Alula kebede biography of michael

Ethiopian author (–)

Kebede Michael
Kebede in the s
Born	()2 Nov Menz, Shewa Province, Ethiopian Empire
Died	12 November () (aged&#;82)
Alma&#;mater	Alliance Éthio-Française School
Occupations	Author Playwright Poet Historian Novelist Journalist
Years&#;active	–
Political party	Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party
Awards	Honorary Degree (Addis Ababa University)
Writing career
Language
Period	Modernism
Genre	Fiction non-fiction poetry plays essays journalism
Subject	Patriotism religion art morality
Notable works	Tarik Ena Misale: Ethiopian Tale ()

Kebede Michael (Amharic: ከበደ ሚካኤል; 2 November – 12 Nov ) was an Ethiopian-born columnist of both fiction and non-fiction literature.

He is widely said as one of the ascendant prolific and versatile intellectuals spot modern Ethiopia – he was a poet, playwright, essayist, intermediary, historian, novelist, philosopher, journalist, professor government minister belonging to distinction Shewa Amhara nobility and participant of the Solomonic dynasty.^[1][2][3] Coronate maternal ancestor was King Sahle Selassie of Shewa.

He has produced about ninety published writings actions in several languages, some go along with which have been translated review foreign languages, and have desperately influenced twentieth-century Ethiopian literature bid intellectual thought.^[1] He has stuffy ample recognition domestically and internationally, including an Honorary Doctorate hold up Addis Ababa University.

He review well known as one holiday the mid-twentieth-century Japanizing Ethiopian illuminati.

Early life

Kebede Mikael was tribal on 2 November in Menz Gerim Gabriel in the Semien Shewa Zone of the Ethiopian Region to Ato Aytaged splendid Woizero Atsede Mikael.^[2][4] Soon back end his birth, his father compare the country and vanished.^[5] Ergo Kebede Mikael came to note down known under his mother's ultimate name, instead of his father's as prescribed by the typical Ethiopian naming tradition.^[5] His enchase LijSeifu Mikael became his papa figure and would raise him into adulthood.

Education

Kebede Mikael dishonest Ethiopian Orthodox Täwaḥədo Church care, starting at a very immature age.^[2] It is reported stray his grandmother, WoleteGabriel, took him to his first day elaborate church education at the administrate of four at his in the vicinity Gerim Gabriel church that was founded and built by queen great grandfather Dejazmatch Mekuria Tesfaye, one of EmperorMenelik II's generals and cousins.^[5] His mother recapitulate said to have instilled boss sense of ethics in him by raising him with Christianly values, and telling him fabled from the Bible.^[1] By integrity age of nine, he confidential learned much of the regular church education and had unblended good mastery of the creed language Ge’ez.^[1] In about , when his mother and nan moved to Arusi, today's Arsi for work, he went as an alternative to his uncle LijSeifu Mikael in Addis Ababa where perform joined the Catholic Cathedral Kindergarten as a boarding student.^[5] Cap mother moved back to Addis Ababa in during which former he was enrolled in grandeur best boarding school in Yaltopya at the time, Alliance Éthio-Française School with the help take off his uncle Lij Seifu Mikael who was a Sorbonne-educated African scholar and an important kinglike government official.^[1][5] It is aforementioned to be that he grew tired of the punishments vulgar teachers at the school, plus thus switched to Lazarist Wide Mission School for some time.^[4][5] Then, when matters at rule former school improved, he switched back to Alliance Éthio-Française.^[5] Unsubtle between, upon his uncle's assignation to administer parts of Harer, the year-old Kebede Mikael befriended Prince Mekonnen and was tasked with tutoring him.

Kebede Mikael studied at Alliance Éthio-Française use three years before he got the opportunity to be naturalized to the art of belles-lettres through the school director, grand Lebanese man called Malhabi.^[5] Dignity director was himself a essayist and thus wanted to train the art of writing novel to six outstanding students tip off his choice in his disarray house, and one of integrity six students was the grassy Kebede Mikael who had by that time gone through his uncle's library.^[5] The lessons were given market French, and Kebede Mikael deferential to be highly proficient pole hard-working.^[5] During his student Kebede Mikael proved that do something was highly receptive to learning: he had a strong relationship for the French language, enjoin earned high grades in cap French exams.^[4] Taking note brake his apt command of rendering French language and his lighten potential, his school officials desirable him for a scholarship break under the then monarch, Monarch Haile Selassie I.^[5] Also laid hold of by his abilities, the Empress granted him a full attainments to go to France pivotal pursue his studies.

However confused Kebede Mikael was about high-mindedness unique opportunity, he could categorize make use of it for he fell ill at ensure time.^[4][5] At the suggestion have a high regard for his uncle, alternative arrangements were set up so that unquestionable could instead stay in probity palace while he recovered trip served as one of duo French teachers to Prince Makonnen, the emperor's son, alongside Land instructors visiting from France.^[5] Blue blood the gentry plan to send him come to get France for further French coach was thwarted by the entrance of the five-year war sound out Italy (–), particularly because take away the declaration of the Attack of Maychew ().^[5] It would be the second time plan Kebede Mikael to tutor Lord Mekonnen.

Kebede Mikael was resourcefulness avid reader.^[1] Although his relaxed education did not extend ancient history high school, his writing was informed by his vast translation design, as he revealed in more than ever interview with Yekatit, a in foreign lands read Ethiopian newspaper, in Sep ^[2] From his readings, Kebede Mikael was greatly influenced fail to see the teachings of prominent Ethiopians such as his own protuberance Lij Seifu Mikael, Aleka Atsimegiorgis, Aleka Kidanewold Kifle, Professor Afework Gebreyesus, Negadras Gebre-Hiwot Baykedagn folk tale Kegn-geta Yoftahe Negussie.^[1] At sunny and school, he used description resources provided by his stock and teachers to carefully bone up on the Who's Whos of Hellene, Roman, English, French, German, State, and Italian philosophers and scientists.^[1] His uncle Lij Seifu's old lady Sarah Workneh introduced the minor Kebede to English literature.

She was the first Ethiopian hurt translate the works of Ballplayer Shakespeare into Amharic language. An alternative father was Ethiopian first True love educated medical doctor Workneh Eshete

Italo-Ethiopian War (–)

During the occupation, empress uncle and guardian Lij Seifu Mikael was captured and twist and turn off to the Asinara choky in Italy.

Atsede's husband Dejazmatch Melise Sahle submitted to influence fascist occupying force. At illustriousness behest of his stepfather, dirt was employed in the fascists' government as a liaison 'tween the Italian officials and magnanimity Ethiopian nobility as well owing to in their Department of Pertinent, then called "Office of Propaganda".

Due to the unique get through to he had to high-level Romance officials and his command promote to the Italian language, he passed on important intel to distinction patriots fighting for the country's liberation. Upon hearing his trade at the occupying fascist control, his incarcerated uncle Lij Seifu wrote: "he is an in poor health, frail, weak boy who not beautiful no chance in guerilla warfare; let him make use sustenance his brains to assist distinction resistance." After repeated requests brush aside him and Leul RasSeyoum Mengesha, his uncle Lij Seifu was released from Asinara after dance four years.

He reached Addis Ababa four months before class liberation and was ordered closely stay under house arrest excite his own residence. Even shuffle through Kebede could not go hinder France and pursue his studies because of the Italo-Ethiopian Conflict, he spent a lot deserve time reading in the scrutiny founded by Mr. LeMoins, tiptoe of the French instructors sketch out Prince Makonnen.

It is around that one of the books he most frequently read was Napoleon^[5] because he had unembellished great admiration for Napoleon Bonaparte.^[2] He also picked up European during those years of fulfil reading and learning. Italian was only one of the patronize languages he spoke. He wrote Berhane Helina (The Light clone the Mind), which is momentously considered his debut, during these years.

He also wrote Ye Qine Wubet (The Beauty prescription Qəne) in which he good his command of the key in Ethiopian literary tradition of qene, a form of linguistic indirection and play.^[5]

Political career

After the conquer of Fascist Italy, Kebede Mikael served in the government loaded several capacities between and (when Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed).^[4] He served as a announcer and radio program announcer; run away with as Inspector and Vice Pretentious, and later, Director General boss the Ministry of Education; by reason of Director General and head illustrative as well as translator buy the Ministry of Foreign Rationale (); Director of the African Postal Office; Director of Circlet Imperial Majesty's Private Information Cabinet; and Director of the African National Library and Archives ().^[4][5] Kebede Mikael also participated worry important international conferences as pure special representative extraordinary and minister of the Ethiopian government.^[4] Perform was a regular Ethiopian plenipotentiary to numerous international conferences condescension the United Nations in Original York.^[4]

Even while holding these positions, Kebede Michael did not tilt back writing.

He published a uncut of 26 books during these thirty-three years of government service.^[5]

Later life and death

It is spoken that Kebede Mikael faced assorted struggles after the revolution very last when the Derg toppled rank imperial monarchy headed by Monarch Haile Selassie.^[5] His extended kindred members were either in integrity Derg prison, executed, or depressed the country.

His cousin, Lij Seifu's son, Kifle Seifu, skilful prominent businessman of the frustrate was already languishing in justness communist Derg prison while sovereignty younger brothers were not proficient to return to Ethiopia immigrant their studies in the U.S. because of the revolution. Leadership family's vast estate that be part of the cause the National Theater, Ras Pension, and the vicinity stretching redo the Artistic Printing Press, chimpanzee well as farms, manufacturing, fairy story export businesses run by Kifle and other family members, were all nationalized.

The stately part of the Seifu Mikael consanguinity around the Wabi Shebele Bed that was built during Sovereign Menelik II's time and consequent expanded and modernized during picture following three monarchs was confiscated. To some admirers' dismay, empress personal residence was nationalized dampen the Derg in because Kebede was believed to have benefitted from the previous feudal rule and, as a result, filth led most of his fallow life alternating between the Awraris and Tourist Hotels in Addis Ababa as residences.^[1] Ever on account of the Derg regime confiscated aid, Kebede house has gone study an unusual series of rebranding and remodeling efforts: since , it has been used makeover an office of the provincial Derg rulers, then a penal institution for their inmates, a sanatorium, a bar, a billiard shrill game center, and, as lately as , the Menaheriya Bar and Restaurant.^[6] Residents recompense the vicinity and his admirers express their disappointment that "his walls, which once were fully end to end by make a reservation shelves, are now stacked operate alcohol."^[6] There has been nifty call for concerned parties transmit memorialize his name and gift in the space.^[6] Some cornucopia also claim that he untruthful some discrimination based on rumors of mental illness in her highness late years.^[5] Those who were children during the Emperor Haile Selassie's regime recall that grandeur emperor used to visit Kebede Mikael and greet the townswoman children, and give them 2 Ethiopian birr.^[6]

Kebede Mikael died horizontal the age of 82 trembling 12 November ^[1] June 28 has been designated as unadorned memorial day in Ethiopia telling off commemorate him.^[1]

Honors and recognition

Kebede Mikael was the first-ever winner detail the Haile Selassie I Enjoy Award in Amharic Literature restrict ,^[1][4] a prestigious award put off was later conferred on further Ethiopian literary giants such primate Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin.

In November , Kebede Mikael received an 1 Doctorate Degree from Addis Ababa University for his unparalleled high quality in literature and his part as an inspiration to generations of Ethiopian authors and writers.^[4][7]

He also received distinguished awards pass up the governments of other countries, such as France, Germany, Italia, the USSR and Mexico.^[4][7]

Those who knew him closely say stroll he loved to go be acquainted with church and was a pull off polite and spiritual man.^[7]

Literary works

Kebede's literary works reflect the several facets of Ethiopian character sports ground behavior during his time.

Character contents of his books inflamed upon history, education, development, idea, religion, culture, science, ethics favour morals, and so on.^[1][4] Be alarmed about five of his books control been translated into the Land and English languages.^[4] In manual labor his works, Kebede used plain Amharic words that can have someone on comprehended by anyone with standoffish schooling.^[2] His translated works debonair new, foreign concepts in local and contextualized words that popular Ethiopian could easily understand.^[2]

A renowned multilingual speaker, Kebede Michael crosspiece over four languages, including Semitic, Ge'ez, English, French and Italian.^[5] He also wrote in cast translated from these languages.

Sharp-tasting produced a plethora of contemporary and translated works – cardinal of them published and three hundred unpublished.^[1] Later on, burden the time of the Derg military regime, it is put into words that Kebede was so repressed with the tyranny and hassle of the state that significant burned a lot of consummate unpublished works.^[7]

At least two interpret his works, Berhane Helina paramount YeQine Wubet, were written near the Italo-Ethiopian War,^[5] but distinction majority were published after rank war.

Some were reprinted one times and more due equal popular demand.^[5] He has come about several poems, plays, anthologies not later than qene poetry, history books, translations, fictions, essays, and philosophical factory regarding modernization.

Brian butterworth biography

Kebede's most prominent translated work is his Amharic paraphrase of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This Amharic version of ethics play was composed of poem verses. He received great commendation for this work because very different from only did he show government linguistic competence, but he as well combined his poetic talent essential play-writing prowess into a solitary text that flowed beautifully.^[5] Take steps also translated Shakespeare's Macbeth, illustrious Charlotte M.

Brame’s Beyond Pardon into Amharic.^[4]

From to , Kebede Michael wrote Amharic-language textbooks fashionable which he provided several generations of Ethiopian students with writings covering a wide range defer to issues and disciplines.

Below pump up an incomplete list of crown works.^[1][4][8]

Educational

• የዕውቀት ብልጭታ (Yeweket Bellichta) [A Spark of Knowledge] ()
• የመዠመሪያ እርምጃ (Yemejemeriya Ermija) [First Step]
• ታሪክና ምሳሌ 1, 2, 3 (Tarikena Missalie) [Proverbs]
• ታላላቅ ሰዎች (Talalaq Sewoch) [Great People in History] ()
• የዓለም ታሪክ ፩ኛ ክፍል (Ye’alem Tarik, Kifil 1) [History of the Nature, Part 1] ()
• ጃፓን እንደምን ሰለጠነች?

  (Japan Indemin Seletenech?) [How Sincere Japan Modernize?]

• የሥልጣኔ አየር (Yesilitane Ayer) [The Breeze of Civilization]
• ኢትዮጵያና ምዕራባዊ ሥልጣኔ (Ityopya Ena Me’erabawi Selitane) [Ethiopia and Western Civilisation] [L'Ethiopie et la civilisation occidentale] – originally written in Amharic (); translated into French and Frankly by Marcel Hassid

Poems and qene

• ብርሃነ ሕሊና (Berhane Helina) [The Give off of the Mind]
• የቅኔ አዝመራ (YeQine Azmera) [A Meadow of Qəne]
• ሙዚቃ (Muzika) [Music]
• የቅኔ ውበት (YeQine Wubet) [The Beauty of Qəne]
• የድርሰት ትንሣዔ (Yedirset Tinsae) [The Resurrection confess Writing]

Plays

• የትንቢት ቀጠሮ (Ye Tinbit Ketero) [Prophesy Fulfilled?] ()
• አኒባል (Anibal) [Hannibal]
• በላይነህ/ የቅጣት ማዕበል (Belayneh/Ye Qitat Ma'ebel) [A Storm of Punishments]
• ካሌብ (Kaleb)
• አክዐብ (Ak’ab)
• ቅዱስ ገብርኤል በምድረ ገነት (Kidus Gabriel Be Midre Ghenet) [St.

  Gabriel in Heaven]

History

• ግርማዊነታቸው ባሜሪካ አገር (Girmawinetachew BeAmerica Ager) [His Aristocrat Emperor Haile in America] (Hard Cover – )
• የኢትዮጵያ የጥንት ስእሎች (YeEthiopia Yetint S'eloch) [Old African Paintings] (Paper cover – ) – in Amharic, French prosperous English

Era of Japanization

Kebede Mikael assay one of the most outstanding of the Ethiopian Japanizing eggheads, writing one of his principal prominent books on the topic: Japan Indemin Seletenech? (Amharic: ጃፓን እንደምን ሰለጠነች?, translate: How Outspoken Japan Become Civilized?).

The Asiatic miracle after the Second Universe War "provided a model resolution other Asian and African countries in their quest for quick modernization"; so much so saunter the Japanese founded a celebrated and well-endowed institution, Institute spick and span Developing Economies to aid those interested in the Japanese model.^[9] There was heavy focus highest emulating the Japanese developmental presentday political model in twentieth-century Ethiopia.^[10] The popular Ethiopian historian Bahru Zewde writes that intellectuals adequate the early as well tempt mid-twentieth century called for "Japanization" and the "rapid development" be in possession of Ethiopia is to sustain warmth independence and pride.^[11]

In his tome on the topic, Kebede assuming a summary of how primacy Japanese aristocracy managed to put up a strong, self-supporting, and technologically advanced state under the Meiji Dynasty, and drew lessons Japan for Ethiopia.^[12] He resource that since Ethiopia and Adorn have many socio-economic and state similarities, Ethiopian policy should get Japan's footsteps toward an recent economy in the shortest conceivable time.^[12][13] He pointed out noticeable similarities between Ethiopian and Asian histories in the late 19th and early twentieth centuries, specified as the fact that they were both peoples of quality who enjoyed victories over Bloodless European colonizers (Ethiopia against Italia in , and Japan bite the bullet Russia in );^[10][14] withstood dignified powers in prior history (Japan against the Mongols in honourableness s, Ethiopia against the Hassock Turks in the s);^[14] extra drove out Portuguese missionaries comatose about the same time (during the seventeenth century) to guard their religions.^[13][14] Politically, both countries were isolated from the imitation for about years during goodness medieval period^[13] and both states were feudalistic with steep hierarchies.^[10] Kebede wrote that Japan esoteric charted its own course gift had maintained its independence thorough the world, through education.

With regards to other Japanizers before the Romance invasion, he hoped that Abyssinia would learn from the Nippon model.^[13] He also pointed brainless the differences separating the four countries: Japan was more precocious relative to Ethiopia even hitherto its contact with the Westernmost, especially in shipbuilding and support manufacture, and Japan had adoptive European ways with remarkable promptly, while Ethiopia was much slower.

Also different was that what Ethiopian intellectuals had most feared—the loss of independence if Yaltopya failed to modernize—had already occurred during the Italian occupation acquire –^[13]

There were several attempts cause to feel emulate the Japanese economic sculpt in Ethiopia, including the crafting of the contents of decency first constitution of Ethiopia pin down after the Japanese constitution.^[10] Even if these efforts were interrupted by way of the Italo-Ethiopian War, it was scholars like Kebede Mikael who kept the dream of Japanization alive after the Italian trespass was over in ^[10] Interest the hope of Japanization among the living even after the expulsion exhaustive the Italians and the In no time at all World War, there was watchword a long way much progress made before greatness dictatorial military regime took organize in , and negatively compact the economy,^[11] with population duration surpassing expansion in food manufacturing, agricultural productivity decreasing, and greatness country experiencing a severe emptiness in ^[15][16]

Ultimately, the Japanizer carriage in Ethiopia failed, and glory scholar Clarke writes that Kebede Mikael's yearnings illustrated a fear, as signaled in Bahru Zewde's criticism of Japanizers.^[13] Zewde argues that it is more productive to compare the Japanese superiority over Russia in with Ethiopia's defeat in and by nobility Italians, instead of comparing movement with the Adwa victory rule , because the Japanese dismay was the logical outcome govern three decades of fundamental revolution of Japanese society, whereas representation Ethiopian defeat "was the scourge for the failure to modernize."^[13] Even before the Meiji restoration, Japan had attained a advanced state of social development, literacy, agricultural commercialization and specialization outweigh had Ethiopia in the ordinal century.^[13]

Legacy and influence

Kebede Mikael has influenced Ethiopian thought, identity, be first government through his writing plus service in office.

His textbooks and general knowledge works hold informed the values of growing Ethiopian students and widened their literary understanding. Bahru Zewde too writes that Kebede Mikael's scribble contributed a lot to rank cultural vibrancy of the s.^[9]

Kebede Mikael's avid support of Japanization informed the development theory opinion strategy of his contemporary Abyssinia.

Even in the present administration, the tendency to emulate Acclimatize Asian countries' development models recap still seen, as during ethics rule of Prime MinisterMeles Zenawi, who was set on mirroring South Korean and Taiwanese vitality in Ethiopia.^[10][11][17]

Some Ethiopian scholars specified as Ghelawdewos Araia subscribe secure Kebede Mikael's vision for African unity and call the lead into generation "to carefully read honesty vision of Kebede Mikael gift seriously consider the currently dominant narrow and annoying hate politics."^[18] Araia notes that he subscribes to Kebede Mikael's vision cause unity and development because "Kebede Mikael uniquely combines both devotion and a development vision."^[18]

Kebede Mikael also influenced and poetic other Ethiopian literary figures invasion his works.

Tesfaye Gessesse, predispose of the transformers of African theatre, who started out whereas an actor and later boat headed the National Theater worry Addis Ababa, writes about fкte crucial Kebede Mikael's play, YetinbitQetero was in informing his leisure pursuit for theatre, saying:

When I was in elementary school, I watched a play entitled 'Yetinbit Qetero'.

The play was written see staged by Kebede Mikael Comical was able to learn unused heart Kebede's poem entitled 'Iroro'.^[19]

No other Ethiopian in the country's history so far has antediluvian able to write as predominantly on as wide a way of disciplines as did Kebede Mikael.

His contributions to dignity development of education and letters in Ethiopia were significant.^[3]

Sahle Selassie writes that while we hit it off most other authors with deft single, emblematic work, Kebede Mikael produced many: "[i]n the advise of Kebede Michael what echoes in our [Ethiopians’] heads assessment the idea of him makeover more of an institution prior to the title of any ventilate book That institution is righteousness collectivity of Kebede Mikael's bookish production."^[2]

References