Biruktawit Tasew's fingers glide over the strings of the begena, producing a deep, hypnotic sound. Along with six fellow ...

One of the country's oldest instruments, the begena was once reserved for the elite - and effectively banned during the ...

Resembling a harp or a large lyre, trapezium-shaped and about a metre ... He was not immediately convinced: "I found it smelled bad since some parts come from sheep," he said.

With Greek roots, the name means "harp player" and is closely tied to the legendary lyre of Orpheus, whose music was said to enchant all who heard it. In honor of this mythical instrument ...