Current Issue
In Memoriam |
Dr. Dejazmatch Zewde Gabra-Selassie was one of the most spectacular Ethiopian intellectuals of the twentieth century. He was born to the royal family and was grandson of Emperor Yohannes IV. A true aristocrat, he also happens to be one of the very few members of the royal family to receive higher level western education. He began his career in public service at age fourteen as governor with the title of Dejazmatch of a district in Tigray. In addition to serving as a deacon in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church , he received primary western style education in Jerusalem during the time of Ethiopia 's occupation in 1936 and then traveled to England in 1948 with the permission of Emperor Haile Selassie to pursue higher education. He was enrolled at the University of Exeter where he received a diploma in English literature. He then studied philosophy, political science and Economics at Oxford, graduating with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Until his passing in 2008, he remained one of the few prominent Ethiopians of the twentieth century with rich experience and first-hand information on the country's major political issues. His capacity of remembering details regarding his country's history was so remarkable that we used to call him “a walking Ethiopian Encyclopedia.” Dr. Dejazmatch Zewde was a highly distinguished historian and scholar par excellence . He spoke seven languages fluently. One exceptional thing about him was that very few among his generation and ethnic background could match his patriotic fervor. He was a man of the highest integrity with an unswerving commitment to Ethiopianness.
Dr. Dej. Zewde held many senior positions in the government of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, among which were: Minister of Public Works, Transport and Civil Aviation 1955--1958, Mayor of the capital city of Addis Ababa 1958--1960, Ambassador to the newly independent state of Somalia 1960, Minister of Justice 1961--1963, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations 1971--1974, Minister of the Interior 1974, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia 1974. He resigned from this post in November 1974, on account of the mass killing of government officials by the Derg , without due process of law. Dr. Dejazmatch Zewde is the author of many works including Yohannes IV - Political Biography, Oxford University Press – 1975; and Eritrea and Ethiopia , in the Context of the Red Sea and Africa , Washington D.C. Smithsonian Institute, 1976. He is survived by his two daughters, Rebecca and Elizabeth. His is mourned by scholars and pat riots alike.
Paulos Milkias, Concordia University
Copyright C 2008 by Horn of Africa Journal. Reproduction of contents in any form without permission from the Editor/Publisher is forbidden.
