The portrayal of COVID-19 in Ethiopian song lyrics

Abstract

The portrayal of COVID-19 in songs varies greatly depending on the artist. This study examined COVID-19 lyrics in songs in Amharic from the perspective of artistic communication. The songs are a form of emotional release that provides comfort and hope in difficult times. They raise awareness and educate Ethiopians about the importance of taking precautions, such as wearing masks and following social distancing guidelines. The songs intend to bring people together, strengthen communities, and instill a sense of solidarity. However, the study found that the portrayal of the pandemic in the lyrics is limited due to audience representation, framing, messages, cultural contextualization, and artistry. This leads to listeners misinterpreting multiple aspects of the pandemic. The analysis of the lyrics related to COVID-19 provides important insights into how the pandemic has been portrayed in the country’s cultural production.

Keywords:

• amharic
• COVID-19
• culture
• ethiopia
• framing
• lyrics
• message
• song

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

The portrayal of COVID-19 in lyrics varies greatly depending on the artist. This study examined COVID-19 lyrics in songs in Amharic from the perspective of artistic communication. The songs are a form of emotional release that provides comfort and hope in difficult times. They raise awareness and educate Ethiopians about the importance of taking precautions, such as wearing masks and following social distancing guidelines. They bring people together, strengthen communities, and instill a sense of solidarity. However, the study found that the representation of the pandemic in lyrics is limited due to audience representation, framing, messaging, cultural contextualization, and artistry. This leads to listeners misinterpreting the multiple aspects of the pandemic. The representation of COVID-19 in lyrics should reflect a wide range of human experiences and emotions, including fear, hope, loss, and resilience. Singers should sing about the multiple aspects of the pandemic and its impact on society.

Acknowledgments

I am very grateful to the reviewers of Cogent Arts and Humanities for helpful suggestions during the writing of this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Balew Demissie

Balew Demissie works at Addis Ababa University, College of Performing and Visual Arts, School of Theatre Arts. His teaching and research interests include Ethiopian and African literature, theater, film, art and culture, with a special interest in the sociology of Ethiopian and African literature. He received his Ph.D. and Master’s degree in literature with excellent research grades from Addis Ababa University. He completed his dissertation entitled “Social Issues in Contemporary Amharic Drama: A Sociological Approach” He was the Director of Public and International Relations at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. He was also one of the lead researchers and editor-in-chief of Ethiopia’s 15 years Education Roadmap. He is also now a communication and publication consultant at the Policy Studies Institute. With a bachelor’s degree in English, an M.A. and a Ph.D. in literature, he is a professional in education, communication, media production and research. He is also the author of scholarly books and articles.