Music

Under this title, all sorts of recorded Blin songs and music are presented. Some of the traditional and modern Blin singers and musicians are also introduced. Traditional Blin songs and dances include poetic performances called chefera (or hlay), wesomia, sissiit, golya-welila, and the occasional celebratory performances like älelewo-welelewo (during wedding), and berij (adult male's sword performance). Almost all of them are accompanied by the drum, kelembura, the playing of which is a female role in Blin society. Since the 1950s, sissiit is also accompanied by a harmonica, famfam, also called mandika (etc). While this is still the order of the day in the rural areas, the younger generations artists have been transforming the traditional performances and music, nowadays also using musical instruments like guitar, organ and kirar to accompany their songs. These were all folk dances not available to the market before the independence in 1991. However, since 2000's, many Blin artists, both in Eritrea and abroad, have been producing cassettes, CDs and DVDs for an un-satiated market with collaborative prices both in Eritrea and abroad.

It was during the mid-1960s that Blin dance songs, accompanied by the drum, started to be recorded for the first time. One of such songs is called wenajelderi, which means,you (girl) who is swaying in dance . This sissit dance song was sang by a folk dance group, representing the Blin people at the annual music festival at Addis Ababa, during the Ethiopian occupation time. The song leader of the group was one of the popular Blin singers of that time, called Amleset Ogbamariam (Mss.). Another poetic song of chefera, accompanied by the drum, by the popular chefera singer, Mr. Abrehe Ammar, was recorded for the first time in 1974. After that time, Blin singers like Mss. Mehret Zerehannes, Mss. Hajjayit Mindal and others joined the revolution, and their revolution inspired Blin songs, which were accompanied by modern instruments was recorded for the first time around 1977-78. The Blin Language Forum needs the cooperation of all people, and especially, Blin singers and musicians on collecting and providing this website with both old and new recorded Blin songs and music, so that it can be preserved and provided to the public online.

BLIN SINGERS AND MUSICIANS

Dafla Itman 1915-1997: Poems Ynaderi Fitret: 1 2 3	Amleset Uqbamariam Song-Wenajelderi-1964	Abrehe Ammar:Chefera:1974 lxa sabur kebtela: 1 2
Mehret Zerehans(1977) Blin Sisiit, Golia & Wosomia	Mehret Zerehans(1978-79) Selam Akhro Kumodai	Hajayit Mindal
Mehret Zerehans Bukwana Asteruxw	Habtat Zerezghi lilora	Mohamed Affa Wo blina keren Jirafiori
Alamin Hasebela Entigra Eritrea	Melekin Atombes Gewraxr kesherdaxr	Fatna Ibrahim Chmbwitxun
Yonas Menghistu Menderina greri	Elias Mesmer Gset kabr shakhreri	Solomon Yohannes Shugtamitaxw
Medhanie Habtu Hnbginxa hnbeli	Melake Tewolde Shixaruld shixardi milmli	Andom Tekie Alelewo wolelewo
The two Sisters Yirgalem & SaraTeklesenbet Wesomia	Yirgealem Teclesenbet Kelebrile wo yma	Sara Teclesenbet Sefelal
Naseh Habtom Lishka	Temano W. Hizbay Sherifa	Kidane Tesfu Lula tamitreri