Begena Begenaye
A film in progress by @i_rusalem and @melketsadek.
We started this journey in search of finding a begena instructor for my partner and co-director Eyerusalem. What we found were kindred spirits at various levels of proficiency who were just as passionate and exploring the instrument from their own perspective. As we collected their individual stories and their connection to the lineage of players before them, we started to realize how much was lost to time. This brought into perspective the importance of documenting what remains for the generations to come.
As the Begena was passed down through many generations from master to pupil, we hope this film could serve as a forum for inter-generational discourse around the Begena in the context of African musical traditions, folklore, spirituality, religion, history, poetry, art, science, and the wisdom of Ethiopian mystics past and present.