Ethiopian Folktales

Voices of Ethiopiaየኢትዮጵያ ድምፆች

These tales were not only written down — they were told, and recorded in the storytellers' own voices. Most were told in Amharic, but many are in other languages of Ethiopia. Here you can listen to the collection in the tongues it lives in.

Languages represented: Amharic, Afaan Oromo, Afar, Anuak, Berta, Gumuz, Gurage, Harari, Kafa, Shinasha, Sidama / Wolaytta, Somali, an Omo Valley language. The recordings run on in sequence, much as they were gathered, and the precise language of each is being confirmed with the original collectors.

Amharic

From Amhara
From Amhara

Afaan Oromo

From Oromia
From Oromia
From Oromia
From Oromia

Afar

From Afar
From Afar
From Afar

Anuak

From Gambela
From Gambela
From Gambela
From Gambela

Berta

From Benishangul-Gumuz

Gumuz

From Benishangul-Gumuz

Gurage

From Gurage Zone

Harari

From Harar
From Harar

Kafa

From Kafa Zone

Shinasha

From Benishangul-Gumuz

Sidama / Wolaytta

From Sidama Zone
From Sidama Zone
From Sidama Zone
From Wolayita Zone
From Wolayita Zone
From Wolayita Zone

Somali

From Somalia
From Somalia

an Omo Valley language

From Omo Zone
From Omo Zone