Songs for the Emperor

Songs honouring the Emperor of Ethiopia, the Lion of Judah, His Imperial Majesty, Q채damawi Haile Selassie!

First the songs were written from poets of the court of His Imperial Majesty Q채damawi Haile Selassie, but were spread rapidly throuhout the public in 1944 after His Return from Britain.

These songs were first published in German by Murat Kamil in the book "Amharische Kaiserlieder-Abhandlung f체r die Kunde des Morgendlandes", 1957. Kamil was present at the Earthday Celebrations 1952 and 1953 in Addis Abeba, when school children present them. translated by Ihimahnhuwehlh Ihi and Jochanan Fey

I 1

The Emperor was born, to redeem the world.

He changed the curse into a blessing; He redeemed Eve1 from the prison: She has become a great lady with a silkened umbrella.

If you haven`t been born, O our Redeemer, so our paradisiacal country wouln`t have found another.

So let us celebrate this day, as for us the sun of the whole world has arisen.

The Army of Herod hated his birth: the wrongdoer do not love the Light.

If you haven`t been born, O our Redeemer, so our paradisiacal country wouln`t have found another.

2

People, let us celebrate this day of Salvation!

Through the birth of the Emperor the world is redeemed; thereto we sing beautiful songs, which tastes sweeter than honey and sugar.

If you haven`t been born, O our Redeemer, so our paradisiacal country wouln`t have found another.

On the 16th day of the month of Hamle, the hope of Adam Kidana Mehrat2, for Ethiopia a light has shone: the darkness disappeared and the night became day.

If you haven`t been born, O our Redeemer, so our paradisiacal country wouln`t have found another.

3

II

My Light and my flower, how beautiful it is, to underwent, how currently my Redeemer was born.

As your son ( Ethiopia ) came out of the forest, the lion, the honour became yours, your gates became dreaded.

Precentor: How beautiful it is, to underwent, How currently my Redeemer was born.

Choir: My Light and my flower, As my eye has seen you, why should it see someone else!

Since a powerful union, has been granted to me and I have seen the light for me, death does not damage me and after life I do not desire.

Precentor: How beautiful it is, to underwent, How currently my Redeemer was born.

Choir: My Light and my flower, As my eye has seen you, why should it see someone else!

6

He saved us through His birth, He became our Redeemer, that we would not became subject to this evil enemy.

Precentor: How beautiful it is, to underwent, How currently my Redeemer was born.

Choir: My Light and my flower, As my eye has seen you, why should it see someone else!

The sun has arisen, today on the day of your birth, beautiful it is, to continue to live and to trust in God! Precentor: How beautiful it is, to underwent, How currently my Redeemer was born.

Choir: My Light and my flower, As my eye has seen you, why should it see someone else!

7

You, Lion of Judah, as your voice has been heared, your enemy slid away and fell because of fear.

Precentor: How beautiful it is, to underwent, How currently my Redeemer was born.

Choir: My Light and my flower, As my eye has seen you, why should it see someone else!

Your children have sung: Truly, forsooth, Hayla Sellasse is the Light of the World.

Precentor: How beautiful it is, to underwent, how currently my Redeemer was born.

Choir: My Light and my flower, As my eye has seen you, why should it see someone else!

8

Rejoice, rejoice all His peoples!

He has come, He is born, His word was no deception.

Precentor: How beautiful it is, to underwent, How currently my Redeemer was born.

Choir: My Light and my flower, As my eye has seen you, why should it see someone else!

9

III 11

Ethiopia was feared through His power3. and His heroism humiliated the enemy: Goodwill and peace is what our fortune brought, in the year 1884 (=1892 ).

What a fortune and what a prosperity it is, that our Redeemer was born today!

Through the seed of Makonnen the fear appeared to us, lest all hopes shall become for all creatures.

Coming from David, His reign was blooming, He was seen by everyone, prosperous and bearing fruit.

12

Where could now a such crop could be found, that man can sow in Hamle (Juli) and reap in Tekemt4 (November)

It was sowed in Hamle that it could ripe in Tekemt.

He was born und saved us from hunger and tribulation.

O Mother Ethiopia, live in happiness!

A brave Son, you have born, If there is a brave Son5, than no enemy will risk to be to near to the gate.

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IV

My Light, my Flower, how beautiful, that I experienced, how my Redeemer now was born!

Before a prophecy was already announced, that the Gospel would be preached and the Old Testament lowly respected, that the birth of the Lord would find a parable, He has approximated the birth of the Takel to her.

As God has predefined it, is the birth of the Abba Takel salvation for us, through the promulgation of the Gospel of the World-Saviour, was he born and was Ruler on the Throne of David.

16

To liberate His people from the yoke of the enemy, He kept the chalice of misery in His hand; and today through His resurrection, He became our first-born, as He united the day of resurrection6 with the day of birth.

17

V

He, that once was made for humanity at first, our hope for life and our salvation, during the times of the fathers He attituded invisible, He was unbosomed to us as glady message When He guided us out of the darkness into the light, His great wisdom wondered us keenly.

So that we do not remain devoured from the darkness, on this present day the Revealer of the light was born.

Because He wants us to ascend in the honorary hall, He revealted us the light, as He was born by the word.

When He guided us out of the darkness into the light, His great wisdom wondered us keenly.

20

After He was born; He saved us from great tribulation, there is nothing that would not have been taken place without Him Various kings honored His birthday, by coming assembled they testified Him veneration When He guided us out of the darkness into the light, his great wisdom wondered us keenly.

Let us praise the living God! As the light was revealed to us, we saw a man-shape. together united let us praise; because He has displaced the darkness, and the light appeared!

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VI

This present day is a birthday feast, our majestic Lion, the dreaded ruler He holds the reign from Salomo and His wisdom [and] the bliss fom Hiskia, to chase away the enemy.

You have not less bliss than Hiskia, to defeat the enemy you are still greater.

Children, let us celebrate this day of salvation: It is the birthday (of the) Emperor, the saviour of the world.

24

The Fatherland you have to love more than the mother; cause if you are ill, you do no care, where you sleep; when mother and father die you can wail in the house, [but] whom the fatherland died, where shall you wail for him?

When the fatherland and the country are well, it doesn't damage, when father and mother are dying.

You must honor his birthday high; because thus he was born, he saved us from misery.

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1

Here Eve stands for Ethiopia.

On the 16th of Hamle the Emperor was born as Redeemer of Ethiopia like on this day God has given Jeshuah through Maria as the Redeemer of the World 2

3

The meaning of Tafari is to be dreaded.

Hamle is the month, in wich the Emperor was born and Tekemt is the month, in which He was crowned.

4

5

Literally "He who wears the trousers", i.e. "masculine, manful".

6

Here, the resurrection of Ithiopia is meant.

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