From Addis Ababa to Jerusalem

In celebration of World Music Day, the Alliance Ethio-francaise pays tribute to the renowned piano queen, Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, with the theme of ‘From Addis Ababa to Jerusalem.’ On June 21, 2023, the event honors Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam through a captivating photo exhibition, followed by a remarkable piano concert featuring performances by Girma Yifrashewa and Mathieu Odoux.
Claude Blevin, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of France, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “For the second time, the Alliance Ethio-francaise celebrates World Music Day, delighting music lovers with the world of the great French composer Claude Debussy. Music is the expression of the inexpressible.”
Teguest Yilma, President of the Alliance Ethio-francaise, highlighted the exceptional career of Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam and thanked Francis Falceto for bringing her music to light in the Ethiopiques collection. Teguest stated, “The late Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Gebru was a pianist and composer with a fundamental vocation in a tormented life. Everything else is merely misfortunate and a consequence of loss.”
Born in 1923 in Addis Ababa as Yewubdar Gebru, she later adopted the name Emahoy Tsige-Mariam. Hailing from an upper-class family, she was sent to a boarding school in Switzerland at the age of six, where she studied violin. At the young age of 21, she became a nun and resided in the Gishen-Mariam Monastery.
In 1984, Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam fled Ethiopia and found solace in Jerusalem. Living quietly in a small cell of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, she dedicated most of her time to her faith and her beloved piano. Her enigmatic music, a combination of Ethiopian traditional songs, classical influences, early jazz, gospel, ragtime, and the choral traditions of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, gained global recognition through Francis Falceto’s Ethiopiques series. In 2006, an album of her archive recordings was released as part of the Éthiopiques compilation albums of Ethiopian music, in collaboration with the record label Buda Music.
Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam, who passed away at the age of 99 on March 28, left behind a remarkable legacy. Her compositions continue to captivate listeners with their unique fusion of musical styles. The exhibition, opening on June 21, will showcase her life and work, allowing visitors to appreciate the depth and richness of her musical contributions. The exhibition will remain open until mid-July, offering an extended opportunity for the public to immerse themselves in the world of this extraordinary artist.
The commemoration of Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou and her journey from Addis Ababa to Jerusalem not only honors her individual brilliance but also serves as a reminder of the power of music to transcend boundaries and touch the hearts of people worldwide. Through her compositions, Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam has left an indelible mark on the global music scene, weaving together diverse musical traditions and creating a tapestry of beauty and inspiration.