Beyene Barku

Father's name: Barku Geshei

Mother's name: Bazuyah Yasek

Year of birth: 1942

Place of birth: Nazro Mariam, Lasta

Region in Ethiopia: Lasta

Main occupation in Ethiopia: Singer and farmer

The language of the interview: Amharic

Beyene Barku, nature, agriculture, herding sheep and cattle, singer, synagogue, Kes, wealth, produce, drought, politics, customs and traditions, journey, wedding, matchmaking, song, rhyme, events, playing music, flute, love, mediation, disputes, training, judge, court, Italians, Derg, Haile Selassie, Nazro Mariam, Lasta, Dibri Tekala Himanot, Talgi, Semien, Sudan, Semien Manata, Debarq, Israel, Jerusalem

Summary of the testimony:

Beyene describes his family tree, his village, and the local history. When he was a child, his family moved to the village “Dibri Tekala Himanot”, also known as Talgi. They made a living from farming, weaving, blacksmithing, and pottery. When he grew up, after refusing three marriage matches offered to him, Beneye found his bride and his firstborn son Alemiu was born.

Beneye demonstrates different types of singing, including songs sung when working in the fields, for weddings, for mourning, to raise spirits, love songs, and more. He relates how he was invited to sing at events. He would learn about the person celebrating in order to write a song in rhyme about him.

In 1965, following a drought in the province of Lasta, Beneye moved with his family to the village of Semien Manata, in the province of Semien. Beneye describes the journey between the provinces and the political and security climate of the time. The family worked in farming and herding sheep and cattle. Beneye and the members of his family, including his blind brother, used to plough the land with pairs of oxen. Beneye describes the process of training them. He also explains how the produce was divided between all members of the family. The family would buy products they needed at the market in exchange for produce from their field. He also describes the many synagogues and Kesim in the Jewish community, and the very good relationship the community had with their Christian neighbors. He also talks about the customs, traditions and social rules observed by the community – including sexual relations, the menstruation house, and the fact that women were forbidden to walk alone after sunset.

Beneye served as a mediator alongside his older brother. He describes the different stages of the mediation process and presents solutions that were standard at the time. He also gives examples of disputes he mediated, such as disputes about ownership of land and arguments between spouses. He also explains the hierarchy and reciprocity between the mediators and the courts.

When the wave of immigration to Israel via Sudan began, Beneye and his family sold almost all their belongings and set out for Sudan. They were forced to stop when the cattle they took with them were stolen. They backtracked, then continued via Debarq to Addis Ababa. From there, they immigrated to Israel.