Gelanesh Haddis (1896 – 1986) was a teacher and scholar in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. She was known for her skill with the complex Ethiopian style of poetry called qene.
Gelanesh Haddis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1896 |
| Died | 1986 |
| Nationality | Ethiopian |
| Occupation | Poet |
Biography edit
Haddis was born in Silalo in the Ethiopian province of Gojjam in 1896.[1] Her father, Haddis Kinan, was an expert in a type of Ethiopian poetry called qene.[1] At the age of eight years old, Haddis lost her sight.[1] Her father taught her qene, which was unusual at the time due to her gender[2] and her disability.[1]
Haddis began teaching alongside her father at the school in Silalo.[3] During the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, her father was executed by the invading forces.[3]
Career edit
After the death of her father, Haddis taught in her own right and over two thousand pupils came to study with her during her career.[3] She also trained 150 new qene teachers.[3]
Haddis became an expert in qene in her own right, as well as becoming an expert in another Ethiopian literary form: andimta.[4] Andimta involves memorising biblical interpretations from the past and repeating them to new audiences.[1] In order to be able to memorise them, like Haddis, a teacher had to have an excellent knowledge of the Bible already.[5] However, it is for the qene form that Haddis is remembered, for the tone of her sung recitations and her compositions.[6] She was particularly noted for her use of qene metre.[7] She was even referred to as "the Ethiopian Homer."[8]
Family edit
Haddis married and had three children, but one child died very young.[3]
Legacy edit
Haddis broke gender barriers by becoming a qene teacher, a role that was usually preserved for men.[9] To remember her a museum was established in Bahir Dar, on the shores of Lake Tana, where visitors can consult her poetry.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku; Gates, Henry Louis Jr. (2012). Dictionary of African biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 449. ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5. OCLC 706025122.
- ^ "Textes etDialogue". j.malliarakis.free.fr. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
- ^ a b c d e f Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku; Gates, Henry Louis Jr. (2012). Dictionary of African biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 449. ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5. OCLC 706025122.
- ^ "Amhara Contributions to Ethiopian Civilization | Ethiopian Review - Ethiopian News". Retrieved 2020-02-07.
- ^ Daniel, Seblewengel. "The Role of Women in Bible Translation, the Case of Ethiopia".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Qene Centers and Ecclesiastical Scholarship".
- ^ Gebrai, Isaias Haileab (2018). "GEEZ ORAL POETRY [QENIE]: A STYLISTICAL AND THEMATIC ANALYSIS". European Journal of Philosophy, Culture and Religion. 2:1: 5.
- ^ Merahi, K. K. (2006). The Meaning of Quine: The River of Life: Commercial Printing : Enterprise, 6.
- ^ "Dept. of Ethiopian Language and Literature fetes first female author". www.amu.edu.et. Retrieved 2020-02-07.