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HISTORY OF ETHIOPIAN THEATRE(1):By Yonas H.Meskel
*This webpage is prepared by Yonas Hailemeskel,
a third year Theatre Arts student at Addis Ababa University.(2005)
*If you have questions,suggestions or comments, pleasesend e_mail to rahyon2@gmail.com
*Note that this webpage contains only the modern history of Ethiopian Theatre.
History of Theatre In Ethiopia_A Short Introduction
Contents of this page include:
1_The first Theatre
2_School Theatre
3_Modern Theatre
3.1-The King's period
3.2-The Derg's period
3.3-The present
1-THE FIRST THEATRE:
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In the first decade of the 20th century,a person called Bejirond Teklehawariyat Teklemariam,after his visit of Europe,was invited to Ras Hotel to enjoy a "theatre Performance".But he was amaized by the thing presented as a theatre_it was just a musical perfrmance by local singers called "azmariwoch".He was not interested by the performance which, as he know, was not a real theatrical performance.Then he sellected different tales primarily written to teach the young Ethiopian king_Lij Iyasu and changed it to a theatre by the topic of _"Yeawrewoch Komedia".And this become the first Ethiopian Play.
"In Ethiopian literary history,Tekle-hawariyat is important first of all because he probably wrote the first "play" known to have been written in Amharic."
(Molvaer pp48)
*THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIRST THEATRE:
-All the characters are different animals,
-The audience was composed only from the royal class.
This play highly reflects the political and social truths of the period. In a symbolic way, it handles many issues which, at that particular time, were not easy to be transmitted in other means. It illustrates the power struggle between the latter Emperor Hailesselasie I and Queen Zewditu (Emperor Menilik’s daughter.) It also shows the childish behavior of the young Ethiopian king Lij Iyasu, which were the results of his resign by force. Because of its poetic reflections of the shortcomings of the period, the playwright in his preface had said that the play was legally forbidden from being performed and published by the official command of the Queen. The social issues include factors like corruption (In the story, a monkey, who will corrupt both the accuser and the accused will be assigned as a judge by the king of the animal kingdom, the Lion.)
2_SCHOOL DRAM
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What followed the first theatre was School theatre that mark the golden ages of Ethiopian theatre.Different writters were created following the way of Teklehawariat,among them:
-Yoftahe Negussie
-Nersis K. Nalvandian
-Melaku Begosew
-Hadis Alemayehu
-Senedu Gebru
...were the main figures.
YOFTAHE NEGUSSIE(1894-1947):Was born in 1894 in Gojam province,a place called Muzaelias.He was educated religious education in his early ages and he have got the titles "Yeqegn geta" and later "Agafari" after he came to Addis Ababa and served in Kebena Abo church.He was called to Dagmawi Menilik school to teach religious norms and the language Amharic.In the mean time, teachers/directors in the school were using theatre in order to teach English for their students and Yoftahe took the responsibility to translate the English plays for the purpose of teaching Amharic.By the duration of his translation, he was attracted to be a playwright and wrote his first play-"Teamirawiw Washint",which was performed in the school in 1923,and become the second play in Ethiopia.Then until he was transffered te St.Geogis school as a director,he wrote and directed the plays "Misikir"(1930),"Tikim Yalebet Chaweta" (1931),"Mushirit Mushira","Yamare Milash"and "Yehod Amlaku Ketat"(1932).
After he become a director of the St.Georgis school,he wrote "Dadi Tura"(1933)."Ye Hizb Tsetset"(1934),"Musho Bekentu"(1935),"Abat Negusachin Teref Yitebik"(1935)and "Ye Denqorowoch Teater"(1936).
What followed in the year 1936 was the fascist Italian occupation
over Ethiopia,and this time,Yoftahe went to Sudan.During this time he wrote the two plays; "Afajeshign"(1936) and "Alem Atalay" (1941).
And after freedom,he came back to Ethiopia and wrote his last three plays,this time he was not in a good relation with the king because of his strong hetrage to those who collaborate with the invading Italians.The three plays were "Eyayu Mazen"(1942),"Arbete Tsehay" (1943) and "Negusu ena Zewdu"(1946).
In 1947,he died.
The themes of his plays were generally:
-Descipline,
-The importance of Education,
-The importance of freedom and the necessity of work,
-Honesty for the King,
-And major social issues like health.
Moreover, Yoftahe had contributed to the establishment of The Municipality Theatre in 1945.
NERSIS KEVOURK NALVANDIAN(1888-1978):Was born in 1889 in Aitav,the former province of Armenia.When a political problem was happened in his country following the invassion of Turkey,he went to Syria and then to Egypt.When Emperor Haileselassie was coming back to home after freedom, Nalvandian came to Ethiopia with other Armenians who were in Egypt at that time,with the king.After he came to Ethiopia,he started to teach music in Dagmawi Menilik school.Then he started to write plays there.Following "Gonderiew Gebremariam"(1934),he wrote "Eshi Nege","Ato Manale","Eregnaw Teferi","Yeshi","Duche",and "Abyotawian".
He is also known for his contribution for the dev't of Ethiopian music.It was he who composed the first national anthem of Ethiopia and the "Teferi Marsh".
MELAKU BEGOSEW(1889-unknown):Was born in 1889 in Gojam,Gufchima area.He was educated in the church in his early times and come to Addis Ababa to serve in the St. Selassie church.He was called to teach religious education and Amharic language in Dagmawi Menilik school like Yoftahe.
It was his play titled "Talaqu Dagna",which was performed in the opening ceremony of the first formal theatre stage built in Dagmawi Menilik school.However,the plays of Melaku couldn't survive because of four reasons:
1.The destruction of Ethiopian literature following the fascist Italian occupation(i.e.any work of literature was ordered to be survived if it is with the medium of the Italian Language.)The writer of Melaku named Asrat Zegeye threw all the works of melaku to a river fearing this.
2.There is no any research or work about Melaku and hisworks conducted during his life time.
3.He didn't used to write his name on his works.
4.He died abroad(in Egypt).
HADIS ALEMAYEHU(1910-2004):Was born in 1911 in a place called Endodam in Gojam.After being educated in the church,he came to Addis Ababa and admitted to Swedish missionary school for a modern education.He wrote a play intitled "Habesha Ena Yewedehuala Gabicha"in 1930.Following the appreciation he got from the royal classes,he was ordered to prepare a "happy ending" play for a royal wedding ceremony and together with Yoftahe and Bejirwond Sebsib,he wrote "Ye Hod Amilaku Qitat".When the play was performed,the king-Emperor Haileselassie himself was so happy that he called the three authors to the palace and awarded them.
(N.B.that during the reign of the king,one of the ways the royal class appreciate theatre was awards.)
Hadis is also known for his novels."Fiqir Eskemekabir" is one of his novels which is considered as a model of modern Amharic literature.
SENEDU GEBRU(1916-_):Was born in 1916 in Adisalem,Shewa.After she was educated up to the grade 8 in the Swedish missionary school,she went to Switzerland with her sister.Then she went to Montrial school of women in France.After she completed high school education,she was admitted to Losan University inorderto study Law.But,latter, she changed her field of study to literature.In 1936,she came back home and was employed in St.Giyorgis school inorder to teach playwriting,French,Mathematics and Hygine.During the fascist occupation,she choosed to be a patriot and became a member of "The Black Lion Organization".She also set a Redcoss society to help the injured.In the 1927's murder attempt of the two Ethiopians namely Moges Asgedom and Abraham Deboch,which wass intended to kill the Italian viceroy_Graziani,she was captured with many Ethiopians and tooken away to Azinara.After freedom,in 1947,she became the director of Etegue Menen school and start to write plays.She wrote and directed "Kokebih Yawna Yaberal Gena" in this year.Following this ,she wrote a play about the "Graziani Massacre" of 1927_"Begraziani Gize Yeyekatit Qenoch"(1947).Her other plays include;"Yetadelech Hilm"(1948), "Re'es Yelelew Tedar"(1948),"Ye Nero Sehetet"(1948),"Ke Maichaw Mels"(1949), "Fitawrari Reta Adamu"(1949).
She also contributed to the establishment of The Municipality Theatre together with Yoftahe Negusie and others.
3.MODERN THEATRE
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3.1.THE KING'S PERIOD(1931-1974)
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Dependeng on the historical accounts and evidences, we can call the king’s period generally as the “Golden Era” of Ethiopian Theatre. Some of the reasons include:
- The members of the royal family and the king him self used to allocate time for attending theatrical performances and awards for the outstanding performers and playwrights from the hands of the king him self were usual.
- More than the half number of the Theatres which are still active in Addis were built during this period.
- The participation of both foreigners and Ethiopians was large.
.THE THEATRES
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3.1.1.THE HAGER FIKIR THEATRE
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Arround the 1930's, after the Walwal incident that result clashes between the forces of the fascist Italy and Ethiopia, the feeling of war between the two countries was in its peake.What followed in the side of the Ethiopians was arousing awareness in the people and preparing for war.A states man named Mekonen Habteweld presented the necessity of an association for the purpose of propaganda.This request was accepted by the king and he established the "Hager Fikir Association " in 1936.But after some time ,the Italians took over and the association stops its duty of propaganda.
After freedom,the association was re-established by the same person,i.e.-Mekonen Habtewold.And since it has achieved its goal,the person planed inorder to start artistic performances.He start to select different peoples who have the talent to dance,sing and talk infront of people,from different places(Churches,hotels and night clubs)
Finally in 1943, the Hagerfikir Association starts its artistic performances.During the first years of its estadlishment, plays were performed in a form of improvisation,without written scripts.Among such kinds of plays,
-"Ye Abatoch Sereat"(Written by Lakew Desta)
-"Ye Enjera Enat"(Improvised Performance)
-"Bir Qebera" (Original Idea by Bisrat Tarekegn)...can be mentioned.The first playscripts we will find in the Hagerfikir Theatre are Lakew Desta's:
-"Yeweyne Balebet"
-"Ye Hagerlimat Ye Abatoch Sireat"
-"Edilihin Ende Mestewat"
-"Yichilegnal Bete"
Then the Hagerfikir continued its theatre performances and started to produce Ethiopia's greate profic writers.
1.EYUEL YOHANNES:Was born in 1935 in Kasanchiz,Addis Ababa.
He was selected by Mekonen Habtewold from a church and participated in Lakew Desta's "Ye Weyne Balebet" for the first time.Then he started to produce plays in a geate number.He had more than 100 plays.Out of these, some were musicals,some were short plays,and the remaining were full length plays. Following his first play "Acha Gabicha"(), he wrote:
-The Musicals:"Gize Werq New","Ye Set Ferehatua Eske Meqenetuwa, "Yehaymanot Messeret","Asrahulet Teqlay Gizat"(,"Ye Wuha Fiqir", "Mantegbosh","Yimeshal Yinegal","O.A.U.(Harambe)".
...to mention only fiew.
-His Short plays include:"Saychegir Tef Bidir","Zoro Zoro Hulum Zero" ,"Ye Lijagered Tselot",Qeyu Lelit","Ye Sew Kibru Gibru","Kameraw"
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History of Theatre In Ethiopia(2)
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