5 min
Interview
A meeting with Alemu Aga and his begena lyre
An English-language broadcast meeting in which Alemu Aga plays the begena and speaks about the instrument.
About the artist
Alemu Aga
Ethiopian musician born in Addis Ababa in 1950 and a leading living master of the begena, the ten-stringed lyre known as the harp of David. In the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo tradition the begena is reserved entirely for sacred use, played for prayer and meditation and never for entertainment. He sings his prayers and poetry barely above a whisper, drawing on the Amharic hymnbook of the theologian Admassu Jembere, and he kept the instrument alive through the years the Derg banned it.
Upcoming events
Meet Alemu Aga in person.
Talks, day programmes and retreats currently listed in the Paths Are Many calendar.
No upcoming events are currently listed.
Talks & videos
Watch before you attend.
Short introductions and longer conversations, to hear this artist in their own words.
13 min
Documentary
The Harp of King David: a portrait of Alemu Aga
A filmed portrait of Alemu Aga with his ten-stringed begena, shot in Ethiopia by Vincent Moon.
Path
The wider context.
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Prayer & contemplation
Christian mysticism
Silence, prayer and direct experience within the mystical traditions of Christianity.
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