Sacred Strings, Modern Healing: The Begena Finds New Purpose in Therapy

Music has a place in almost every aspect of the Human experience. Joy, tragedy, love, and even spiritual practice are accentuated by tones, melodies, and rhythm. Lately, one Ethiopian company has begun stretching the acoustic scope to therapeutic corners. Eman Begena has resurrected the ancient instrument of Begena, a string instrument etched in Ethiopia’s rich Orthodox Church tradition, for curative purposes.

Considered a derivative of the harp played by David to King Saul in the Bible, the Begena is a towering instrument often 1.5 meters long with a heavy tonal presence. The ten-string lyre is played during spiritual occasions and usually functions as the backdrop for chants in Ethiopia’s Orthodox churches. Ermias Haylay, the CEO of Eman Begena, uses the instrument to treat stress, insomnia, anxiety, dementia, and a host of psychological disorders. He also teaches others how to play the instrument online and sells Begenas to a mostly foreign customer base. While he is rarely seen in public without the instrument these days, Ermias took up the Begena upon the insistence of clerics at his church.

“I was not into it at first, but I quickly became obsessed,” Ermias told Shega.

The late-twenty-something artist who visits clinics, retirement centers, and nursing homes to offer his therapeutic services believes the healing secret lies in the way he plays the Begena. He says anyone can learn to play the instrument, but it requires a certain connection to evoke its therapeutic effects.

“Of course, the Begena’s tone dominates any other instrument,” Ermias says.” You still have to strike the strings with a certain brio.”

He explains how depending on the size of the Begena, the depth of the sound and its tonal quality changes. While his company is currently giving classes to thirty students, Ermias also travels to other countries to promote the instrument. He tailors the courses to customers' (mostly churches in other countries) requests.

“Most of our customers live abroad,” says the ambitious general manager. 

While the Company also offers other Ethiopian instruments like Masinqo and even holy books for sale, their Begena is what keeps the lights on. Several hundred customers have used their therapeutic offering over the past few years

Berket Tsegaye, a psychiatrist at St. Paul's Hospital, says he has seen several of his patients benefit from musical therapy over the years. He likens the effect of the Begena to ‘brain flossing’ of sorts, which stimulates happy hormones and calms the nervous system.

“ Even I benefit from it,” Bereket told Shega

He also noted a growing acceptance of musical therapy as an acceptable form of providing relief to patients suffering from a host of psychological disorders.

Recent research echoes a similar intuition as the relationship between mood regulation and music becomes better established. A 2022 review and meta-analysis of music therapy found an overall beneficial effect on stress-related outcomes. Another study published in 2017 found that a 30-minute music therapy session combined with traditional care after spinal surgery reduced pain more than prescription drugs.

While the use of Begena is certainly a novel introduction, analysis of available research signals the possibility of an untapped resource for musical therapy.