Qene (Amharic: ቅኔ, romanized: qəne) is a genre of improvised oral poetry from Ethiopia.[1] The genre originates in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which historically provided traditional religious education, including the composition of qene.[2] Its origins are supposed to date back to the 14th century.[3]
The defining characteristic of qene is a literary device known as sem-ena-werq (Amharic: ሰምና ወርቅ, romanized: säməna wärq; “wax and gold”), which uses ambiguity to layer hidden meanings within the text; the term refers to an obvious meaning (the wax) above a deeper meaning (the gold).[4][2] In the process of goldsmithing, a clay cast is made around wax, after which the wax is drained and molten gold is poured into the cast.[4] This device is similar to a double entendre, and is predicated on multiple meanings of individual words or sentences.[1]
Wista weiraedit
Wista weira (Amharic: ውስጥ ወይራ, romanized: wəsṭə wäyra; “inside the olive”) is a literary device similar to sem-ena-werq, though less common. While it also uses ambiguity to provide hidden meanings, its ambiguity comes from interpretation of the qene as a whole, rather than words or sentences.[1]
Historyedit
Origin claimsedit
Tradition credits its invention to Tawanay of Gojjam, who is said to have lived in the 14th century and founded the famous Qene school of Gonj.[5][3] Other tradition claims further back to Yared, a 6th-century Aksumite composer.[6]
Earliest documentationedit
The earliest specimens of qene extant date back to the late 15th century to the reign of Emperor Eskender (1478–94).[3]
Qene schoolsedit
Qene has always been associated with Amhara culture and people, although it was originally composed in Ge'ez.[3] The main qene schools have always been located in Amhara areas, such as Gonj and Washara monasteries in Gojjam, at Gondar town in Begemder, Sayint in Wollo and Wadla monastery in Lasta.[3][7] The rules and style of qene were historically taught as part of religious education in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, in the level of schooling known as qene bet (“house of poetry”).[1]
Sem-ena-werq in religious qene represents the dualism of Miaphysite Christianity, such as that of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.[2] These poems were composed for religious events and church activities.[8][6] Secular qene was historically used to subtly insult and criticize those in positions of authority.[1]
^ abcdeBinns, John (2013). "Out of Ethiopia: A Different Way of Doing Theology". International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church. 13 (1): 33–47. doi:10.1080/1474225X.2012.754137. S2CID 144844015.
^ abcGirma, Mohammed (2011). "Whose Meaning? The Wax and Gold Tradition as a Philosophical Foundation for an Ethiopian Hermeneutic". SOPHIA. 50 (50): 175–187. doi:10.1007/s11841-010-0201-9. S2CID 154810755.
^ abcdeLevine, Donald N. (1965). Wax & gold : tradition and innovation in Ethiopian culture. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 8. LCCN 65018340.
^ abLevine, Donald N. (1965). Wax & gold : tradition and innovation in Ethiopian culture. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 5. LCCN 65018340.
^Hopfmann, Jurgen (1992). Altäthiopische Volksweisheiten im historischen Gewand: Legenden, Geschichten, Philosophien. p. 82-85. ISBN9783631449240. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ abMolvaer, R.K. (2012). "Ethiopia, Poetry of". In Greene, Roland; Cushman, Stephen; Cavanagh, Clare; Ramazani, Jahan; Rouzer, Paul F. (eds.). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics (4th ed.). Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 462. ISBN9781400841424. OCLC 811002342.
^Greene, Ronald; Cushman, Stephen; Cavanagh, Clare; Ramazani, Jahan; Rouzer, Paul F (2012). The Princeton encyclopedia of poetry and poetics. p. 462. ISBN9781400841424. OCLC 811002342. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |work= ignored (help)
^Haile, Getatchew (2006). "Amharic Poetry of the Ethiopian Diaspora in America: A Sampler". Diaspora: A Journal of Transnational Studies. 15 (2/3): 321–339. doi:10.1353/dsp.2011.0069. S2CID 145180381.
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qene, amharic, ቅኔ, romanized, qəne, genre, improvised, oral, poetry, from, ethiopia, genre, originates, ethiopian, orthodox, tewahedo, church, which, historically, provided, traditional, religious, education, including, composition, qene, origins, supposed, da. Qene Amharic ቅኔ romanized qene is a genre of improvised oral poetry from Ethiopia 1 The genre originates in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church which historically provided traditional religious education including the composition of qene 2 Its origins are supposed to date back to the 14th century 3 Contents 1 Elements 1 1 Sam ena warq 1 2 Wista weira 2 History 2 1 Origin claims 2 2 Earliest documentation 2 3 Qene schools 3 Themes 4 See also 5 ReferencesElements editSam ena warq edit The defining characteristic of qene is a literary device known as sem ena werq Amharic ሰምና ወርቅ romanized samena warq wax and gold which uses ambiguity to layer hidden meanings within the text the term refers to an obvious meaning the wax above a deeper meaning the gold 4 2 In the process of goldsmithing a clay cast is made around wax after which the wax is drained and molten gold is poured into the cast 4 This device is similar to a double entendre and is predicated on multiple meanings of individual words or sentences 1 Wista weira edit Wista weira Amharic ውስጥ ወይራ romanized wesṭe wayra inside the olive is a literary device similar to sem ena werq though less common While it also uses ambiguity to provide hidden meanings its ambiguity comes from interpretation of the qene as a whole rather than words or sentences 1 History editOrigin claims edit Tradition credits its invention to Tawanay of Gojjam who is said to have lived in the 14th century and founded the famous Qene school of Gonj 5 3 Other tradition claims further back to Yared a 6th century Aksumite composer 6 Earliest documentation edit The earliest specimens of qene extant date back to the late 15th century to the reign of Emperor Eskender 1478 94 3 Qene schools edit Qene has always been associated with Amhara culture and people although it was originally composed in Ge ez 3 The main qene schools have always been located in Amhara areas such as Gonj and Washara monasteries in Gojjam at Gondar town in Begemder Sayint in Wollo and Wadla monastery in Lasta 3 7 The rules and style of qene were historically taught as part of religious education in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the level of schooling known as qene bet house of poetry 1 Well known modern Ethiopian poets include Tsegaye Gabre Medhin Kebede Michael and Mengistu Lemma Themes editSem ena werq in religious qene represents the dualism of Miaphysite Christianity such as that of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church 2 These poems were composed for religious events and church activities 8 6 Secular qene was historically used to subtly insult and criticize those in positions of authority 1 See also editEthiopian literatureReferences edit a b c d e Binns John 2013 Out of Ethiopia A Different Way of Doing Theology International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church 13 1 33 47 doi 10 1080 1474225X 2012 754137 S2CID 144844015 a b c Girma Mohammed 2011 Whose Meaning The Wax and Gold Tradition as a Philosophical Foundation for an Ethiopian Hermeneutic SOPHIA 50 50 175 187 doi 10 1007 s11841 010 0201 9 S2CID 154810755 a b c d e Levine Donald N 1965 Wax amp gold tradition and innovation in Ethiopian culture Chicago University of Chicago Press p 8 LCCN 65018340 a b Levine Donald N 1965 Wax amp gold tradition and innovation in Ethiopian culture Chicago University of Chicago Press p 5 LCCN 65018340 Hopfmann Jurgen 1992 Altathiopische Volksweisheiten im historischen Gewand Legenden Geschichten Philosophien p 82 85 ISBN 9783631449240 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help a b Molvaer R K 2012 Ethiopia Poetry of In Greene Roland Cushman Stephen Cavanagh Clare Ramazani Jahan Rouzer Paul F eds The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics 4th ed Princeton Princeton University Press p 462 ISBN 9781400841424 OCLC 811002342 Greene Ronald Cushman Stephen Cavanagh Clare Ramazani Jahan Rouzer Paul F 2012 The Princeton encyclopedia of poetry and poetics p 462 ISBN 9781400841424 OCLC 811002342 a href Template Cite encyclopedia html title Template Cite encyclopedia cite encyclopedia a work ignored help Haile Getatchew 2006 Amharic Poetry of the Ethiopian Diaspora in America A Sampler Diaspora A Journal of Transnational Studies 15 2 3 321 339 doi 10 1353 dsp 2011 0069 S2CID 145180381 nbsp This Ethiopia related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Qene amp oldid 1144375126, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
