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Jan 28 , 2023

Life of the Party: Lemmawossen Sebhatu Dies Age 73

Weighing the profit margin and analysing risks while contemplating a business idea is forte of a savvy businessperson. Lemmawossen Sebhatu was a pro when it came to that. His children admired his ability to play with numbers at breakneck speed and come up with an answer. He  grew up counting coins...

Jan 7 , 2023

The Brand of Habesha Fashion: Emama Tsion

For many, the 100-year-old Tsion Michael Andom is known as the first fashion designer who introduced the Habesha traditional wear to the international markets. To the hospitality and tourism advisor Fisseha Aseres "Emama Tsion", as most people call her, remains an eloquent speaker with the power of persuasion. He recalls Tsion's self-confidence and proving worthy of her speech when she met the late Prime Minster Meles Zenawi and played a significant role in releasing political prisoners. Fisseha and "Emama Tsion" met in 2004 in a joint action organised under the Ethiopian Elders Counseling...


Nov 19 , 2022

An Icon, Maven Ali Birra Dies at 75

For many of his fans, Ali Birra might have been a legendary musician with an expansive catalogue. He was gracious to his closest friends and mentees - a friend to all who loved animals. The public may not be as familiar with his animal rights initiatives as much as his music was admired across generations and despite language divides. As a young man, Ali was walking home from work and saw a man beating a fully loaded donkey. He offered money to present the man who had refused. Words escalated into a fight that landed Ali in jail for a night. He never regretted it. For Meseret Daba, a...


May 21 , 2022

Fisseha Desta, More Honest VP from Dark Times

Nothing says “end of an era” about the Dergue like the successive passing of its senior officials. In 2019, it was Legesse Asfaw, a major military figure, and in 2020, it was Fikreselassie Wogderes, former prime minister. The most recent was the passing of Fisseha Desta (Col.), former vice president, who remembered and held his friends in high regard, and spoke more honestly than they might have liked. He called Fikreselassie “people-centric” and a man who, “thought independently and liked to speak his mind,” even if “Mengistu [Hailemariam] might not have liked it.” Fisseh...

obituary

Mar 26 , 2022

Girma Zewdie, AU Career Officer, Serves His Last

Girma Zewdie (Col.) had never seen the need to be anything less than active, even in his mid-80s. He remained nimble into old age as best as he could. There was never a better demonstration than the f...

Feb 19 , 2022

Prudent Finance Guru, Leulseged Teferi, Passes

Leulseged Teferi had a saying that informed his understanding of various matters. He would listen to an explanation of an issue. He would then hold his palm out and say, “now look at the other side...

Printing Guru Bezuayehu Tesfaye Leaves Behind Footprint

Several years ago, Tsegaye Asfaw, head of the over a century-old Chamber Printing House, had his eyes on some Solna printing machine models. He mulled going through his usual supplier, Mosbez, an agen...

Sep 10 , 2021

Alemayehu Eshete Has Left the Building

Tsegaye Birhane, actor, met Alemayehu Eshete in the most unorthodox of ways. It was not at an event or work. Neither did they run into each other. It was the passing of Alex's, as Tesgaye calls him, f...

Jul 11 , 2021

Mother that Built House Full of Children Passes

The children who grew up with Abebech Gobena called her “Eddaye,” a term of endearment of their creation. It is not clear when it started or how, but for Abebech, it was close in meaning to Aderay...

Apr 3 , 2021

Tech Savvy Importer, Yazew Bekele, Makes His Last Sale

Alemayehu Ketsela was a young employee of Ethiopian Trade Contacts (ET-CON), an import company, when he joined Yazew Bekele for dinner with business partners at the Sheraton Addis. There he would run...

Mar 13 , 2021

Prominent Health Personality Dons His Last Kabba

Just a sneak peek of Tibebe Yemanebirhan (PhD) in one of his appearances on television speaks to his status. A dermatologist, research scientist, diplomat that has represented the country on the inter...

Jan 23 , 2021

Pioneer Retailer, 'Bambis,' Makes Last Sale

When he was young, Panos Tewodros could sometimes be “hot-blooded.” Working as an import manager with Charalambos Tsimas, better known as Bambis, a contraction of his first name, for the supermark...

Jan 16 , 2021

Instinctually Humanitarian, Yohannes Kifle Breathes His Last

Bonfires are set, and children go house to house singing Hoya Hoyeduring the holiday of Buhe, which is observed annually in August by followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The song is o...

Dec 19 , 2020

Without Regrets, "Patriot" Fikreselassie Wogderes Passes

Fikreselassie Wogderess was 46 years old when he was thrown into jail after a coalition of rebel forces fought their way into Addis Abeba in 1991. The next two decades of his life would be anticlimact...

Dec 5 , 2020

James Wolfensohn, Debt Restructuring WB Chief, Departs

The first time James Wolfensohn started working in Africa, a continent that would virtually become his mission as one of the more famous presidents of the World Bank, it was not an easy assignment. It...

Nov 29 , 2020

Fighter with the Soul of an Artist, Yemane Kidane Passes

It did not take much more than to greet Yemane Kidane, aka "Jamaica," to have an idea of his disposition. Perennially upbeat, a glass half full kind of guy, he consistently replied back to everyone th...

Oct 31 , 2020

Goatskin Aficionado, Lemma Guya, Lays Down the Brush

One of Lemma Guya's paintings, "Quanta," features dried beef, four cats, spilt milk and a rat. Stripped of its context, it seems bizarre, almost meaningless; a day in the life of a chaotic group of ho...

Oct 17 , 2020

Polio Warrior, 'Father' of Many, Mohammad Idris, Passes, 85

Mohammed Idris came to feel like a father figure to many that met him. Most striking was his effect on the younger generation. Part of this was that he had come to be known to many young people throug...

Oct 11 , 2020

Influential 'Ethiopianist,' the Professor Passes, 91

Mesfin Woldemariam (Prof.) took poetic license. An 18-year-old who had read one of his poems found this out by accident. A freshman pre-med student at Addis Abeba University in 1982, he was classmates...

Oct 3 , 2020

Politically Active Spiritual Leader, Hanfare Alimirah, Passes

Sultan Hanfare Alimirah was not one to stand back when political issues arose. Just as in 1991, he was attentive and aware of the changes that were to lead to the new administration that brought Prime...


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Martha Getachew had struggled with her weight ever since attaining 40 years old. Her gradu...

Featured | Mar 11 , 2023 . By AKSAH ITALO

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Water is a vital utility for Dawit Assefa, a contractor and father of two who lives on the...

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Quenching Addis Abeba's Thirst

Residents in the capital are all too familiar with the rationing of running water supply a...

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