The purpose of this article is to explore African form of indigenous mass communication with emphasis on
Ethiopian indigenous form mass communication institutions, tools, manuscripts, and regulatory bodies. The
method employed for this study is qualitative. First hand documents, tools and observation were considered as
sources of primary data. Furthermore, pertinent literatures were reviewed. The data was analyzed qualitatively
where description of the responses on the bases of themes was given emphasis. The finding of this study argued
that drum beating, horn blowing and town crying are a form of mass communications in the ancient time. In the
ancient time news in Africa was first made public from the tower in the center, squares of the city, palace main
stairs, market and church. Town Criers, Azmari and shepherds were the journalists and the essential news
presenter in ancient times. In the same manner, Afe Negus (mouth of the King) and Tsehafe Tezaze (Minister of
Pen) was originally indigenous information regulatory bodies of the empire regime. This research discovered the
oldest African news paper in Ethiopia a news sheet entitled Zena mewale (Daily News) and the first written news
story inscriptions of king Ezana are the first type of African news, which dates back to 320 A.D. Zena mewale is
believed to be the first handmade press so far known in Africa for 700 years. This confirmed that Ethiopia has
3000 years of indigenous form of oral mass communication and handmade press history in Africa.
Keywords: Africa-Ethiopia. Forms of indigenous mass communication, Indigenous mass communication, Tools
of traditional mass communication.
http://www.apcjss.com/publication-show/2020/July/91/3230

Ayele Addis Ambelu