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In Focus: Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
23.05.25 · Addis Ababa

In Focus: Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru

Focus on Emahoy Tsegue Maryam Guebrou

An hour of spellbinding solo piano recordings from one of the most fascinating musicians of the past century. Born Yewubdar Guèbrou in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, into an upper class family, she was classically trained in piano and violin, notably even performing for Emperor Haile Selassie.

She was invited to study at the Royal College of Music in London, but her admission was blocked by the Ethiopian government. Dismayed by this news, she turned to religion, becoming an Orthodox nun, taking the title "Emahoy" and changing to the religious name Tsegué Mariam.

She spent the rest of her years living out these holy orders, first in Addis, and eventually in Jerusalem, where she continued to write and record music – a truly singular style of piano composition, as indebted to the proto-ambience of Erik Satie as it is to the Ethiopian tradition.

This mix, selected by NTS, features recordings from "Church of Kidane Mehret", a new archival release from Mississippi Records, including previously unheard material.

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Tracklist

  • --:--
    Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru, Kate Molleson
    Excerpt From The Honky Tonk Nun, Interview On BBC Radio 4, 2017
  • 0:00:08
    Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    The Homeless Wanderer
  • 0:08:20
    Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    The Mad Man's Laughter
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  • Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    Song Of Abayi
  • Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    Ethiopia My Motherland
  • Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    Spring Ode
  • Emahoy Tsege-Mariam Gebru
    Aurora
  • Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    The Phantom
  • Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    Woigaye, Don’t Cry Anymore
  • Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    Jordan River Song
  • Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    Prayer for Peace. Ps. 122 (Kyrie Eleison)
  • Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    Reverie
  • Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    Tenkou! Why Feel Sorry?
  • Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    Evening Breeze
  • Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    The Storm
  • Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
    Mother's Love