Mahlete Gumaye

Mahlete Gumaye (Maḥəletä Gumayyä) is a brand name for an initiative, at least at the beginning, for cultural heritage documentation in Ethiopia’s Tǝgray; it is named after a title of a poem book, ማሕሌተ ጉማየ ወጀራያት (written in Rayya and Wäǧǧärat Tǝgrǝgna dialects) composed by Hagos Abrha Abay and Guraya Asadi Rayya; etymologically, the phrase is driven from two Gəʿəz words maḥəlet, from the verb ḥaläyä (lit. he sang, he produced melody) and means material or setting of a song/canticle; and Guma- yä (lit. my melody). Thus, Maḥəletä Gumayyä, among other things, means the ‘Setting of my Melody’. Maḥəlet is more connected with Orthodox Church chanting and with St Yared of Aksum the encyclopedic composer who was said to have lived at the beginning of the 6th CE and linked to various hagiographic and monastic traditions in Tǝgray and beyond. Gumayä, furthermore, is a name of a typical folksong in Southern and Southeastern Tǝgray (especially in Wäǧǧärat, Rayya, and Ǝndärta). In the short term, as a cultural initiative, Mahlete Gumaye (MG) is aimed at documenting, preserving, promoting, and researching the endangered and challenged indigenous cultural and heritage values of Tǝgray. Based on its long-term vision, with a geographical extension to some parts of East Africa, it is aimed at covering four thematic scopes: cultural heritage, environment, peace and conflict resolution, and education. MG was founded in August 2019 in Awdewur (ʿAwdäwur), an open-air wide barn in a jungle of wilderness between Rayya and Wäǧǧärat. The initiative coordinates an annual adventure tour and cultural conference; in the event, oral traditions, social performing folk arts, an exhibition of material culture, etc. are performed and presented. The 1st and 2nd annual conferences were held in Awdewur while the 2nd and the 3rd conferences were in Frankfurt (Germany). The place for the 5th annual conference, which also covers scientific research presentations, is Stockholm (Sweden). Aesthetics and other home-grown life philosophies of the society are dealt with. MG is principally supported by the Tǝgrayan community around the world and more needs to collaborate with other interested local and international institutions.