D. Nosnitsin

ETHIOPIAN MANUSCRIPTS AND ETHIOPIAN MANUSCRIPT STUDIES

A BRIEF OVERVIEW AND EVALUATION

In recent years, in the context of developing disciplines studying the medieval manuscript tradition, and a growing interest in Oriental and African manu¬ script cultures, Ethiopian manuscript studies are beginning to take on a new momentum. As a result, several publications summarizing the available knowl¬ edge, current bibliography and state of the field have recently appeared (see A. Bausi, "La tradizione scrittoria etiopica", Segno e testo 6, 2008, pp. 507-557; v. "Manuscripts", in: S. Uhlig [ed.], Encyclopaedia Aethiopica, vol. Ill: He-N , Wiesbaden 2007, pp. 738-752; esp. Fäqadä Sellase Tâfàrra, Tentawi yäbranna mäsaheft azzägäjajät , "The Ancient Way of Preparing Parchment Books", Addis Abäba 2002 E.C. = 2010 A.D., in Amharic). To avoid repetitions and generalities, I will first give a brief overview of Ethiopian manuscript culture, and then sum¬ marize my point of view on the current state of affairs and the outstanding tasks in the field of Ethiopian manuscript studies. The discussion below is devoted only to the book tradition of Christian Ethiopia.

History

In sub-Saharan Africa, Ethiopia is exceptional in that it had its own written tradition — in Gé'éz* (Ethiopie, Old Ethiopie), an indigenous Semitic language — from a very early period, while Ethiopian Christian literature in Ge ' ez is unique in terms of quantity and quality of the works. Writing existed in Ethiopia long before the production of literature and manuscripts, and left traces in the form of epigraphic monuments. The introduction of Christianity as the state reli¬ gion around the second quarter of the 4th century A.D. created a new situa¬ tion. It is commonly assumed that the requirements of the new religion caused a "reform" of the writing system (introduction of a graphic means for representing the vowels), the use of new materials for writing, and the adoption and further development of book-making techniques.

Gazette du livre médiéval, n° 58 — 2012, fase. 1.