Ashmelas WoldeGabriel writes a small sample book in the traditional way, using a bamboo pen and resting the parchment quire against his knee, while seated on a short stool.
Tag: Africa
Hermit, Festival of Maryam Tsion, Axum, Ethiopia, 2009
An eremite watches the celebrations outside of the church compound of Maryam Tsion (St. Mary of Zion), the holiest church in Ethiopia, and supposed resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. The yearly festival of St. Mary is the premiere holiday in Axum.
Nun, Festival of Maryam Tsion, Axum, Ethiopia, 2009
A nun rests upon her staff while watching the celebrations in honor of St. Mary of Zion, Axum’s high holy day, and the celebration of the patron of Ethiopia’s most important church.
Market Cat #2, Mek’ele, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2009
A cat sits leashed to its stand, at the prouduce section of the main market in Mek’lele.
Cafe Scene, Mek’ele, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2009
A bike leans against a mural depicting traditional outdoor teaching in the courtyard of a cafe in Mek’ele where I spent a fair amount of time.
Priest’s Cat, Mek’ele, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2009
A priest’s cat sits on some news-sheets, patiently waiting for her master’s interview to be completed.
Horse, Gonder, Ethiopia, 2009
A horse grazes on a rainy day, just outside the tamari betoch (student huts) of the famous church of Debre Berhan Selassie, in Gonder.
Arabic Writing Teacher, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 2009
A teacher of arabic writing at the mosque in Bahir Dar. Moslems are a significant minority in areas of the North, and comprise a majority in the Eastern areas of Ethiopia.
Deacon(?), Andabet, Amhara, Ethiopia, 2009
This gentleman, whose name I have sadly forgotten, was a farmer and a deacon (I believe) at the local church. When I was in the Andabet area for research, he showed my translator and me to the various farms of the priests who made parchment and scribed books.
Yänäta Zewchoas, Axum, Ethiopia, 2009
Zewchoas is one of the chief instructors at the St. Yared Theological Academy in Axum, and has a reputation as a däbtära, a magician (he is also properly a däbtära in its original sense of liturgical specialist). A dwarf, he was picked upon, and learned magic in order to gain respect, notably a method for causing people to fart in public, which is considered extraordinarily rude in Ethiopia.
Having achieved his aim, he later gave up the magician’s craft and focused more on his teaching work. He may often be found behind the school, leading students in the recitation and memorization of liturgical songs, and is a thoroughly respected member of his community, having overcome the prejudice traditionally associated with dwarfism.
He is photographed sitting on a throne on top of the stairs in front of the old Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion (Maryam Tsion).