Voicing the Mystery

This volume presents a new study of Qǝne, the extemporaneous sacred oral poetry of the Ethiopian and Eritrean Täwaḥǝdo churches. It discusses the technique of “Wax and Gold” used to compose Qǝne through which poets construct multilayered meaning using complex grammatical structures, polysemous vocabulary, and oblique allusions to texts and customs. The Introduction outlines the history of the Qǝne tradition, its liturgical function, and the challenges involved in understanding its multiple layers of meaning, and it provides a detailed account of the translation method developed for this study. Aimed at both scholars of the Täwaḥǝdo tradition and a wider audience, this book exposes readers to an ancient poetic practice previously inaccessible without a comprehensive knowledge of Gǝʿǝz. The book introduces the new approach of Integrative Translation: each poem is presented through paired Plain and Poetic translations, enabling readers to perceive the branching meanings of the original Gǝʿǝz text and the diverse connections they evoke. A selection of fifteen qǝne poems is included, drawn from published collections compiled by notable traditional scholars of the churches, each featuring the Gǝʿǝz text and paired translations on facing pages.Extensive annotations guide readers through the interpretive world in which Qǝne is composed, tracing the scriptural, liturgical, exegetical, hagiographical, and cultural sources that shape the tradition and illuminate the multiple meanings embedded in each poem. A Glossary also explains key terms and concepts. This is the first volume to make the Qǝne tradition accessible in English while preserving the distinctive multilayered character of the poetry.