethiopian Highlands, traditional non-religious music is performed by traveling musicians called azmaris, who are respected in Ethiopian society.
Role of digital streaming
Since the 2010s, Ethiopia’s music industry has changed a lot because more people use online services like YouTube and Spotify. Modern musicians such as Teddy Afro, Betty G, and Rophnan mix old and new styles by combining traditional Ethiopian sounds with music like Ethio-jazz, hip hop, and electronic beats. This shift to online platforms has helped Ethiopian music reach more people worldwide and allowed artists to connect with audiences living outside Ethiopia.
Popular music
Ethiopia is a country with a rich musical tradition. People enjoy both popular music and traditional songs. Many musicians perform traditional songs, and audiences often listen to both types of music. A long tradition in Ethiopia involved brass bands, which were brought to the country from Jerusalem in the 1920s. These bands, known as the Arba Lijoch, were made up of forty Armenian orphans. They arrived in Addis Ababa on September 6, 1924, and became Ethiopia’s first official orchestra. By the end of World War II, large orchestras, such as the Army Band, Police Band, and Imperial Bodyguard Band, accompanied singers.
From the 1950s to the 1970s, popular musicians in Ethiopia included Mahmoud Ahmed, Alemayehu Eshete, Hirut Bekele, Ali Birra, Ayalew Mesfin, Kiros Alemayehu, Muluken Melesse, and Tilahun Gessesse. Folk musicians during this time included Alemu Aga, Kassa Tessema, Ketema Makonnen, Asnaketch Worku, and Mary Armede. Mulatu Astatke, an innovator of Ethio-jazz, was one of the most influential musicians of the period. Record labels such as Amha Records, Kaifa Records, and Philips-Ethiopia were important during this era. Since 1997, Buda Musique’s Éthiopiques series has collected many of these songs on compact discs.
During the 1980s, the Derg government controlled Ethiopia, making it difficult for people to leave the country. Musicians during this time included Ethio Stars, Walias Band, and Roha Band. Neway Debebe was a popular singer who used a poetic style called seminna-werq in his songs. This style, previously used only in poetry, allowed singers to criticize the government without being censored. Soldier songs like Zeraf poetry, Fukera, Shilela, and Kererto were the first recorded examples of the Amharic language during the medieval period and remain important in Amhara culture today.
Some of Ethiopia’s most internationally recognized singers are Aster Aweke, Alemayehu Eshete, Gigi, Teddy Afro, Tilahun Gessesse, and Mahmoud Ahmed. Tilahun Gessesse was known as "The Voice" for his powerful tenor singing. In 2001, Teddy Afro released his album Abugida and became famous, earning the nickname "Blatenaw" (meaning "the boy"). Gigi, who performed with Western musicians like Bill Laswell and Herbie Hancock, helped bring Ethiopian music to global attention, especially in the United States. Aster Aweke gained recognition for her 1999 album Hagere and her song "Abebayehosh."
Neway Debebe was a popular singer in the 1980s and 1990s, known for songs like "Yetekemt Abeba" and "Safsaf." Abatte Barihun demonstrated all four main qenets on his 2005 album Ras Deshen.
Francis Falceto, the producer of the Éthiopiques series, has criticized modern Ethiopian music for moving away from traditional instruments and group performances toward individual musicians using synthesizers. However, Harvard professor Kay Kaufman Shelemay notes that creativity still exists in today’s music scene. She also points out that many countries have shifted to electronically produced music, a trend Falceto agrees with.
In the West, some bands have formed to play music inspired by the Éthiopiques series and other Ethiopian music from the 1960s and 1970s. Examples include Either/Orchestra from Boston, Imperial Tiger Orchestra from Switzerland, and Le Tigre des platanes from France.
New music genres, such as EDM, rock, and hip hop, have become popular in recent years. Bands like Jano Band blend progressive rock with Ethiopian music. Hip hop began influencing Ethiopian music in the early to mid-2000s, leading to the creation of Ethiopian hip hop in the Amharic language. Early and influential rappers include Teddy Yo and Lij Michael, with the latter achieving greater commercial success. Both Jano Band and Lij Michael were featured in the 2017 edition of Coke Studio Africa. Electronic dance music in Ethiopia grew significantly in the mid-2010s. In 2018, DJ Rophnan introduced his own version of electronic dance music, winning an album of the year award and changing the mainstream music scene. Western artists like JID, Billy Woods (Aethiopes), and Yves Tumor (Bekelé Berhanu) have also been influenced by Ethiopian music. The Weeknd, born in Canada to Ethiopian parents, is a global music star.
Since 2016, the most common record label in Ethiopia has been Hope Music Entertainment. Other labels, such as Minew Shewa Entertainment and Admas Music, are also used. Dire Tube, an online streaming platform, has gained popularity by sharing older recordings and music videos. Nahom Records Inc. was a notable label in the 2000s and remains active today. Since the 2020s, labels like Ella Records and Bahgna TV have become more popular.