Bereket Mengisteab
Encyclopedia
Bereket Mengisteab is a well-known Eritrean
songwriter
, composer
and singer. He was born in 1938 in the small village of Hazega
, located about thirteen miles north-west of the Eritrean capital of Asmara
. He spent the first two decades of his life farming in this village. During these years in Hazega, Bereket taught himself the Krar
(a five stringed lyre) and honed his musical skills, participating in all of the musical rituals that punctuate rural life. Then, after spending a few years in Asmara
(which was part of Ethiopia
at the time), Bereket moved to Addis Ababa
in 1961.
Culture of Eritrea
The culture of Eritrea has been largely shaped by its location on the Red Sea coast, as well as the area's historic links with Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Sudan, the Near East and Italy...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and singer. He was born in 1938 in the small village of Hazega
Hazega
Hazega is a small village in Central Eritrea located in the former province of Hamasien. It is 13 miles north-west from the capital city, Asmara, and 35 miles south-east of Keren. It is an entirely Christian village inhabited by the Tigrinya speaking people of Eritrea...
, located about thirteen miles north-west of the Eritrean capital of Asmara
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
. He spent the first two decades of his life farming in this village. During these years in Hazega, Bereket taught himself the Krar
Krar
The krar or kraar is a five- or six-stringed bowl-shaped lyre from Eritrea and Ethiopia. The instrument is tuned to a pentatonic scale. A modern krar may be amplified, much in the same way as an electric guitar or violin....
(a five stringed lyre) and honed his musical skills, participating in all of the musical rituals that punctuate rural life. Then, after spending a few years in Asmara
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
(which was part of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
at the time), Bereket moved to Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
in 1961.