This coming Wednesday at 8pm, the Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank will host one of its more obscure events; “An Evening of Ethiopian Poetry”.
During the spectacle, readings will be heard from Songs We Learn from Trees, a ground-breaking piece, in that it is described as “the first ever anthology of Amharic poetry translated to English”.
The anthology delves deep into Ethiopian folklore, antiquity, religion, among many other topics which surround a nation with such a rich history and future – it being one of the few nations in Africa to have never been colonised.
On the 4th of May, many will get to experience these previously Amharic poems translated into English. It is proving to be popular amongst audiences, as it sold out in a short space of time; proving the enthusiasm that surrounds such an intriguing cultural event.
The anthology remains a study of Ethiopian heritage, and is an excellent commentary on the nation’s background and current issues. It features a wide array of both past and contemporary poets from Ethiopia.
According to the Southbank Centre’s web page, the line-up is set to include “Alemu Tebeje and Chris Beckett, the poets who translated and edited Songs We Learn from Trees, along with some of the writers featured in the anthology”.
