Section Three

The short history of theatre houses

Introduction

The word theatre comes from the Greece word theatron which means ‘a place of seeing’. A
theatre, or play house is a place where artistic activities are performed for the audiences, for
example performances such as: music performance, theatre performance, dance, musical theatre,
opera, circus, and likewise. The theatre house usually has three parts; a stage (where the actual
performance is given), the house (seating area for guests watching a performance) and back
stages (for people who are in the performance and for producers).

Objectives

 To develop general knowledge on theatre houses and experience from the history of the
establishment of theatre houses.
 Gain knowledge and understanding from the musical styles of Ethiopian theatre houses
and their contribution to Ethiopian music
 Identify the historical differences between the present and the then theatre houses
 Conduct research on and evaluate the music and performances of Ethiopian theatre
houses

The short history of theatre houses

The short history of Hager Fikir Theatre (1927-1980)

The former Ethiopian people Hager Fikir Mahber, now Hager Fikir Theatre was first
established in 1927 E.C., which is pre-Italian fascist invasion.

The aim of its establishment was to make people be aware of the aggression of fascist Italians
against Ethiopians and mobilize them to be ready to fight for their country’s freedom. It was
established by Ato Mekonnen Habtewold and his friends.

As we all know, the five years invasion of the Italian government over Ethiopia was overthrown
by the great patriots of Ethiopia. The Hager FikirMahber members did support the patriots in
any way for the freedom of Ethiopia against fascist Italy.

After independence, the Hager Fikir was reestablished through the concept of Ato Mekonnen
Habtewold by Ato Beshah Teklemariam (violinist) in the year 1934 E.C.
The aim of Ethiopian people Hager FikirMahber got strengthened and was transformed into a
cultural house after 1934 E.C. It became a center of music and theatre where all present-day
artists spread out throughout the country got their basis from.

At first AtoMekonnenHabtewold tried to gather the members of Ethiopian people Hager

Fikirmembers and other people to have a discussion on how to restructure the country after the
Italians have left. But the people were tired of listening to only political issues and the number of
people coming to the discussion was minimized day by day. To fulfill the people’s needs and for
their entertainment, preparation of traditional music and short drama performances were believed
to go side by side, together with other political activities.

At the time, organizing traditional performances was a problem since there were no professional
musicians who were able to perform together as an orchestra. They performed individually in
wedding ceremonies, aristocratic houses, etc. by invitations. Making them play together in group
as a traditional orchestra was also a big task at first.

AtoBeshah Teklemariam was a professional who was able to organize the traditional group as an
orchestra at that time. He found few traditional instrument players and few singers from
Ethiopian churches and other places and then began organizing the traditional orchestra group
which began to give music performances every Sundays to the public in the Ethiopian
peopleHager FikirMahber Hall. Few months later, the group went to a radio station every day to
give direct and live music performances on radio.

Starting from 1938 E.C., it was believed that the music which was prepared and presented to the
public of Addis Ababa should also be presented in other provinces found in the four zones of the
country.

The name Ethiopian people Hager FikirMahber changed to Hager Fikir Theatre around 1960
E.C. The beginning and some aspects of Hager Fikir Theatre are very different from the others
theatre houses. It has its own history and development as mentioned above. This theatre house
was the first to organize the individual traditional instrument players and azmaries who were
playing instruments and singing songs in the houses of rich people, tej bet, tella bet etc., to form
traditional orchestra with performers of both traditional musical instruments and singers, in the
history of traditional music.

In general we may conclude that the contribution of Hager Fikir theatre to the rise and
development of Ethiopian traditional music and performance is highly considered in the history
of Ethiopian arts and artists.

There were many professional traditional music composers, performers and singers who
contributed a lot to the beginning and growth of the traditional music of Ethiopian people Hager
Fikir mahberfrom the 1930s to the 1950s. To mention all their names is very difficult and needs
research work that is to be done by music students. But to mention some; Ato Beshah
Teklemariam, Ferede Gola, Matewos Bekele, Eyuel Yohannes, NigatwaKelkay, Aselefech
Mulat, Shishig Chekol, Assefa Abate, Etagegnehu Hayile, Firew Hailu are the important ones.

The short history of the early Addis Ababa municipality theatre house
The early Addis Ababa municipality theatre was established around 1942 E.C. after the
establishment of Ethiopian people Hager FikirMahber. In the year 1942 the civilians living
around Addis Ababa prepared a traditional music competition festival at the early Addis Ababa
municipality.

This traditional music competition festival was the first in its kind, which paved a way for the
traditional music festivals to continue in every Ethiopian New Year celebration, by the three
military bands and other civilian bands since 1953 E.C. The traditional music competition
festival was also a basis for the development of the country’s traditional music and dance.

Ato Yoftahe Nigussie, composer and play write coordinated the music performers, drama
performers, and the performances in the early municipality hall. He significantly contributed to
the growth of music and drama.

Ato Yoftahe Nigussie died accidentally and the music and drama performances were then
coordinated by Captain Nalbandian, Ato Afework Adafre and Ato Tesfaye Tesema. At the time
some music and dramas were performed to the public in the early municipality hall.

In 1944 E.C., some of the group performers went to the battle field of North Korea (Korea
zemecha) together with the Ethiopian army for entertainment, to provoke heroic feelings and for
propaganda purposes.

The police music department trained young musicians in 1967 for the Addis Ababa Municipality
marching band and orchestra. From these musicians’, four of the women musicians who trained
with trumpet, clarinet, alto saxophone, and tenor saxophone participated at municipality as
“wubit band” until recent time.

To conclude the short history of the early municipality of Addis Ababa, it was the place where
the proceeding Hager Fikir Ethiopian people Mahber that traditional music continued its
development.

Besides this, the beginning of the Ethiopian New Year music festivals and music competitions in
the early Addis Ababa Municipality did open the stage for various cultural activities and added
many male and female singers, music composers, and music and dance arrangers for the
development and growth of the general Ethiopian arts, especially music.
Ato Yoftahie Nigussie, Captain Nalbandian and many others were some of the professional
personages in the mid of 1940’s E.C. at the early Addis Ababa Municipality.

Source/translated in English from the Ethiopian people Hager FikirMahber50 year anniversary
Journal Amharic version. Hamle 1977 E.C.AA

The short History of Hailesilassie I Theatre (National Theatre)

The former Haile Selassie I Theatre, now National Theatre was established in 1948 E.C. The
administration was under the early Addis Ababa municipality but the artists; both in music and
theatre were transferred to the new Haile Selasse I Theatre (National Theatre).

The first main administrators were foreigners who were employed from abroad. The first foreign
administrator was Mr. Zulbeker and the second Richard Hangbr, both respected professional arts
personages.

These arts administrators tried to change the strategy of stage approaches for both music and
drama. The various artistic preparations of these professional personages did form a new history
in the stage performances of Ethiopia. For example Mr. Zulbeker trained modern instrument
performers and set full modern orchestra. He trained the performers at an international level of
Jazz so that they played the Blues, Rag time and famous Jazz music at that time. Some of the
instrument players such as Wodajeneh Felfilu, Tefera Abunewold, Merawi Sitot, Asefa Bayssa,
Girma Negash, Menilk Wosnachaw, Telela Kebede, GetuAyele (Tutu), Melkamu Tebeje, Fekrte
Desalegn, Mekonen Bekele and others are important ones.

Zulbeker also arranged some of the Ethiopian Folk songs for modern orchestra in the system and
style of Ethiopian Tunes. Folk songs like "Ambasel" "Tizta",“Anchihoye "and "Bati" are still
now tuneful and immortal. They were arranged by Zulbeker and performed by Ethiopian
musicians in the late 1940 E.C.

After the beginning of 1950s until the mid of 1960s E.C Armenian Muse Nersis Nalbandian was
a teacher of music, composer and arranger of the orchestra and choir works, who took
responsibilities of the general modern music activities of the Theatre house and he did well
regarding his responsibilities.

Another musical activity and development in the Theatre house was the traditional music group
established in 1951 EC. The traditional group or orchestra was strong enough and the members
of the group were those who did have experiences in both vocal and instrumental performances.

The group did contribute a lot for the growth and development of Ethiopian traditional music and
dance. Many traditional music and dances recorded by this group were broadcasted via radio and
TV.
The group presented innumerable performances to the public of Addis Ababa and people
throughout the country, and in few countries of the world.

By the agreement of Government to have cultural exchange between Ethiopia and many foreign
countries, the group made tours to many countries and gave traditional music and dance
performances. Some of the countries were Korea, China, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Alger’s Russia
and others.

The tours were successful and introduced the Ethiopian traditional music for many foreign
countries. It also helped in continuing and strengthening cultural exchanges with other countries.

There were many professional traditional music composers, performers and arrangers who
contributed to the growth and development of the traditional music group of the theatre house.
To mention all of them is very hard, them being numerous. But to mention some of the important
ones, they are Lema G/Hiwot, Awlachew Degene, TadeleTamrat, Tatek G/Wold, Kassa Tesema,
Yitna Tadegen, Ketema Mekonen, Derbabaw Abunu, Abebe Tesma, Asefa Zegeye.

The short history of Cinema RasHailu/ Ras Theater

Today’s Ras Theatre was formerly called cinema Ras Hailu. It was named after Ras Haillu so
that people would think it was established by an Ethiopian, when really it had the Italian hands is
in it. Cinema Ras Hailu was established during the Italian invasion and its true purpose was to
broaden the fascist ideology and Mussolini’s rule. Also, with a cover up that it was creased to
teach art to the Habesha people, the cinema Ras Hailu was presenting films which were fit for
the expansion of their rule and also generate money.

The cinema Ras Hailu was showing films even after the Italians left. But for a little while, it
served for other purposes like giving grinding services and such. But then in 1968E.C. it changed
its name to Ras Theatre, becoming under ministry of sports and started giving services of
showing films, theatre and music.

The Ras Theatre traditional orchestra was famous from the mid-1970s to the 1980s EC. With
guidance from Ato Tessfaye Lema, singers and traditional instrument players like shamble
Belayneh, Elias Tebabal, Neway Debebe, Tsehaye Yohannes and others are the products of the
Ras Theatre traditional orchestra.

At present, the Ras Theatre has both traditional and modern orchestra group.

Source: Ras theatre Jurnal 1978-1983 EC.

The short History of Orchestra Ethiopia
Orchestra Ethiopia was established in the year 1959 E.C. under the Haile Selasse University,
which is now called Addis Ababa University.

Creative art center was the place where the traditional orchestra group did their practices and
performances.

Ato Tesfaye Gessese was the first director of the creative art center and Ato Tesfaye Lema was
an administrator and composer of traditional music for the orchestra Ethiopia, who contributed
by composing many poems and songs.

Orchestra Ethiopia (from 1959- 1968) was under the university in the creative art center and
recorded many orchestral songs whichwere broadcasted through the radio and television to the
public at that time. For example, songs like "Egnam Alen Musika SmetYemiyaneqa" (we have
music that touches the soul) and others were performed during that period.

Some of the members of the orchestra were Getamesay Abebe, MelakuGelaw, Yohanes
Afework, Tshay Endale, Charles Saten (American).

Orchestra Ethiopia was transferred to the municipality from 1968 onwards and the name was
changed from orchestra Ethiopia to municipality traditional orchestra and they continued their
service to the public.

Source: - Interview of some traditional music performers who participated in the orchestra.

- The musical journals printed in the 1950 E.C. about the individual biography of
artists and their performance abilities.