Customer Reviews

A Modern Translation of the Kebra Nagast: (The Glory of Kings)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a lover of biblical legends and a peripatetic scholar in the subject area, I encountered a copy of the "Kebra Nagast" while following some thoughts on the travels of the Ark of the Covenant. I have suspected that the Ark had made its way to Ethiopia some time in Israel's history. This was the thesis of Graham Hancock in "The Sign and the Seal," and I expected "The Glory of Kings" to reaffirm that belief. As is often the case with this sort of literature: it does and it doesn't.

Set down some time in the 11th Century, the "Kebra Nagast" is the history of the Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon, the birth of her son and the eventual removal of the Ark to Ethiopia. It is a remarkable document that shifts from testament style writing to Gnostic Christianity repeatedly. Its aim is to prove that the line of Ethiopian Kings is heir to the throne of David. This is certainly a possibility since there has been a significant Jewish presence (currently referred to as the Falashas) in Ethiopia for several thousand years.

There are several things to keep under consideration while reading the "Kebra Nagast" story of the travels of the Ark. The chiefest of these is that the "Kebra Nagast" was set down during a period of extreme turmoil in Ethiopian history. This was a time when Jewish and Christian and Moslem forces were vying for power, and the "Kebra Nagast" was of vital importance in establishing the legitimacy of the line of Kings that was eventually to include Haile Selassie. As such its real focus was on who was the rightful King of Ethiopia, and the story of the Ark is really an evidentiary tale.

Secondly, the "Kebra Nagast" is an effort to explain why the Falashas, who brought the Ark into Ethiopia, had lost control of it. Unfortunately, 'The Glory of Kings' explains this as the result of the horrific sinfulness of the Jews. Written at a time when there was little sympathy for Jewry, the story has strongly anti-Jewish sentiments. I don't believe that this is true in modern Ethiopia, but it may make many readers quite uncomfortable with the text.

I mean no disrespect. The "Kebra Nagast" is an important text for members of the Rastafarians and should be treated with the same honor one would give to the sacred writings of any other group. The books mix of mysticism and explanation is a fascinating insight into the Medieval world in places other than Europe, and should help to convince many that culture was alive and well in many places that we often label otherwise.

Whether you decide to believe the "Kebra Nagast" instead of one of the other legends of the Ark is a personal decision. But I think this document contains much that would interest all those who seek more information on the Ark and its related legends, as well as the stories of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The quality of the translation is excellent. Also provided are two informative sections on the history of Ethiopia and to the Falasha themselves.

I do not want to comment on the truthfulness of the extraordinary medieval African text that appears in this book. The wonderful Kebra Nagast is a document that should be known and studied far more widely than it currently is. It is unfortunate, then, that this important text should be spoiled for so many readers by this extremely problematic edition by Brooks. First, Brooks' edition is not a new "modern translation"--the entire text is directly taken from Sir Wallis Budge's translation of 1922. Budge's translation is quite beautiful, but this is not due to Brooks. Further, Brooks' claim that his is a new translation may prevent a true new translation from being done from the actual African text (instead of from very problematic European translations in English and German). Such a true translation is long overdue. Second, Brooks' introduction has a number of factual inaccuracies, especially about when and where it appeared in Europe. He can argue what he wants and should, but to do some from errors is disrespectful of this important text. If you are interested in a real history of the Kebra Nagast, see Munro Stuary-Hay's last book, on the ark of the covenant. Ethiopia's extraordinary history, its important role in global history, and its magnificent texts have been ignored for too long to be treated in the cavalier fashion of this "translation". The only reason I give this edition three stars instead of one is because no other translation is easily available in print in English, although a free version of the entire Budge translation is in pdf on the web somewhere.

I must confess to owning two copies of Wallis Budge's translation, and therefore my review may be colored or spoiled by previous contact. It must be noted that Dr Brooks used a Spanish translation from the Ethiopian Ge'ez as his starting point, and there are several lacunae and editorial lapses in this edition. It was also noticeable that Dr Brooks apparently believes the claims in the original and advances scarcely-disguised notions of Africanist superiority, which would be rightly termed racialism as it had been with Budge's British Imperial conceits. The assertions in the editorial review above are noticeably absolute and categorical, despite the legend which it relates, and which may be found in differing versions within Ethiopia itself.

Three cheers for Miguel Brooks for making available for English readers this text of classic Ethiopian History/mythology. This is an interesting account of the great love affair of Solomon and Sheba and the rise of their son King Menelik I.

Overall, it makes for a good read. Biblical lore is mixed with Ethiopian history and legends.

This is an important work, since Ancient African Mythology (aside from that of Egypt) are so litttle-known in the west. This holds up quite well even without comparisons to Greek Mythology and other European Epics.

This, the Egyptian Tale of Two Brothers, and the Sundiata Epic are the best Ancient African Epics I've read (so far). When John Hunwick's translation of the Tarikh Es Sudan is available at a lower price, I'll be on the hunt for that too!

I found this book enlightening, in the depth of it's content,history and spirituality. I particularly enjoyed the easy flow of the narration into the lives of Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, and King David II.The degree to which the Ark of the Covenant, the community's direct connection to the Creator, is the all consuming force of cohesion,worship,and well being of the people and the devastation that comes after it's loss, due to sin and complacency. I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone interested in following the spiritual path.

I HAVE READ THIS BOOK, AND THERE IS NOTHING I WOULD SAY TO DISCREDIT IT, AS IT WILL ULTIMATELY BE HELPFUL TO SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO SETTLE FOR SECOND BEST. I CAN SAY THIS AS A PERSON WHO HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE ORIGINAL VERSION IN ENGLISH TWICE, ONE OF THE TWO WHICH THE BOY lord napier STOLE FROM ETHIOPIA.THIS MODERN VERSION IS THE SKELETOL REMAINS OF THE ORIGINAL, AND IS PORTRAYED IN A MORE ACADEMIC FORM WITH ALL THE ALLEGE MYTHS AND LEGENDS REMOVED, NO DOUBT THIS IS WAY THE AUTHOR WANTED TO WRITE IT. I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THE ORIGINAL WITH ALL IT'S MYTHS AND LEGENDS IS SWEETER THAN HONEY, ALSO TO ME IT IS THE SWEETEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ AND MY LIFE HAS BEEN ENRICHED HAVING READ IT .

InI read this book twice it is very informative and is translated beautifully, for a clear and precise account of this Glorious history this is a must READ book.