Males Zenawi was an Ethiopian guerilla/rebel fighter, chairman of Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) and the head of the ruling party Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). After EPRDF took power in 1991, Meles was the President of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia. He then assumed the role of the prime minister of the country. He led the country for 23 years, until his death on 20 August, 2012.

Meles is considered one of the most powerful and influential individuals in Ethiopian recent history. He is credited by some and accused by others for the economic, social and political states of the contemporary Ethiopia. His philosophies and ideology in social economy, ethnicity and politics, is directly reflected in the current psyche of Ethiopia.

Early life

Meles was born in 1940, in Adwa, Tigray Region, Ethiopia from his father Zenawi Asres and his mother Alemash Guebrelule. His birth name was Legesse Zenawi. He was the middle child of six. Meles attended Queen Sheba elementary school in Adwa. He then won a full scholarship to the prestigious General Winget High school in Addis Ababa.

Education

In 1972 Meles joined Addis Ababa University (back then known as Hailesellasie University) as a medicine major. In 1974, when he was a second year student, he dropped out of school to join other students to establish Tigrayan National Organization. The organization was preceded to Tigrayian People Liberation Front (TPLF). He was elected as an executive member of the front in 1979 and became a chairman in in 1983. He adopted the name Meles in honor of a university student and fellow guerilla fighter Meles Tekle, who was killed by the military regime, Derg.

Political Career

Meles, during the armed struggle, was considered a man behind the fighter’s political thinking and approach. As a young man, he was known as a diehard Leninist, and has influenced the fighters in that direction. He established a Marxist-Leninist League inside the TPLF, and was nicknamed Lenin by the fighters. The league is considered one of the strategies Meles used to get closer to the Executive Committee of TPLF and eventually become a member and a chairman.

In 1983, he was elected as the Chairman of TPLF. He managed the political wing of the armed struggle, served as a front man for negotiations, political and logistic support from the west and Arab world, and coordinated toe scattered armed struggles around the country to form the national front EPRDF. Many wrote that as Meles got high in the political ladder, he dropped his Marxist-Leninist beliefs, and strengthened his friendship with the western world, especially that of the United States.

At the end of the Ethiopian civil war, in 1991, and the defeat of the military Derg regime, EPRDF assumed power. As the chairman of both TPLF and EPRDF Meles Zenawi became the president of the Transitional Government. The transition period marks the Eritrean secession, which made Ethiopia effectively landlocked country. Meles is remembered as a fierce supporter of the referendum given to the Eritrean people, which resulted the separation of Eritrea from Ethiopia.

He then assumed the role of the Prime Minister, until his death in August, 2012. Melese’s 23 years in power is considered critical in reshaping Ethiopia’s economic, social and political stance.

Personal life

Melez Zenwai died for unknown/unrevealed causes in 20 August, 2012. A state funeral on September 2, 2012 was attended by many Ethiopians.

Meles was married to a fellow rebel fighter Azeb Mesfen. He is survived by his wife and their three children.

Dr. Mehret is a well-known practicing psychiatrist and an author of two books titled Yetekolefebt Kulef (The locked key) and Lela Sew (the other person). He received Medical Degree in Addis Ababa University, Tikur Anbesa Medical School. He then travelled to United States to specialize in psychiatry. Currently he practices psychiatry in both nations.

Mehret is also recognized for his engagement in several initiatives on mind/society/cultural transformation.  He regular appears in different media outlet and is one of the few motivational speakers in the country.

Early Life

Mehret was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As a child he wanted to become an architect. However, he was influenced by circumstances and joined media school.

He received his Medical Degree from Addis Ababa University, Tikur Anbessa Medical School in 1998. He then moved to United States and specialized in psychiatry.

School

Meheret received his Medical Degree in Addis Ababa, Tikur Hospital. He then travelled to the United States, and joined Saint Louis University and specialized in psychiatry in 2008.

Career

After graduating medical school, Meheret served in Military hospitals in Hurso military camp near to the eastern city of Dire Dewa. The time was the Ethio-Eritrea war, and Mehret treated the military that was training and fighting to join the war.  He then moved to another remote area, Konso, joining Doctors without Borders. The time was 2005, and there was a draught that affected many parts of the country. It was this experiences that made Dr. Meheret more passionate to understand people’s thought process and study psychiatry.

Meheret moved to the United States and studied psychiatry in Saint Louis University. After he finished his specialization, he made an arrangement to work  both in Ethiopia and USA. He spends six months of a year in both countries.

Among Ethiopian’s Dr. Meheret is most known for his two books Yetekolefebt Kulef (The locked key) and Lela Sew (the other person). His character in his books deal with the consciousness of Ethiopian’s, the limitations, cultural and social struggles as well as solutions. He uses his insight in psychiatry and tried to mainstream the concepts through his books.

Dr. Mehere also strives for social and cultural transformation, to treat what he calls illnesses in culture and life style. He is most recognized for his eloquent speaking skills and in depth analysis of the Ethiopian psyche.

Award

N/A

Personal life

Dr. Mehere lives in both United States and Ethiopia, spending every six month in a year in two countries.

Lieutenant General Jagama Kelo, also known as ‘the Thunderstorm’ is an Ethiopian patriot, freedom fighter, and a war hero during the Italian aggression. Following Italian aggression on Ethiopia in 1935 GC, Jagama decided to join the resistance movement and fight for independence of his country. He was only 15 years old at the time. He started his patriotism without a gun or a follower. However, his elder brother had a rifle to fight the Italians. The two brothers with just one weapon ambushed the Italian troops and gradually armed themselves. They were joined by other peasants in the struggle, and at the age of only 18, Jagama had more than 3000 fighters at his command.

Early Life

Jagama Kelo was born on January 29, 1920 in Ginichi, Oromia region. A son of a wealthy landlord, Jagama lost his mother when he was only one year old. His father also passed away a little after Jagama turned ten years old. An orphan at a very young age, Jagama was raised by his uncle and trustee, Aba Doyo Wami.

As a child Jagama was impressed by the heroic tales of his ancestors especially that of his great grandfather Godana Nemo. Godana was warrior, and legend has it that his presence only got his enemies trembled, and he killed everyone he fought with.

When Italians once again tried to colonize Ethiopia, at the age of only 15 years old at the time, Jagama did not hesitate to join the resistance movement and put his mark in Ethiopian struggle for independence.  Jagama says he was inspired by his ancestors, their determination never to compromise their independence and freedom.

Education

After the end of the Italian aggression, Jagama Kelo joined Holetta War Academy and received multiple military training. He was 20 years old at the time.

Military Career

On May 1936, The Italian forces, under the command of General Rudolf Graziani and Pietro Badogilo, pushed back the ill armed and poorly trained Ethiopian military and controlled the capital Addis Ababa. Regardless of their fierce resistance of the aggression, the Ethiopian army were no match, by any standard with Italian troops who came with modern weaponry including tanks, planes and nerve gas. The Emperor didn’t take him long to predict that he completely lost the war. He exiled to the United Kingdome.

Though Italians officially declared Ethiopia their colony, the brave men and women of Ethiopia did not give in. The resistance movement by the patriots (Arbegnoch) made the Italian’s five years stay agitated and troubled. The young patriot Jagama Kelo was one of those war heroes. At a very young age, his Gorilla fighting skills, bravery, and heroism got him a name ‘the Thundersome. He attacked unexpectedly and escaped some of the most dangerous situations that would have him killed and his army destroyed.  Jagama was also known for his charm, impressive negotiation skills and decisive leadership, which placed him above many of his peers and got him thousands of followers.

In 1941, after a five years of struggle and resistance by the Ethiopian patriots (and support by the British military), the Italian’s were defeated and left the country. Emperor Haile Selassie returns from exile to resume power. His home coming was highly celebrated by the people and patriots who fought the Italians.  Jagama did not come to the capital Addis Ababa to greet the emperor and take part in the ceremony. Instead, the king himself had to make the trip to Gimichi, Jagama’s home town, to meet the heroic young patriot and his soldiers. Jagama commanded nearly 5000 soldiers at the time.

Haile Selassie offered Jagama to Join Holetta War Academy to receive a formal military training. Jagama was only 20 years old at the time.

The young Gorilla fighter in fact had a bright future waiting for him in the Imperial Ethiopia Military. He rose all the way to Lieutenant General Rank and became one of the top generals in the country, one that the emperor highly depended on. He was later appointed to provincial military commander. During his life time, Jagama Kelo took part in several battels and was wounded countless times. As a solider he survived a helicopter crash, and was wounded seriously 17 times, and had a near death experience as a result.

Following the fall of the DERG regime in 1991, Jagama also joined opposition politics and was one of the founders of an opposition party called the Ethiopian Unity Party.

Honor and Award

Jagama received many honors and awards in his stay in the army. He also rose all the way to Lieutenant General Rank.

Personal life

The Thunderstorm, General Jagama Kelo passed away at the age of 96 on April 7, 2017 in Addis Ababa Armed Forces Hospital.

Jagama Kelo has five children, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Hiwot Teffera is an Ethiopian Author and a former member of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP). She is most known for her book ‘Tower in the Sky’ published by Addis Ababa University Press in 2012. The book is a personal account of her involvement in the student revolution in the late 1960s and early 70s, and her role at the EPRP party.

Hiwot was imprisoned and tortured by the DERG regime for eight years. In her book ‘Tower in the Sky’ she gives a very detail and personal that led for her arrest and torture by the military regime DERG. .

Early life

Hiwot was born and raised in the Eastern part of Ethiopia, in Harar City. After attending her primary and seconder school in Harar, she moved to Addis Ababa to Addis Ababa University.

Career

Hiwot Teffera is an author of two books titled Tower in the Sky and Mine to Win. Both of them are translated in to Amharic

Her significant work is her first book, Tower in the Sky, which she details her experience as a young revolutionary university student at Addis Ababa University during the student revolution and EPRP era. The book, is an account of her awakening to the dejected socio economic and political reality of Ethiopia, her ideological evolution to the Marxist Leninists theories and her conviction to scarify herself, for what she and her friends believed will change the nation to the better. With her mentor and founder of EPRP party Getachew Maru, Hiwot took the journey of danger and insecurity, in one of the worst political eras in Ethiopian history known as the Red/White Terror. While her party EPRP was determined to fight the military regime on the streets of cities, the military was harshly killing, imprisoning and heavily torturing the young revolutionaries.

Hiwot was imprisoned and tortured for eight years by the military regimes.

Her book Tower in the sky is a fascinating personal account of the generation that perished on the face of ideological confusion, secrecy, and unripe political tactic. It is considered by many as one of the few authentic accounts of that era, and unlike many other writings on the history and downfall of EPRP, the book is acclaimed for showing the human side of the revolutionaries.  Hiwot goes in to detail from friendship to romance and betrayal that went on between the young and ambitious EPRP members.

The book is well received by the present generation.

Award/Honor

NA

Personal life

Following the success of her book ‘Tower in the Sky’ Hiwot moved back from Canada to Ethiopia. She currently lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Hamelmal Abate is an Ethiopian singer, performer and a fashion Icon. Her incredible voice and timeless arrangement appeals to generations. Her music has both traditional and modern appeal, making her as one of the top singers and performer in the country.

Hamelmal is very outspoken in many social issues in the country including her strong stand on copy right laws in Ethiopia, challenging the system and the implementation of the law as disadvantageous for musicians and artists. She insists a change in the countries copy right law, and the need to sensitize the public to respect and obey intellectual property rights.

She is also a Good Will Ambassador for Oxfam’s rural women economic empowerment project.

Early Life

Hamelmal was born in Hararge, Asebe Teferi. She first joined Asebe Teferi elementary school. Hamelmal was best known at her school as an entertainer who imitates musicians like Bezunesh Bekele and Ali Birra. In fact, her school mates called her Bezunesh.  It’s at school that Hamelmal realized her talent as a musician. She then joined a nearby church quire and started singing spiritual songs.

Career

Hamelmal started her music career at the very early age in a church. She then joined the Kebele Kinet (a youth music group organized at a district level at the time). She was named after the renowned Ethiopian singer at the time Bezunesh Bekele. She was obsessed with music that she had to run away to Harar. Her family was very resistant of her choices. Hamelmal recalls a story where her mother was trying to force her to go back to Asebe Teferi from Harar. She was determined to make it as a musician and resisted her family.

She was only 14 when joined Harar Police Orchestra.  With the Orchestra, Hamelmal performed all over the then Harerge region, and was very much celebrated.

She then decided to move to the capital Addis Ababa to get a bigger stage. At the time, she auditioned at all of the theater houses in Addis. National Theater decided to hire her on a freelance (contract) bases. Hamelmal also played with the renowned Roha Band.

In the early 1990s, Hamelmal moved to the United States. She lived in California and Washington D.C performing to the Ethiopian diaspora all over the world. Her concert everywhere is known to be sold out. She also owned an Ethiopian restaurant in the United States.

Hamelmal moved back to her country in early 2010s. She settled in Addis Ababa.

Over the years Hamelmal published nine albums and hold countless concerts all over the world.

Award

• All Africa Music Award, Afrima, 2017, Best Artist in African Traditional

Personal Life

Hamelmal currently lives in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. She has two daughters. Her daughters live in the United States.

Abebe Bikila is an Ethiopian legendary marathon runner, the first African to win a gold medal and set a new record at the Olympics. In the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome, to the surprise of many, Abebe run the marathon bare foot in the cobblestone roads of Rome, and set a world record. He then run in in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and not only defended his title but also bested his own record in the distance.

Abebe is considered as a sign of resilience and commitment. His spirit of winning and survival in the athletics and beyond is exemplary. He is also credited for Ethiopia’s special place in the long distance race in the world, inspiring generations to become world champions and Olympics gold medalists. He is a marking point for Eastern Africa permanence in the long distance race.

Early life

Abebe was born on August 7, 1930, in a small community known as Jato (Then part of Shewa District), now in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. His birthday coincides with the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics Marathon. A son of a shepherd, Abebe was raised on a farm, supporting his family. His parents were separated when he was young and he was raised by his mother and stepfather. As A child Abebe loved running around his village and playing Yegena Chewata (an Ethiopian version of Hockey). He was the fastest and strongest amongst his peers.

Athletics Career

Abebe’s long and glorified Athletics Career starts when he joined the Imperial Guard, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the age of 24. To keep the special army fit, the unit had several sport activities. A born athlete, Abebe took the opportunity to develop his love for sport activities and focused more in the long distance running. In the mid-1950s Abebe started his training in Sululta (Out skirt of Addis Ababa) running 20KM back and forth. His effort was noticed by the Imperial Guard Swedish trainer Onni Niskanen. Onni was a director of athletics in the Ministry of Education. Recognizing Abebe’s potential in the long distance run, he decided to coach him so that he can prepare for Marathon.

In the Ethiopian Army Championships, Abebe debated his Marathon career. On his first race, he finished second to Wami Biratu.

There are two conflicting thought on how Abebe first got his shot to the Olympics in Rome. While some argue that he was a replacement at the last monument for missing runner, others argue that his participation is long planned. With the assistance of coach Onni, Abebe made intense preparation for the Rome Olympics. However, just a few days earlier to the Olympics, Abebe had a blister on his foot due to running with a new show. Some argue that Abebe was training to run bare foot, and it was all planned. However, records show that Abebe’s decision to run bare foot was made at a last minute due to the inconvenience of the shoe and the swelling of his foot.

The Marathon in the Rome Olympic was the most watched tournament as many favorite athletes were participants. Sergey Popov of Russia (who was the record holder), Abdesselem Rhadi of Morroco (who won the international race the same year) and Barry Maggee of New Zealand were among the favorites to win the race. No body have heard of a young athlete from Ethiopia, who runs bare foot at the time. It was only his coach Onni who knew that Abebe was a threat and that he might easily win.

By the 15 kilometers, Abebe joined the leading group in the race. The competition came down to four athletes including Arthur Kelly of Britain. When only one kilometer is left, Abebe made his final move and drew away. He finished the race with a new record 2 hours 15 minutes and 16.25 seconds. He improved the previous record that was set in Helsinki in 1952 by 8 minutes. Later, his coach Onni commented to journalists that he is not surprised by Abebe’s win at all. ‘He has no fear of his rivals. He has a strong willpower and dedication. There is none like Abebe I had seen’ he said.

After four years, in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the first in Asia, Abebe was a man to watch. The Tokyo Olympics was spectacular for its preparation and decoration, and was a live event in many countries. Japanese also had a special regard for a marathon, and they consider it as a real test of a man. Abebe not only won the race, this time with a shoe, but also broke his own record. He became the first athlete to defend a title/to have consecutive win in a marathon in the Olympics. His starship was on the rise, and was named as one of the best athletes on the planate by many media outlets. In a press conference after wards, Abebe says he already has his eyes on the next Olympics in Mexico City. He said he would win the marathon for the third time.

However, a leg injury he suffered during training did not allow him to win in Mexico City. He couldn’t finish the course and left the competition early.

In 1969, Abebe had a tragic car accident. He was sent to England for a treatment. After eight months, to the grief of many Ethiopians, Abebe returned home in a wheelchair. It was what happened next that proved Abebe’s spirit and will power to never give up. He entered a paraplegic sport competition in England and finished seven. Abebe was quoted as saying that he would accept his accident by grace as he accepted his wins at the Olympics the same.
In 1972, Abebe was invited to the Munich Olympic as a guest of honor. He was received by standing ovation as he entered the stadium in a wheelchair.

Ababe Bikia died in October 25, 1973 at the age of only 41. The cause of his death is stated as cerebral hemorrhage related to his accident.

Award/Honor

• Gold Medal and Record Holder, Rome Olympics Marathon, 1960
• Order of the Star of Ethiopia from Emporer Haile Selassie
• Gold Medal and defending champion, Tokyo Olympic Marathon 1964

Personal Life

Abebe married Yewebdar Woldegiorgis on March 16, 1960. The marriage was arranged by his mother. They remained married for the rest of his life and have children together.

Ejigayehu Shibabaw (stage name Gigi) is an Ethiopian singer and songwriter. Gigi is known for combining original traditional sounds with a variety of international music. She is also one of the few Ethiopian musicians recognized globally, performing in many stages worldwide.

Early life

Gigi was born in 1974 in the Amhara region, Chagni, Ethiopia. Her family moved to the capital Addis Ababa in 1984. Gigi decided to become a singer and songwriter at a very early age.

Musical career

Her family, who are traditional and religious, challenged her decision to become a singer. To make her dream a reality, Gigi had to run away from her country to Nairobi, Kenya. She was only 19 years old at the time. In 1993, Gigi established a bad and had her first concert in Nairobi. Upon return, she joined the National Theater in Addis Ababa and met musician Fantahun Shewankochew and Weres Egziabeher. The trio was known for its traditional sounds composed by Kirar and Masinko. They have toured eastern and southern Africa as well as some European countries with their music.

In 1997, while performing at a World Music Festival in France their music impressed a record company Maison des Cultures du Monde. The company approached Gigi and her bandmates to record Ethiopian traditional love songs. The company released the record in France with the title ‘ÉTHIOPIE/Chants d Amour’. The same year, Gigi also released her album titled ‘Tsehay’ (the Sun).

In 1998, Gigi moved to the United States. She settled in California and started recording her first album with Dereje Mekonen. Gigi wrote all the ten songs in the album and performed with her sensual voice. The album titled One Ethiopia brought Gigi to the limelight, recognized and loved by many Ethiopians. The strength and the message of the lyrics and the originality, as well as the cultural appropriateness of the melody, singled out Gigi as one of the best creative musicians in the industry. The album draws the attention of Chris Blackwell of Palm Pictures, which led her to meet the renowned musician Bill Laswell.

Bill invited an impressive group of master musicians to record an album, which is now known as ‘Gigi’ and Guramyale (mixed). In 2001, the album was critically acclaimed and became the highlight of Gigi’s music career. The album was a fusion of Africa, Asia, jazz, and funk sounds. It is still considered a masterpiece of Ethiopian/African music.

Gigi also released Illuminated Audio, 2003 (Laswell’s remix of the 2001 album “Gigi”) Abyssinia Infinite: Zion Roots, 2003, Gold & Wax, 2006, Mesgana Ethiopia, 2010.

Gigi’s voice is in the Hollywood film Beyond Borders (2003), in which Angelina Jolie portrays an aid worker during the 1984 – 1985 famine in Ethiopia.

Personal life

Gigi was married to her long-time mentor and musician Bill Laswell, and they have a son together. They are currently separated. Gigi lives in California, United States.

Samuel Tafesse is an Ethiopian Philanthropic, billionaire, a construction and real estate mogul.  He is the owner and CEO of Sunshine Investment Group. Samuel is considered as one of the very sharp business minds in Ethiopia. He started as an individual contractor going home to home and fixing people’s roofs, and turned the business in to one of the top construction and real estate companies in the country.

Sunshine Construction was established in 1984 as a sole proprietorship and later in 1993 transformed in to a private limited company.

According to Forbs, Samuel is one of Africa’s richest men, with an estimated net worth of 1.6 Billion Dollars.

Early Life

Samuel was born in Addis Ababa from a low income family in one of the slam known as Cherkos Sefer. He is the first born of a family of five. His father was a civil servant. He was raised in a church and served Cherkos and Saint Gabriel churches.

He spent most of his childhood working as a parking boy and street vender to support his family financially.

Samuel says he learned working hard, discipline and starting small from his family.

Education

In the late 1980s Samuel joined Addis Ababa University Engineering department to study civil engineering. At the time, he was still working as an independent contractor fixing roofs and finishing works. He dropped out after third year. He says his work was very demanding and he couldn’t attend classes and finish his degree.

Career

Samuel says he was convinced, at a very young age that he will be rich. For that, he was certain that he should be able to run his own business. He resisted government jobs and started his own small business painting houses and fixing roofs. He was known as Sami Ashenda (a reference for his fine work in roof repair) for fixing roofs in many buildings of Addis Ababa.

When he decided to get a license for construction, he only had 500 birr (13.80 USD in today’s value), in his bank account. Just to get the license he needed 10,000 birr (276 USD in today’s value) capital. He borrowed the money to start his business. Though he got his license, it was the Derg regime and communism was the ideology of the day. Business was very slow for the construction sector. However, when the mixed economy was introduced at the last years of the military regime, Samuel’s business took off.

After the change in government, in 1991, Samuel saw the new era of construction in Ethiopia. In fact, the new ‘capitalist’ system was construction enthusiast, and Samuel was at the right place and time to boom his business. As the government started constructing roads all over the country, Samuel turned his company Sun Shine in to an expert of road construction. He won more than 15 bids to construct roads in different parts of the country, some of them very difficult and mountainous.

Zebider Mountain road is one of the most known accomplishment of the company. The company then went in to buildings and real estate. Sunshine construction is behind most of university building, apartments, and commercial complexes.

The company built the Marriott Executive Apartment Hotel, the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently the company is also building Hilton Hotel in Hawassa, some 270 kilometers from Addis Ababa.

Samuel established sun shine foundation in 2010. The foundation supports children who lost their parents for HIV/Aids to continue their education. The foundation also supports elders and street children. Samuel has committed all revenue from one of his commercial building constructed on Africa Avenue (Bole Road) to the foundation. The construction earns 15 million birr annually.

Family

Samuel Tafesse is married to Fetlework Elala for more than 30 years.

They have six children, three girls and three boys. Samuel and his family live in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

Captain Solomon Mengestu was an Ethiopian pilot with Ethiopian Airlines who was captured and imprisoned in Somalia, Mogadishu during the Ethio- Somalia war, also known as the Ogaden War in 1977-78. While flying to Kebri Dehar as an assistant pilot for General Alemayehu Woldesenbet, Solomon found himself in the midst of a war. The crew had no military training and information. With nearly 15 people on board, their airplane was hit by Somali army with anti-aircraft. While most of the airplane was out of function, Solomon and his colleagues made an emergency landing in Kebri Dehar airport, saving everyone on the plane.

Solomon and everyone on board was badly wounded, hit by the fractions of the anti-aircraft.

He then was captured with other Ethiopians by Somalia military and imprisoned for 11 years in Mogadishu prison.

Early life

Solomon was born and raised in the eastern city of Harar, Ethiopia.

He joined the Ethiopian airlines as a trainee pilot nine years prior to his capture by the Somali National Army.

Career

Somalia’s invasion on Ethiopia in July 13, 1977 was over the disputed region of Ogaden. Somali National Army, led by President Said Barre, invaded Ethiopia, with a vision of creating the ‘Great Somalia”. Siad Barre commanded his troops deep in Ethiopian territory, threatening the western Ethiopian city, Dire Dewa, just 447 Kilo Meters from the capital Addis Ababa. The Ethiopian military government Derg, led by Mengestu Haile Mariam responded quickly with the support of the governments of Soviet Union and Cuba.

The war ended in March 1978 by Ethiopian victory over the Somalia troops.

In August 15, 1977, Captain Solomon flew to Dire Dewa as an assistant pilot for General Alemayehu Weledesenbet. However, in Dire Dewa, the crew was told to return to head back to Addis Ababa, and then to fly to the border city of Kebri Dehar with their DC3, Alpha Alpha Papa (APP) small airplane. The assignment was to collect Ethiopian troops who were wounded during the war. They were also carrying a bomb to deliver to the Ethiopian military.  When reaching Kebri Dehar, which was under the Ethiopian military control, their plane was hit by anti-aircraft. They had to have an emergency landing in Kebri Dehar airport. However their landing was a scuffle, since most of the parts of the airplane was hit and not functioning. The safe landing of the plane by Captain Solomon and General Almayehu is considered one of the most heroic stories in the Ethiopian aviation history. Solomon was badly wounded.

Regardless of their safe landing, Kebri Dehar was a war zone. While Solomon is still badly wounded and unable to move, he witnessed the entire Ethiopian base bombed and Kebri Dehar fail under the control of Somalia army. Many of the people at the base was hit, and Solomon, with his wounds had to run for his life with a few people who were at the base. He did not know where he was going, or which direction is safe. Their escape was cut short when the Somalia military caught up with them.

Solomon with other Ethiopians was taken to Mogadishu prison, where he spend the next eleven years of his life. On their way in to Ethiopia, Somali military captured tens of thousands of Ethiopians including women, children and elderly. Solomon joined a prison, with many Ethiopians.

Their time in prison was disturbing. Civilian Ethiopians were mistreated and abused by the Somali military. The military was frustrated because they lost the war with Ethiopia. Solomon was imprisoned in what he says the smallest room anyone could ever imagine. For the man who was flying all over the world, was difficult to be confined in a prison and a room that wasn’t big enough to stretch legs. Solomon was a civil pilot, caught up in a war. However, he and many other civilians were treated even worse than a military captured in a war.

Solomon, survived 11 years of prison in Mogadishu with hope and reading.

Solomon and many other Ethiopians were released after an intense negotiations between Ethiopia and Somalia. The negotiation was led by Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Including Solomon, 3,500 Ethiopian returned to their country in 1988.

Up on his return, Solomon joined Ethiopian Airlines again. He joined pilot training program again and started flying for the airlines. He served the airlines for nearly 30 years before retiring.

Award/recognitions

N/A

Personal Life  

Solomon is married and has two kids. Solomon is now retired and lives in Addis Ababa, with his family.

Eleni Gabremedhin (PhD) is a globally recognized thought leader on agricultural markets and African Development. She is a founder and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX). She is credited for transforming Ethiopian commodity exchange, and is considered the visionary of modern and efficient market that benefits especially small holder coffee producers in Ethiopia. She took the exchange from its initial phase to annual trading of 1.2 Billion USD in just three years. Eleni is also awarded for her remarkable leadership in managing the transformation process of the Ethiopian traditional commodity exchange in to modern and efficient platform. She was a CEO of ECX from 2008-2012.

Early Life

Eleni was born on July 12, 1964 In Addis Ababa Ethiopia. She left Ethiopia when she was just four years old.  Her father was a diplomat who moved to different countries, and she was raised in six countries including Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. Eleni credits her multicultural upbringing for her success later in life. She is multi lingual speaking Swahili, French, Amharic and English.

Education

Eleni attended he primary school in Kenya, Rwanda and Mali. She moved to the United States to attend a high school. Eleni has a PHD in applied Economics from Stanford University, Master’s degree from Michigan State University and bachelor’s degree in Economics from Cornell University.

Career

Eleni has decades of experience on agricultural markets in Africa. She served in many senior positions in the World Bank, the International Food Policy Research Institute (Washington), and United Nations (Geneva). She served as a Non-Executive Director of Syngenta AG from April 23, 2013 to June 26, 2017. She received the American Outstanding Dissertation Award in Agricultural Economics in 1999. She was awarded the prestigious Yara Prize and the African Banker Icon award in 2012 and invited to address world leaders at the G8 summit in Camp David. She was named among 100 Most Influential Africans 2012, the 50 Women Shaping Africa 2011 and Ethiopian Person of the Year 2009.

While working for IFPRI, Eleni, as many others in the filed noticed that in Africa, while there is draught and shortage of food in some parts, there is surplus and excess product in others. In her survey of grain traders in 2002, she identified lack of effective infrastructure and service for grain market as a key factor contributing to inefficient market. Traders often failed to have access to sufficient credit, information about the market, transportation and other vital resources and contract compliance was difficult to enforce. In 2004 she moved home from the US to lead an IFPRI program to improve Ethiopia’s agricultural policies and markets. Specifically she undertook the important role of coordinating the advisory body developing the ECX. She became CEO of the new exchange in 2008. Eleni is known for her determination to incentive small holders with a better price from their product. She argued that when farmers can sell their crops on the open market and get a fair price, they will have much more incentive to be productive, and Ethiopia will be much less prone to food crises and that the ECX will allow farmers and traders to link to the global economy, propelling Ethiopian agriculture forward to a whole new level.  She was one of the most successful leaders for the exchange. She took the exchange from its initial phase to annual trading of 1.2 Billion USD in just three years.

Eleni moved from ECX in 2012 to become a director of Syngenta. She also founded Eleni LLC in the same year.

She is currently a founder and CEO of Blue Moon, Ethiopia’s first youth agribusiness incubator and seed investing platform.

Awards

• In 2010, Eleni was given the “Ethiopian Person of the Year” honor for the 2002 Ethiopian year
• In 2012, Eleni was awarded the Yara Laurate Prize from the Norwegian fertilizer manufacturer Yara International for her outstanding contributions to sustainable food production and distribution with socio-economic impact. Previous recipients of the prize include former prime minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi
• Winner of the African Banker Icon award 2012.
• Invited to address world leaders at the G8 Summit Camp David 2012.
• Named among New African magazines 2012: 100 Most Influential Africans.
• Listed in the 50 Women Shaping Africa 2011.
• Ethiopian Person of the Year 2009

Personal life

Eleni currently lives in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.