Radar | Apr 15,2023
Fortune: Do you write to change society, or to document it before it changes?
Yineger: I mainly write to magnify social history, and I also try to explore how society views in different perspectives, such as theological, mythical, and psychological, through a character's story. My literary works are mostly related to these concepts.
Q: In your stories, who is usually a free person, someone with money or someone with nothing to lose? Why?
A: I believe freedom is subjective, but I think a person with nothing to lose is usually free, since the vast majority of our people can relate to the character.
Q: Was there a comment about your books that changed your point of view?
A: I get a lot of comments from a lot of people all the time. But I remember receiving a serious critique of Jacques Derrida's deconstruction theory, which I mentioned in one of my books. It was directed at the book's theoretical perspective and how I understood it, but it was also a recommendation that I consider other theories as well.
Q: What part of writing do you dread the most? Why?
A: When it comes to the writing process, I think the entire Ethiopian literature system needs improvement; it is not open to brainstorming. Our writing should be more flexible in interpretation and encourage readers to think beyond simple documentation and narration. I do not believe now is the time for documentation since we have spent many years documenting just the Western world.
Q: What does literature teach you about life that school does not?
A: I did not study literature. I believe literature is about talent and an open mind, while the technical aspects can be learned over time.
Q: Unforgettable childhood Christmas memory?
A: My favourite Christmas memory from childhood is going from house to house in the neighbourhood, singing traditional songs, receiving small gifts and money, and then buying something together with friends. At the time, I would be the one who came up with the lines for the songs. After we were done collecting money and getting our shares, we used the money to buy balls and sweets, which used to make me happy. Since it was considered our own hard-earned money, it was a big deal.
Q: What do you think about the younger generation’s reading habits?
A: This generation of readers needs closer study to determine whether readership is rising or falling. In the printing sector, book runs are strikingly low, which directly affects readership. In a country of roughly 120 million people, printing 500 to 1,000 copies of a book is alarmingly small by comparison. Social sciences also appear to be losing ground and public attention. In the United States, the closure of some academic departments signals a broader belief that formal schooling matters less than sharp thinking, visibility, and income tied to technology, AI, and social media. It is unsettling to see similar patterns taking shape at home. Some argue that readers have shifted from hard copies to soft copies, but that claim remains subjective and hard to prove.
Years ago, more than 40,000 copies could be printed for a population of 50 million and sell out, giving authors a real chance to make a living. Today, selling 1,000 copies counts as a major success. That contrast points to a steep decline in readership over time. Sales data backs this up. When the argument rests on tangible and visible evidence, the conclusion is hard to dodge. Readership is slowly fading.
Q: What’s next?
A: I want to work on social relationships, how people relate to one another historically, since most of our documented history is vertical and related to political governance. I want to research the horizontal relationships among people throughout history. I have already started some projects, and my next book will focus on social history and relationships.
PUBLISHED ON
Jan 04,2026 [ VOL
26 , NO
1340]
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