Tewfiq Yusuf

Menzuma is an Ethiopian Islamic devotional singing tradition centered on poetic praise and moral instruction. It is performed in Amharic, Harari, Oromo (Afaan Oromo), and sometimes Arabic, drawing on local Ethiopian melodic systems while adhering to the rhetorical cadence of Islamic praise poetry. Typically led by a solo chanter with a responsive chorus, menzuma features strong unison delivery, handclaps, and frame-drum (duff) accompaniment. Performances are common during Mawlid (the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday), religious gatherings, weddings in Muslim communities, and community festivals, serving both spiritual reflection and communal cohesion.