The first permanent military band in the country took the form of the Imperial Bodyguard Band (Kibur Zebegna) of the Ethiopian Empire, being formed in 1929 under Swiss conductor Andre Nicod. It originally consisted of just over a dozen chosen slaves from Welega.[4] It was the first African nation to implement western style military music conventions.[5] In 1943, the Ground Force Music Department was founded upon the order of the Minister for War, RasAbebe Aregai, after Emperor Haile Selassie return from exile in England two years prior.[6] It initially consisted of 65 members, with Alemu Wolde Selassie and Agop Nalbandian (An ethnic Armenian, who was the brother of Arba Lijoch Fanfare bandleader Kevork Nalbandian[7]) serving as instructors.[6] It consisted of four sub-units:
The army band parading in March 1934.
Marching Band
Orchestra and Theatre
Symphony Music
Music Training
Like the Imperial Bodyguard Band, the band has trained musicians of the Ethiopian Police Band, as well as the Bands of the 2nd and 3rd Army Divisions in Asmara and Harar respectively.[7]
Modern era
It came under the direct command of the Derg in the 70s and went into its current form in 1991.[8] It received assistance from the British Royal Corps of Army Music, most recently between 2007-2012.[9][10]
Duties
Since its inception, the Ground Force Band, and now the ENDF Band, has been brought out to perform music on various events, such as state visits, official holidays, and state funerals. The band has itself trained the Tigray and Somalimarching bands.[11]
^Kidane, Birhane (1993). The Origin and Development of the Imperial Guard Band (1924-1974). B.A. Thesis, Department of History, Addis Ababa University.
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