SCHOLARSHIP ON ETHIOPIAN MUSIC: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

Abstract

Broad and significant appraisals on Ethiopian studies have been carried out with thematic and disciplinary orientations from authors such as Bahru Zewde, Alula Pankhurest, Gebre Yntiso and Belete Bizuneh. One might expect music to be a relevant aspect of such works, yet it is hardly addressed, resulting in a dearth of independent and comprehensive assessments of Ethiopian music scholarship; a rare exception is the 3 volume Ethiopian Christian Liturgical Chant: An Anthology edited by Kay Kaufman Shelemay and Peter Jeffery (1993–1997). Generally speaking, music is one of the most neglected themes in Ethiopian studies, especially as compared to the dominant subjects of history and linguistics. Although some progress in musical studies has recently developed, the existing scholarly literature remains confi ned to limited themes. Beside inadequate attention to various topics there are problems of misconceptions and lack of reciprocity in contemporary scholarship. This paper outlines the evolution of Ethiopian music scholarship and exposes general trends in the existing body of knowledge by using critical works from a variety of disciplines. It also introduces the major subjects and personalities involved in Ethiopian musical studies. The paper concludes with highlights of pertinent problematic issues followed by practical suggestions for fostering Ethiopian music scholarship.