Arts, Entertainment & Role Models

Sunday, 10 October 2010 19:10

Written by EritreaCompass

Asmara Music School

Asmara Music School has its roots in the Eritrean liberation struggle. Before Eritrea's independence from Ethiopian colonization, there was neither formal musical education nor the institutions that carry out such activity. So the school is the first of its kind in Eritrea in regard to the variety of instrumental tuitions it provides and scope of its mission. AMS's aim is to produce musicians who would be capable of preserving and enhancing our indigenous music to serve individual and societal as well as national purposes with creative and informed capacity.

Since its formal inception in 1985 the music school has been providing music training with the span of few months to 5 years, and has graduated over 700 people with different levels ranging from certificate to diploma. Most of the important musicians in Eritrea, including music teachers, were once part of AMS's and its predecessor's training programs.

Arts, Entertainment & Role Models - Music

Tuesday, 15 June 2010 15:12

Written by EritreaCompass

Luam Thomas, Ryerson University, 
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The Role of Music in the Eritrean Struggle for Independence

Music playing a vital role in the Eritrean Struggle for Independence is not only recognized by Eritreans ourselves but also well documented by foreign authors and institutions: “used as part of the armory of resistance by the liberation forces” (Boon and Plastow, 1998, p. 37). Traditionally, Eritrean music consisted of group singing, and clapping, in a harmonious choir of mass participation, accompanied by Keberos (drums) and at times by the Kirar (5‐stringed Eritrean instrument), Embilta and Chirawata.