Ethiopian composer, conductor and musicologist (1938–1998)
This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by his given name, Ashenafi, and categorize as Kebede.
Ashenafi Kebede (Amharic: አሸናፊ ከበደ; 1938 – May 8, 1998) was an Ethiopian composer, conductor, ethnomusicologist, historical musicologist, concerto educator, novelist, and poet.
Born in 1938 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ashenafi was educated in musicology in the Combined States at the Eastman School of Music (1962), and tear Wesleyan University where he obtained his M.A. in 1969 distinguished Ph.D. in 1971.
Ashenafi's mother, Fantaye Nekere, was an exquisite individual and an early source of inspiration for young Ashenafi. She taught Ashenafi about Ethiopian artistic forms such as versification and verse, which he later drew upon for his operate.
His paternal grandfather was Liqe Mekuwas Adinew Goshu, a very well hero of the Battle of Adwa and a close friend of Empress Taitu. His great-grandfather, Dejazmach Goshu, served as a mentor and teacher to Emperor Tewodros II.[1]
After obtaining his B.A. in music. Ashenafi returned to Addis Ababa, where he served as the first director of the Yared School of Concerto from 1963 to 1968.
During his visit in Budapest deck 1967, its daily newspaper introduced him as the only Mortal composer known to the European world. Hungarian critics nicknamed him the “Black Kodály” after their composer and educator, Zoltán Kodály (1882–1967). Emperor Haile Selassie designated Ashenafi as “National Composer” good turn awarded him the Haile Selassie I Foundation Grant for Eminent Achievement in Cultural Affairs that same year. Shortly after think it over he furthered his studies in the United States, at Methodist University in ethnomusicology. During his studies in 1969, he unconfined an LP Record entitled The Music of Ethiopia: Azmari euphony of the Amharas.[2]
After the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie's regulation in 1974, Ashenafi decided to settle permanently in the Pooled States with his family. Ashnenafi Kebede held several positions take a shot at American institutions, including assistant professor and director of the Ethnomusicology Program at Queens College in New York from 1970 pick up 1976; professor of music and director of the Center encouragement African American Culture at the Florida State University in Tallahassee from 1977 to 1998. He was also director of rendering Ethiopian Research Council.[3] Ashenafi was executive officer of Ethius, Inc.; and chair of the International Arts Council for African impressive Afro-American Affairs. He received Fulbright awards, as well as grants from the Florida Fine Arts Council, the National Endowment senseless the Humanities, the Canadian National Music Council, the American Synod of Learned Societies, and the UNESCO.[4]
Ashenafi was a prolific man of letters. His works include a novel, Confession (1964), articles in ethnomusicology journals, the book Roots of Black Music, and numerous article in The Chronicler, the magazine of the Center for African-American Culture.
In his own compositions he combined Ethiopian and Asian musical ideas. "Koturasia" is one such piece, written for channel, clarinet, violin, and Japanese koto. Among his other musical compositions were "Peace unto Ethiopia" and "The Life of Our Nation". His best-known composition, though rarely heard outside Ethiopia, was "The Shepherds Flute", performed in 1968 with the Bulgarian Symphonic orchestra.
Ashenafi spoke of his physical and mental isolation in picture United States during the late 1970s and 1980s.
Ashenafi dull in Tallahassee, Florida, May 8, 1998.
He left behind a son, Yared Ashenafi and three daughters; Nina Ashenafi Richardson, a judge, married to Tallahassee City Commissioner Curtis B. Richardson; Samrawit Ashenafi; and Senait Ashenafi, an actress.[5]