Even if they have been together for almost four years, Merewa Choir has attracted Ethiopia’s media attention by their single release titled “Nègèru Endét Nèw?”
ADDIS ABABA (Semonegna)–Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Merewa Choir is musical ensemble of young Ethiopian singers who are trying to put a constructive influence in the country’s extreme diverse music culture.
Merewa Choir was founded almost four years ago by Ethiopians who have variety of involvements in the music profession. Some of them are/were students or instructors at Yared Music School of Addis Ababa University, or at Jazz Amba School of Music (Gullele Sub-city, Addis Ababa), and some others are lectures of music and musical instruments at public universities such as Wolkite University (Wolkite, South Ethiopia). Even if they have been together for almost four years, the group (which currently has 11 members) has attracted Ethiopia’s media attention by their single release titled “Nègèru Endét Nèw?” (roughly translated as ‘What is the matter?’), which is a remake of the popular love song by the same title by renowned singer Kuku Sebsebe.
In general, despite the fact that music has a long history in the country (at least back in the 6th century when St. Yared who was a highly regarded composer, scholar, and pioneer of musical notations), choir and choral music are not that much known in Ethiopia, and most Ethiopians consider choir and choral music as something affiliated to church – according to one Merewa Choir’s member in his recent interview with EBS TV’s Sunday Show “Sunday with EBS.” During the interview, the group said that they have a positive and encouraging acceptance from Ethiopian people; and this constructive acceptance, with the affirmative feedback they are receiving, has become a motivation to work even harder, breaking the fear they had of whether they would get the acceptance when they started.
The group said almost all of the members are not only naturally gifted but also academically and professionally experienced in music and thus Merewa Choir is a serious thing for all of them with ambition built on short- and long-term plans. They have their own choir music arranger and will soon come with their own original works beyond covering the works of other singers. Consequently, their aim is bringing the traditional Ethiopian music, which is more of pentatonic scale (and hence already in favor of choral music according to one of the members during the interview), to the harmony of choral music.