CV and Publications

Dr.phil. Timkehet Teffera
Ethnomusicology (Music Ethnology)
email: timkehet@web.de
CURRENT RESEARCH AREAS
Regional Researches:
Music cultures of migratory groups in Europe (e.g. Germany, UK)
African popular music in Europe and USA
East African musik cultures (Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Uganda)
African Music History:
In connection with
the early period
the expansion of Islam (7th Century)
the slave trade and
approach in current urban music styles and their context
Studies of repertoire
Wedding music in selected cultures
Aerophone ensembles in selected cultures
Female music and gender issues in selected cultures
Organology of musical instruments
systematic overview of instrumental organology
history of aerophone in East Africa
computerized analysis and transcription methods of instrumental music
Curriculum Vitae
Timkehet Teffera
Date/Place of birth: 12.11.1963, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Academic Education
2004-2007
Post Doctoral candidate, DFG [German Research Society], Research Area: East Africa, Paper title:
“Aerophone im Instrumentarium der Völker Ostafrikas” [Aerophones Among the Societies of
East Africa]
19.11.1999: Disputation: academic status: Ph.D.
1994-1999: Ph.D. candidate, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Paper title: Hochzeitsmusik der
Amara im Zentralen Hochland Aethiopiens [Wedding Music Among the Amara of Central
Highland of Ethiopia]
1994: 20th Jan. 94 state exam, Degree of Masters/ Ethnomusicology
1988-1994
Full time student of Ethnomusicology/Humboldt University- Berlin
1987: Language Preparatory/Herder Institute/Karl Marx University- Leipzig
1982: ESLCE Examination
1978-1982: 9 –12: Gymnasium and music education/training (piano, theory of music, music
history, church music, traditional music and dance/ 6-stringed lyre Krar)
1970-1978: 1- 8 Elementary School "German School of Addis Ababa"
Free activities
since 1993: Member of the International Council for Traditional Music (ITCM)
since 2000: Individual member of the IASA, working closely with the Berlin Phonogram Archive
since 2001: Member of Orbis Aethiopicus (Safeguarding of Ethiopian Cultural Heritages)
Member of the UNESCO research group of the project: “Ethiopia: Traditional Music, Dance and
Instruments” - Intangible Heritage Section in coordination with UNESCO
since 2005: Addis Ababa, the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and
Sorbonne University, Paris
Publications
(accessable at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies/Library)
1979 Bewelega Kifle Hager Yetederege Musiqawi Tinat [Fieldwork in the Region Wellega-West
Ethiopia], Addis Ababa
1983 The Institute of Ethiopian Studies: Museum Guide, Addis Ababa.
1984 The Music of the Shanqilla. - Ethnomusicological Field Research in Gojjam/Central
Highland of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
1986 Bewelde Mesqel Metasebia Yemigenewu Yemusiqa Mesariawoc Kimicit [The Collection of Music
Instruments in the Welde Mesqel House], Addis Ababa.
1987 Yezema Aynetoc, Zefenoc Ina Yebe'alat Qenoc Be-ityopia [Sacred Song Styles, Secular songs
and Holidays in Ethiopia] Addis Ababa.
1987 The Similarities and Differences of African Musical Instruments in General and Ethiopian
Traditional Instruments in Particular, Addis Ababa.
1994 Musik im Zentralen Hochland Äthiopiens, Paper (Degree of Masters - Humboldt-University
Berlin), Berlin.
1995 Music in the Central Highland of Ethiopia, Paper (Degree of Masters) – Humboldt University
(translated from German into English 1995), Berlin.
2001 Musik zu Hochzeiten bei den Amara im Zentralen Hochland
Äthiopiens. – Frankfurt am Main – Peter Lang Press
ISBN 3-631-37474-7
2003 Historical Sound Recordings from Axum-Ethiopia:
Collection: Kaschke 1906- 2 Volumes (translated from
German into English 2003/ The original recording of
the Wax Cylinder collection preserved in the Berliner
Phonogrammarchiv).
2004 Historische Tonaufnahmen aus Abessinien: Sammlung:
Rosen – 1905 (The original recording of the Wax
Cylinder collection preserved in the Berliner
Phonogrammarchiv)
2005 Ethnomusicological Fieldwork in West- and South-Ethiopia,
Academic Report for the UNESCO-NORWAY-Project;
Funds-in-Trust Co-operation in the field of Culture;
Project Title: Ethiopia: Traditional Music, Dance and
Instruments, A Systematic Survey
2006 Ethnomusicological Fieldwork in Tigray, North Ethiopia,
Academic Report for the UNESCO-NORWAY-Project;
Funds-in-Trust Co-operation in the field of Culture;
Project Title: Ethiopia: Traditional Music, Dance and
Instruments: A Systematic Survey, 2006.
2009 Aerophone im Instrumentarium der Völker Ostafrikas,
Habilitationsschrift; Trafo Wissenschaftsverlag, Berlin,
620 S., ISBN 978-3-89626-378-0
ARTICLES
1998 Kinder als Musiker - Verständnis und Missverständnis
theoretischer Systeme. In: Berichte aus dem ICTM-NK
Deutschland, VIII, Marianne Bröcker (Hrsg.),
Bamberg 1999.
2000
Children as Musicians – Understanding and
Misunderstanding of Theoretical Systems (translated
into English October/2000).
2000 The Future of the Masinqo in Ethiopia – paper presented on the 14th International Meeting in
Markneukirchen /Germany, 21 –26 Juni/2000 (translated into English October/2000).
2000 The Role of Sound Archives: Preservation and Maintenance of Sound Carriers for Strengthening
Cultural Identity – paper presented on the 14. International Conference of Ethiopian
Studies – 6. – 11. November 2000; Addis Ababa.
2001 Ethnomusicological Research in Harer/SoutheastEthiopia: In: Berichte aus dem ICTM Nationalkomitee
Deutschland, Göttingen 16. – 17. Februar 2001; Band
XI, Marianne Bröcker (Hrsg.), Bamberg 2002, p. 137 –
154.
2001 Why and How to save the sound collection of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies/Addis Ababa
University? Paper presented on ARSC-IASA Conference 22nd – 28th September
London/UK.
2002 Ethnomusikologische Feldforschung in Harar/Ethiopia – In: Berichte aus dem ICTMNationalkomitee Deutschland, XI, Marianne Bröcker (Hrsg.), Bamberg, S. 137-153.
2002 Frauen in den Musiktraditionen Äthiopiens – In:
Berichte aus dem ICTM Nationalkomitee
Deutschland, Köln 08. – 09. März 2002, Band XII,
Marianne Bröcker (Hrsg.), Bamberg 2003, p. 45 – 58.
2003 Dienen und sich bedienen: Veränderungen im Musikleben
der Stadt Addis Abeba seit 1974, In: Berichte aus dem
ICTM Nationalkomite Deutschland, Lüneburg 14. –
15. Februar 2003, Band XIII, Marianne Bröcker
(Hrsg.), Bamberg 2004, p. 35-48.
2003 Changes in the Musical scene of Addis Abeba since 1974 Paper presented on the ITCM Conference in
Lüneburg/Germany (translated into English
December/2003).
2003 A Comprehensive Analysis of Sound Recordings from
Axum/Ethiopia - In: Proceedings of the 15th
International Conference of Ethiopian Studies
Hamburg, 20. – 25. Juli 2003, Siegbert Uhlig (Hrsg.);
Sonderdruck: Harrasowith Verlag Wiesbaden 2006;
S. 485 – 495.
2003 100 years later: what do societies gain from historical collections? - Paper presented on the
International Conference of Audiovisual and Sound Archives (IASA), Pretoria/South
Africa, September 22nd -26th 2003.
2003 The Importance of Archives as Memories for Society - The Conference of the International
Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (IASA) in Pretoria/South Africa 2003
2003 The Ethiopian Calendar: Historical Background and Meaning: A contribution to the completion
of the Ethio-German Calendar (under the project: „Listro“- (see also www.listros.de).
2004 Ethiopian Music in the Diaspora – paper presented on the 9th International Conference of
Orbis Aethiopicus, September 10-12th, 2004, Mannheim/Germany
2005 The Ethiopian Revolution 1974 - 1991: Political (Mis)use of Music and Dance, paper presented
on the 38th World Conference of the ITCM in Sheffield/UK August 2005
2005 Archives in East Africa: Preservation, Dissemination and User’s Perspective on Archives, paper
presented on the --- World Conference of IASA in Barcelona/Spain September 2005
2005 Embilta Playing in Ethiopia, Ín: Studia
Instrumentorum Musicae Popularix XV: ICTM Study
Group on Folk Musical Instruments: Proceedings
from the 15th International Meeting in Falun,
Sweden, August 14-18, 2002, p. 133-142 – Dan
Lundberg & Gunnar Ternhag (ed.). – Elanders
Grafiska.
2005 Music, Making Music and Dancing: Ethno-Musicological
Observations in Meqelle/Tigray - artikel presented on
the 7th International Konferenz of Orbis Aethiopicus
from 12th – 14th Oktober 2001 in Essen-Werden (ins
Englische übersetzt im März 2002/translated into
English March 2002); nochmal überarbeitet und
veröffentlicht in: Guandu Music Journal: Nr. 03
(2005), Taipei National University of the Arts,
College of Music, p. 125 – 148; 2005.
2006 "Classical" Instruments in Folk Music and Vice Versa:
The Case of Musical Instruments in East Africa - ICTM
Study Group on Folk Musical Instruments, Vilnius 5.
– 8. April 2006, Fpölöpre Studies Band XXXII, The
Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore, Rūta
Žarskienė (Hrsg.), Vilnius 2006, p. 36 – 49.
2006 Fieldwork Experiences in East Africa (Ethnomusicology) –
In: IASA Journal - No. 27, July 2006 - p. 32 – 38, Ilse
Assmann (ed.); Johannesburg, South Africa.
2006 Taboos and Exceptions: Women playing Aerophones in
East Africa- In: The Human World and Musical
Diversity: Proceedings from the 4th Meeting of ICTM
Study Group “Music and Minorities” in Varna,
Bulgaria 2006, p. 322-328.
2007 The Bol Negero Ensemble of the Berta of West
Ethiopia****[unpublished]
2007 Depicting Problems and Facing Reality: Archival
awareness and developmental obstacles evaluated from an
African Point of View - ICTM Annual Conference,
Mexico City 9. – 14. September 2006, In: IASA
Journal - Nr. 29, Juli 2007, Ilse Assmann (Hrsg.),
Johannesburg, p. 64 – 71
2008 Tradition and Modernism: Emergence and Development of Popular Music in Addis Ababa: The
Golden Years
Jahrestagung des ICTM Nationalkomitte Deutschland in Berlin, Februar 2008
2009 Kontrolle, Einflussnahme, Gewalt und Musik: Äthiopien (1974-1991), Jahrestagung des ICTM
Nationalkomitte Deutschland in Berlin, Februar 2009
2009
Ngoma drums and musical performances of the Wasamba in Tanzania, 17th International
Meeting of the ITCM Study Group on Folk Musical Instruments, Erkner April 2009
GUEST LECTURES/SENINARS
2005 Aerophone Ensembles among the Berta People of Western Ethiopia – March 2005, Yared
Musikhochschule, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
2005 Field Research & Ethnomusicology, February 2005, Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis
Ababa University, Ethiopia
2005 The Hocket Principle in Flute Ensemble Performance: Ari People of South Ethiopia,
March 2005, Goethe-Institut & Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa University
Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
2005 Ethnomusicology: General Overview, April 2005, Traditional Music Archive (TRAMA)
Institute of African & Asian Studies, University of Khartoum
2005 Ethnomusicology: General Overview, May 2005, Department of Music, Dance and
Drama, Makarere University and National Museum in Kampala, Uganda
2005 Flute & Trumpet Ensembles in East African Cultures, July 2005, Naroibi University,
Kenya
2006 Musical Landscapes in Ethiopia: Overview of Traditional Music and Instruments and
Modern Trends in Music - Universität Zagreb, Coratia
2006 Ethnomusicology – Juli 2006, Yared Musikhochschule, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
2006 Ethiopian Music: General Overview – August 2006, Yared Musikhochschule, Mekelle
University, Ethiopia
2006 Musiklandschaften in Äthiopien: Überblick traditioneller Musik und Instrumente und
moderne Trends der Musik; Vorlesung gehalten am 4. Oktober im Völkerkundemuseum
Wien, Austria
2007 Musikkulturen Ostafrikas; Block Seminar; Otto-Friedrich University, Bamberg, Germany
2007 Wedding Customs in Central Ethiopia and the Role of Music – December/January 2008,
Yared Musikhochschule, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
2009 Musikethnologische Feldforschungen heute: im Spannungsfeld zwischen
Digitalaufzeichnung und teilnehmender Beobachtung, March 2009, University of Vienna
FIELD RESEARCHES AND AUDIOVISUAL COLLECTIONS
1997 Ethnomusicological Fieldwork among the Amara in Gonder, Gojjam (Central Highland
Ethiopia) and in Addis Ababa
Material preserved in the Berliner Phonogrammarchiv under „Sammlung/Teffera/
Aethiopien 1997“
Shelf No./Audio Recordings (DAT): 0345.001 – 0345.005 und 0345.006, 0345.008-0345-018
Shelf no. of Video Recordings: Ä97SV-01- SV-08; SV-12 to SV-13 and Ä97 V8-01- V8-02
1997 Ethnomusicological Fieldwork among the Tigray in Meqelle – North Ethiopia
Material preserved in the Berliner Phonogrammarchiv: „Sammlung/ Teffera/ Aethiopien
1997“
Shelf-No./Audio Recordings (DAT): 0345.006 – 0345.007
Shelf-No./Video Recordings: Ä97SV-09- SV-11 und Ä97 V8-01- V8-02
2000 Ethnomusicological Fieldwork among the Amara in Addis Ababa
Material preserved in the Berliner Phonogrammarchiv: „Sammlung/Teffera/Aethiopien
2000”
Shelf-No./Audio Recordings (DAT): 0397.001
Shelf-No./Video Recordings: 075.01- 075.02
2000 Ethnomusicological Fieldwork among the Harare in Jegol/Harar (South Ethiopia)
Material preserved in the Berliner Phonogrammarchiv: „ Sammlung/Teffera/Aethiopien
2000”
Shelf-No./Audio Recordings (DAT): 0397.001 - 0397.003
Shelf-No./Video Recordings: 075.03 - 075.05
2002 Ethnomusicological Fieldwork in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Berlin
Material preserved in the Berliner Phonogrammarchiv: „ Sammlung/Teffera/Aethiopien
2002”
Shelf-No./Audio Recordings (DAT) including commercial cassettes: 0410.001 – 0410.002
Shelf-No./Video Recordings: 080.01 - 080.03
2005 February/March/2005 - Ethnomusicological Fieldwork among the Bertha, Male and Ari in
West and South Ethiopia (audiovisual and photographic collection - private)
2005 April/2005 - Ethnomusicological Fieldwork among the Nymang of Central Sudan
(audiovisual and photographic collection - private)
2005 May/2005 - Ethnomusicological Fieldwork among the Baganda and Basoga of Central
Uganda (audiovisual and photographic collection - private)
2005 June/2005 - Ethnomusicological Fieldwork among the Wasamba of North Tanzania
(audiovisual and photographic collection - private)
2005 July/2005 - Ethnomusicological Fieldwork among the Digo and Giriama of the Coastal
Regions of Kenya (audiovisual and photographic collection - private)
2006 July/August/2006 - Musikethnologische Forschung in Nordäthiopien (Teffera/2006:
private collection)
INTERVIEWS: RADIO, TELEVISION
1993 Ethiopian Television (ETV), 120-Cultural Program – “Music & Culture in Ethiopia and
Ethnomusicology” (Interviewer: Solomon…); Language: Amharic
1997 Ethiopian Television (ETV), 120-Cultural Program – “Ethiopian Music Culture and
Ethnomusicology” (Interviewer: Solomon…); Language: Amharic
2000 Radio Fana, Ethiopia “Tradition and Music; Preservation and Dissemination of Musical
Heritages; Archival Problems in Ethiopia” (Interviewer: Mahdere…); Language: Amharic
2004 Deutsche Welle Interview – “Ethiopian Music Culture” (Interviewer: Selome Desta)
Language: Amharic
2004 Deutsche Welle Interview – On the Occasion of Girma Yifrashewa’s Concert in Berlin;
Topic: “Ethiopian Music Culture and Ethiopian Music in the Diaspora” (Interviewer:
Selome Desta); Language: Amharic
2004 Deutsche Welle Interview – For the Occasion of the 100th Diplomatic Relationship
between Germany and Ethiopia; Topics: Ethiopian Music Cultures; Preservation of
Cultural Heritages; Historical Music Collections of Ethiopia in Germany and Ethiopia”
(Interviewer: Yilma …); Language: Amharic
2005 Ethiopian Television Interview in “Meet ETV”– Programm; February/2005, Addis Abeba
Ethiopia – Topic: “East African Journey; Ethnomusicology; Traditional Ethiopian Music
and its State of Research” (Interviewer: Teffera Gedamu); Language: English
2005 Ethiopia Radio Interview – Entertainment Programme/Sunndays; February/2005, Topic:
“Ethiopian Traditional Music” (Interviewer: Yeinatfanta…); Language: Amharic
2005 Ethiopian Radio Interview – July/2005, Addis Abeba Ethiopia – Topic: Result of East
African Research Journey; Ethnomusicology; Ethiopian Music Cultures etc. (Dejene
Tiruneh); Language: Amharic
2006 FM Radio Addis Abeba, Äthiopien – Juli/2005; Thema: Musical Landscapes in
Ethiopia (Interviewer: Mimi Sebhatu), Language: Amharic
2006 Deutsche Welle Interview – “Traditional Music Making among the Bertha, Ari and Male
People of West- and South Ethiopia; Ethnomusicology; Ethiopian old Wax Cylinders;
…etc. (Interviewer: Azeb Tadesse), Language: Amharic
2006 Deutsche Welle Interview – “Traditional Music Making among the Bertha, Ari and Male
People of West- and South Ethiopia; Ethnomusicology; Ethiopian old Wax Cylinders”
(Interviewer: Azeb Tadesse); Language: English
2006 Orange Radio 94.0: Interview “The Mozart Year from an African Perspective”
(Interviewer: Karim Duarte); Language: German
2007 Deutsche Welle Interview – “Ethiopian Millennium”, September/2007
(Interviewer: Yilma), Language: Amahric
2007 Negarit Radio Washington D.C. Interview – „Musicethnology and related issues”;
(Interviewer: Tsehaye Debalq); Language: Amharic
2008 Deutsche Welle Interview – “Sharing Ethnomusicological Fieldwork Experiences: East
African Research“; Part I and II (Interviewer: Azeb Tadesse); October/November;
Language: Amharic
2008 Deutsche Welle Interview – “Modern Music in Ethiopia: Emergence and Development “;
Part I and II (Interviewer: Azeb Tadesse); November/December; Language: Amharic
INTERVIEWS: NEWSPAPERS
2005 “Reporter” Daily Newspaper in Amharic language: Topic: “Ye Misraq Afrika Yetinfash
Mesaria Beityopiyawit” [East African Blowing Instruments collected by an Ethiopian
Ethnomusicologist?] Megabit 17/1997 (Ethiopian Calendar); March/2005 Europiean
Calendar; Addis Abeba.
2005 “Reporter” Weekly Newspaper in Amharic language: Topic: Africa Ye tinfash Mesaria
Ahgur?[Africa: A Continent of Blowing Instruments?]; Miazia 09/1997 (Ethiopian Calendar);
April/2005 Europiean Calendar; Addis Abeba.
2005 “Addis Zemen” Daily Newspaper in Amharic language: Topic: “Kine Tibeb” [“Art”];
Hamle 12/1997 (Ethiopian Calendar); July/2005 Europiean Calendar; Addis Abeba.