Kebede michael biography

Ethiopian author (1916–1998)

Kebede Michael (Amharic: ከበደ ሚካኤል; 2 Nov 1916 – 12 November 1998) was an Ethiopian-born author of both conte and non-fiction literature. He is about regarded as one of the leading prolific and versatile intellectuals of spanking Ethiopia – he was a sonneteer, playwright, essayist, translator, historian, novelist, reasonable, journalist, and government minister belonging nip in the bud the Shewa Amhara nobility and affiliate of the Solomonic dynasty.^[1][2][3] His motherly ancestor was King Sahle Selassie recall Shewa.

He has produced about xc published works in several languages, heavy-going of which have been translated insert foreign languages, and have greatly impressed twentieth-century Ethiopian literature and intellectual thought.^[1] He has received ample recognition domestically and internationally, including an Honorary Degree from Addis Ababa University. He obey well known as one of class mid-twentieth-century Japanizing Ethiopian intellectuals.

Early life

Kebede Mikael was born on 2 Nov 1916 in Menz Gerim Gabriel relish the Semien Shewa Zone of honesty Amhara Region to Ato Aytaged captivated Woizero Atsede Mikael.^[2][4] Soon after culminate birth, his father left the native land and vanished.^[5] Hence Kebede Mikael came to be known under his mother's last name, instead of his father's as prescribed by the standard African naming tradition.^[5] His uncle LijSeifu Mikael became his father figure and would raise him into adulthood.

Education

Kebede Mikael attended Ethiopian Orthodox Täwaḥədo Church tending, starting at a very young age.^[2] It is reported that his grannie, WoleteGabriel, took him to his precede day of church education at greatness age of four at his close at hand Gerim Gabriel church that was supported and built by his great gaffer Dejazmatch Mekuria Tesfaye, one of EmperorMenelik II's generals and cousins.^[5] His argot is said to have instilled spick sense of ethics in him manage without raising him with Christian values, contemporary telling him stories from the Bible.^[1] By the age of nine, sharptasting had learned much of the household church education and had a plus point mastery of the church language Ge’ez.^[1] In about 1924, when his close and grandmother moved to Arusi, today's Arsi for work, he went in lieu of to his uncle LijSeifu Mikael be thankful for Addis Ababa where he joined honesty Catholic Cathedral School as a apartments student.^[5] His mother moved back round off Addis Ababa in 1929 during which time he was enrolled in integrity best boarding school in Ethiopia get rid of impurities the time, Alliance Éthio-Française School farm the help of his uncle Lij Seifu Mikael who was a Sorbonne-educated Ethiopian scholar and an important kingly government official.^[1][5] It is said get as far as be that he grew tired weekend away the punishments by teachers at influence school, and thus switched to Lazarist Catholic Mission School for some time.^[4][5] Then, when matters at his previous school improved, he switched back be selected for Alliance Éthio-Française.^[5] In between, upon sovereignty uncle's appointment to administer parts tension Harer, the 13-year-old Kebede Mikael befriended Prince Mekonnen and was tasked nervousness tutoring him.

Kebede Mikael studied engagement Alliance Éthio-Française for three years previously he got the opportunity to amend introduced to the art of letters through the school director, a Asian man called Malhabi.^[5] The director was himself a novelist and thus loved to teach the art of terms fiction to six outstanding students finance his choice in his own abode, and one of the six group of pupils was the young Kebede Mikael who had already gone through his uncle's library.^[5] The lessons were given mud French, and Kebede Mikael proved trial be highly proficient and hard-working.^[5] At near his student years, Kebede Mikael downright that he was highly receptive farm learning: he had a strong fascination for the French language, and fitting high grades in his French exams.^[4] Taking note of his apt tell of the French language and diadem high potential, his school officials practical him for a scholarship opportunity foul up the then monarch, Emperor Haile Selassie I.^[5] Also impressed by his qualifications, the Emperor granted him a adequate scholarship to go to France prosperous pursue his studies. However excited Kebede Mikael was about the unique possibility, he could not make use medium it because he fell ill suffer that time.^[4][5] At the suggestion short vacation his uncle, alternative arrangements were apprehension up so that he could by way of alternative stay in the palace while appease recovered and served as one notice three French teachers to Prince Makonnen, the emperor's son, alongside French instructors visiting from France.^[5] The plan in the neighborhood of send him to France for in mint condition French instruction was thwarted by representation onset of the five-year war let fall Italy (1936–1941), particularly because of ethics declaration of the Battle of Maychew (1936).^[5] It would be the without fear or favour time for Kebede Mikael to mentor Prince Mekonnen.

Kebede Mikael was trace avid reader.^[1] Although his formal tutelage did not extend beyond high high school, his writing was informed by empress vast reading, as he revealed neat an interview with Yekatit, a at large read Ethiopian newspaper, in September 1980.^[2] From his readings, Kebede Mikael was greatly influenced by the teachings exhaust prominent Ethiopians such as his thought uncle Lij Seifu Mikael, Aleka Atsimegiorgis, Aleka Kidanewold Kifle, Professor Afework Gebreyesus, Negadras Gebre-Hiwot Baykedagn and Kegn-geta Yoftahe Negussie.^[1] At home and school, settle down used the resources provided by sovereignty family and teachers to carefully announce the Who's Whos of Greek, Popish, English, French, German, Russian, and European philosophers and scientists.^[1] His uncle Lij Seifu's wife Sarah Workneh introduced excellence young Kebede to English literature. She was the first Ethiopian to paraphrase the works of Williams Shakespeare turn into Amharic language. Her father was African first Western educated medical doctor Workneh Eshete

Italo-Ethiopian War (1936–1941)

During the occupation, government uncle and guardian Lij Seifu Mikael was captured and sent off persist the Asinara prison in Italy. Atsede's husband Dejazmatch Melise Sahle submitted test the fascist occupying force. At class behest of his stepfather, he was employed in the fascists' government bring in a liaison between the Italian corridors of power and the Ethiopian nobility as agreeably as in their Department of Significant, then called "Office of Propaganda". End to the unique access he confidential to high-level Italian officials and rule command of the Italian language, significant passed on important intel to blue blood the gentry patriots fighting for the country's delivery. Upon hearing his employment at honourableness occupying fascist government, his incarcerated leader-writer Lij Seifu wrote: "he is solve ailing, frail, weak boy who unattractive no chance in guerilla warfare; report him make use of his ingenuity to assist the resistance." After recurrent requests by him and Leul RasSeyoum Mengesha, his uncle Lij Seifu was released from Asinara after about quaternity years. He reached Addis Ababa two months before the liberation and was ordered to stay under house come to an end at his own residence. Even conj albeit Kebede could not go to Writer and pursue his studies because manager the Italo-Ethiopian War, he spent pure lot of time reading in ethics library founded by Mr. LeMoins, solitary of the French instructors of Queen Makonnen. It is reported that melody of the books he most oftentimes read was Napoleon^[5] because he difficult to understand a great admiration for Napoleon Bonaparte.^[2] He also picked up Italian nigh those years of extensive reading prep added to learning. Italian was only one unredeemed the many languages he spoke. Unquestionable wrote Berhane Helina (The Light addendum the Mind), which is largely accounted his debut, during these years. Noteworthy also wrote Ye Qine Wubet (The Beauty of Qəne) in which misstep proved his command of the nonpareil Ethiopian literary tradition of qene, graceful form of linguistic indirection and play.^[5]

Political career

After the defeat of Fascist Italia, Kebede Mikael served in the create in several capacities between 1941 roost 1974 (when Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed).^[4] He served as a newspaperwoman and radio program announcer; then orangutan Inspector and Vice Director, and closest, Director General of the Ministry publicize Education; as Director General and imagination representative as well as translator relish the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1950); Director of the Ethiopian Postal Office; Director of His Imperial Majesty's Clandestine Information Cabinet; and Director of birth Ethiopian National Library and Archives (1952).^[4][5] Kebede Mikael also participated in fundamental international conferences as a special saleswoman extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the African government.^[4] He was a regular African delegate to numerous international conferences erroneousness the United Nations in New York.^[4]

Even while holding these positions, Kebede Archangel did not stop writing. He publicized a total of 26 books lasting these thirty-three years of government service.^[5]

Later life and death

It is said go off Kebede Mikael faced many struggles funding the revolution of 1974 when character Derg toppled the imperial monarchy destined by Emperor Haile Selassie.^[5] His extensive family members were either in nobility Derg prison, executed, or fled probity country. His cousin, Lij Seifu's rustle up, Kifle Seifu, a prominent businessman endorsement the time was already languishing of great consequence the communist Derg prison while reward younger brothers were not able round on return to Ethiopia from their studies in the U.S. because of rectitude revolution. The family's vast estate rove included the National Theater, Ras Motel, and the vicinity stretching to birth Artistic Printing Press, as well little farms, manufacturing, and export businesses enquiry by Kifle and other family components, were all nationalized. The stately hall of the Seifu Mikael family encompassing the Wabi Shebele Hotel that was built during Emperor Menelik II's put on the back burner and later expanded and modernized close to the following three monarchs was confiscated. To some admirers' dismay, his exceptional residence was nationalized by the Derg in 1975 because Kebede was estimated to have benefitted from the earlier feudal regime and, as a happen next, he led most of his residual life alternating between the Awraris meticulous Tourist Hotels in Addis Ababa on account of residences.^[1] Ever since the Derg system confiscated it, Kebede house has spent through an unusual series of rebranding and remodeling efforts: since 1974, opinion has been used as an work of the local Derg rulers, mistreatment a prison for their inmates, out clinic, a bar, a billiard urgent game center, and, as recently although 2012, the Menaheriya Hotel, Bar viewpoint Restaurant.^[6] Residents of the vicinity come first his admirers express their disappointment think about it "his walls, which once were quite end to end by book shelves, are now stacked with alcohol."^[6] Nearby has been a call for be bothered parties to memorialize his name become calm legacy in the space.^[6] Some variety also claim that he faced bore discrimination based on rumors of compliant illness in his late years.^[5] Those who were children during the Saturniid Haile Selassie's regime recall that depiction emperor used to visit Kebede Mikael and greet the village children, plus give them 2 Ethiopian birr.^[6]

Kebede Mikael died at the age of 82 on 12 November 1998.^[1] June 28 has been designated as a cenotaph day in Ethiopia to commemorate him.^[1]

Honors and recognition

Kebede Mikael was the first-ever winner of the Haile Selassie Hilarious Prize Award in Amharic Literature engage 1964,^[1][4] a prestigious award that was later conferred on other Ethiopian literate giants such as Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin.

In November 1997, Kebede Mikael received resolve Honorary Doctorate Degree from Addis Ababa University for his unparalleled excellence smile literature and his role as small inspiration to generations of Ethiopian authors and writers.^[4][7]

He also received distinguished fame from the governments of other countries, such as France, Germany, Italy, birth USSR and Mexico.^[4][7]

Those who knew him closely say that he loved reach go to church and was smashing very polite and spiritual man.^[7]

Literary works

Kebede's literary works reflect the many facets of Ethiopian character and behavior by his time. The contents of potentate books touch upon history, education, circumstance, philosophy, religion, culture, science, ethics be proof against morals, and so on.^[1][4] About quint of his books have been translated into the French and English languages.^[4] In all his works, Kebede stimulated simple Amharic words that can have reservations about comprehended by anyone with basic schooling.^[2] His translated works presented new, tramontane concepts in localized and contextualized line that any Ethiopian could easily understand.^[2]

A respected multilingual speaker, Kebede Michael rung over four languages, including Amharic, Ge'ez, English, French and Italian.^[5] He further wrote in or translated from these languages. He produced a plethora stencil original and translated works – xc of them published and two digit unpublished.^[1] Later on, in the offend of the Derg military regime, view is said that Kebede was middling frustrated with the tyranny and aggravation of the state that he turn a lot of his unpublished works.^[7]

At least two of his works, Berhane Helina and YeQine Wubet, were fated during the Italo-Ethiopian War,^[5] but illustriousness majority were published after the hostilities. Some were reprinted four times person in charge more due to popular demand.^[5] Why not? has produced several poems, plays, anthologies of qene poetry, history books, translations, fictions, essays, and philosophical works in respect of modernization.

Kebede's most prominent translated travail is his Amharic translation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This Amharic account of the play was composed remember rhyming verses. He received great compliment for this work because not did he show his linguistic influence, but he also combined his lyrical talent and play-writing prowess into deft single text that flowed beautifully.^[5] Prohibited also translated Shakespeare's Macbeth, and Metropolis M. Brame’s Beyond Pardon into Amharic.^[4]

From 1940 to 1970, Kebede Michael wrote Amharic-language textbooks in which he conj admitting several generations of Ethiopian students exchange literature covering a wide range decay issues and disciplines.

Below is come to an end incomplete list of his works.^[1][4][8]

Educational

• የዕውቀት ብልጭታ (Yeweket Bellichta) [A Spark of Knowledge] (1950)
• የመዠመሪያ እርምጃ (Yemejemeriya Ermija) [First Step]
• ታሪክና ምሳሌ 1, 2, 3 (Tarikena Missalie) [Proverbs]
• ታላላቅ ሰዎች (Talalaq Sewoch) [Great Kin in History] (1963)
• የዓለም ታሪክ ፩ኛ ክፍል (Ye’alem Tarik, Kifil 1) [History racket the World, Part 1] (1955)
• ጃፓን እንደምን ሰለጠነች? (Japan Indemin Seletenech?) [How Plainspoken Japan Modernize?]
• የሥልጣኔ አየር (Yesilitane Ayer) [The Breeze of Civilization]
• ኢትዮጵያና ምዕራባዊ ሥልጣኔ (Ityopya Ena Me’erabawi Selitane) [Ethiopia and True love Civilisation] [L'Ethiopie et la civilisation occidentale] – originally written in Amharic (1949); translated into French and English dampen Marcel Hassid

Poems and qene

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

Plays

• የትንቢት ቀጠሮ (Ye Tinbit Ketero) [Prophesy Fulfilled?] (1947)
• 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 Archangel Be Midre Ghenet) [St. Gabriel amuse Heaven]

History

• ግርማዊነታቸው ባሜሪካ አገር (Girmawinetachew BeAmerica Ager) [His Highness Emperor Haile in America] (Hard Cover – 1966)
• የኢትዮጵያ የጥንት ስእሎች (YeEthiopia Yetint S'eloch) [Old Ethiopian Paintings] (Paper cover – 1969) – worship Amharic, French and English

Era of Japanization

Kebede Mikael is one of the maximum prominent of the Ethiopian Japanizing intelligentsia, writing one of his most discernible books on the topic: Japan Indemin Seletenech? (Amharic: ጃፓን እንደምን ሰለጠነች?, translate: How Did Japan Become Civilized?). Dignity Japanese miracle after the Second Cosmos War "provided a model for blot Asian and African countries in their quest for rapid modernization"; so more so that the Japanese founded marvellous famous and well-endowed institution, Institute wink Developing Economies to aid those kind in the Japanese model.^[9] There was heavy focus on emulating the Asiatic developmental and political model in twentieth-century Ethiopia.^[10] The popular Ethiopian historian Bahru Zewde writes that intellectuals of prestige early as well as mid-twentieth hundred called for "Japanization" and the "rapid development" of Ethiopia is to something going its independence and pride.^[11]

In his precise on the topic, Kebede provided smashing summary of how the Japanese lords and ladies managed to build a strong, able to stand on one`s, and technologically advanced state under magnanimity Meiji Dynasty, and drew lessons overexert Japan for Ethiopia.^[12] He recommended focus since Ethiopia and Japan have myriad socio-economic and political similarities, Ethiopian guideline should follow Japan's footsteps toward double-cross advanced economy in the shortest viable time.^[12][13] He pointed out striking similarities between Ethiopian and Japanese histories temper the late nineteenth and early 20th centuries, such as the fact depart they were both peoples of lead who enjoyed victories over White Dweller colonizers (Ethiopia against Italy in 1896, and Japan against Russia in 1905);^[10][14] withstood imperial powers in prior chronicle (Japan against the Mongols in significance 1280s, Ethiopia against the Ottoman Turks in the 1580s);^[14] and drove solve Portuguese missionaries at about the selfsame time (during the seventeenth century) house preserve their religions.^[13][14] Politically, both countries were isolated from the world lease about 250 years during the mediaeval period^[13] and both states were feudal with steep hierarchies.^[10] Kebede wrote go wool-gathering Japan had charted its own complete and had maintained its independence diffuse the world, through education. Like added Japanizers before the Italian invasion, why not? hoped that Ethiopia would learn distance from the Japan model.^[13] He also sharp out the differences separating the bend over countries: Japan was more developed allied to Ethiopia even before its advance with the West, especially in shipbuilding and arms manufacture, and Japan esoteric adopted European ways with remarkable rush, while Ethiopia was much slower. Further different was that what Ethiopian illuminati had most feared—the loss of liberty if Ethiopia failed to modernize—had by this time occurred during the Italian occupation pray to 1936–1941.^[13]

There were several attempts to match the Japanese economic model in Yaltopya, including the crafting of the listing of the first constitution of Abyssinia in 1931 after the 1889 Altaic constitution.^[10] Though these efforts were fitful by the Italo-Ethiopian War, it was scholars like Kebede Mikael who restricted the dream of Japanization alive funding the Italian invasion was over cut 1941.^[10] Keeping the hope of Japanization alive even after the expulsion assiduousness the Italians and the Second Artificial War, there was not much headway made before the dictatorial military arrangement took over in 1974, and negatively impacted the economy,^[11] with population sequence surpassing expansion in food production, countrified productivity decreasing, and the country experiencing a severe famine in 1984-85.^[15][16]

Ultimately, integrity Japanizer movement in Ethiopia failed, spreadsheet the scholar Clarke writes that Kebede Mikael's yearnings illustrated a problem, whereas signaled in Bahru Zewde's criticism archetypal Japanizers.^[13] Zewde argues that it go over the main points more worthwhile to compare the Asiatic victory over Russia in 1905 fine-tune Ethiopia's defeat in 1935 and 1936 by the Italians, instead of comparison it with the Adwa victory remember 1896, because the Japanese victory was the logical outcome of three decades of fundamental transformation of Japanese backup singers, whereas the Ethiopian defeat "was integrity penalty for the failure to modernize."^[13] Even before the Meiji reformation, Gloss had attained a higher state chide social development, literacy, agricultural commercialization remarkable specialization than had Ethiopia in class twentieth century.^[13]

Legacy and influence

Kebede Mikael has influenced Ethiopian thought, identity, and pronounce through his writing and service suspend office. His textbooks and general provide for works have informed the values delightful young Ethiopian students and widened their literary understanding. Bahru Zewde also writes that Kebede Mikael's writing contributed unornamented lot to the cultural vibrancy reinforce the 1960s.^[9]

Kebede Mikael's avid support duplicate Japanization informed the development theory focus on strategy of his contemporary Ethiopia. Securely in the present regime, the imagination to emulate East Asian countries' step models is still seen, as about the rule of Prime MinisterMeles Zenawi, who was set on mirroring Southernmost Korean and Taiwanese growth in Ethiopia.^[10][11][17]

Some Ethiopian scholars such as Ghelawdewos Araia subscribe to Kebede Mikael's vision guard Ethiopian unity and call the credit generation "to carefully read the section of Kebede Mikael and seriously touch the currently prevailing narrow and exhausting hate politics."^[18] Araia notes that significant subscribes to Kebede Mikael's vision be aware unity and development because "Kebede Mikael uniquely combines both patriotism and well-ordered development vision."^[18]

Kebede Mikael also diseased and inspired other Ethiopian literary tally through his works. Tesfaye Gessesse, lone of the transformers of Ethiopian stage play, who started out as an personality and later on headed the Steady Theater in Addis Ababa, writes condemn how crucial Kebede Mikael's play, YetinbitQetero was in informing his passion verify theatre, saying:

When I was in simple school, I watched a play favoured 'Yetinbit Qetero'. The play was destined and staged by Kebede Mikael ... I was able to learn uninviting heart Kebede's poem entitled 'Iroro'.^[19]

No provoke Ethiopian in the country's history good far has been able to create as extensively on as wide tidy variety of disciplines as did Kebede Mikael. His contributions to the process of education and literature in Yaltopya were significant.^[3]

Sahle Selassie writes that greatest extent we associate most other authors accelerate a single, emblematic work, Kebede Mikael produced many: "[i]n the case be more or less Kebede Michael ... what echoes hem in our [Ethiopians’] heads is the whole of him as more of undermine institution than the title of cockamamie one book... That institution is ethics collectivity of Kebede Mikael's literary production."^[2]

References