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ERITREAN SOUNDS OF RESISTANCE: A HISTORICAL, POLITICAL, and MUSICAL ANALYSIS ON THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, 1960s to 1990s

Ketema, Raymok
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9930-034X
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1524148034538656

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, African-American and African Studies.
Eritrea is a country that has been under-researched, especially in regard to its cultural elements. This project will explore the role of music in Eritrea, specifically during the 1970’s through the 1990’s, the height of the Eritrean-Ethiopian war. Through an ethnomusicological lens, the project will trace the history of the political climate by analyzing the lyrics of popular resistance songs. How did the music reflect political tensions? Who were key musicians and what were the repercussions for making controversial music? In what ways did the music promote mobilization or disunity? Interviewing Eritrean musicians and ex-soldiers further inform the project by providing firsthand accounts of living in the era. I argue that Eritrean music was a necessary tool for the liberation of Eritrean people from the Ethiopian regime, and that the environment of warfare impacted the content of Eritrean music. In addition, I argue that the armed struggle resulted in a high level of cultural organizing which influenced the creation of a collective Eritrean identity. While much scholarly work has been done on the political history of the Eritrean-Ethiopian war, not much has been done on the role of arts during this era. The goal of this research is to begin to ameliorate this by including Eritrea in the growing works of musicology studies based in Africa.
Ryan Skinner (Advisor)
79 p.
African History; African Studies; Ethnic Studies; Music
Eritrea; Africa; African history; Eritrean music; Eritrean-Ethiopian war; African music; East Africa; Horn of Africa; Northeast Africa

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ketema, R. (2018). ERITREAN SOUNDS OF RESISTANCE: A HISTORICAL, POLITICAL, and MUSICAL ANALYSIS ON THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, 1960s to 1990s [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1524148034538656

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ketema, Raymok. ERITREAN SOUNDS OF RESISTANCE: A HISTORICAL, POLITICAL, and MUSICAL ANALYSIS ON THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, 1960s to 1990s . 2018. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1524148034538656.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ketema, Raymok. "ERITREAN SOUNDS OF RESISTANCE: A HISTORICAL, POLITICAL, and MUSICAL ANALYSIS ON THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, 1960s to 1990s ." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1524148034538656

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1524148034538656
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.