She is the heartbeat of every stage she steps on, breathing life into each performance with unmatched passion and excelled performance weaving her soul into every role and script. Her artistry is beyond talent; rather it is a force that weaves her very soul into every role and script she is entitled to. As an actress, playwright, director, and producer, she has redefined Ethiopian theatre, leaving behind a legacy deeply embedded in the soul of the arts.
To those who know her—colleagues, friends, fellow artists, and audiences alike—her presence transcends words, adding a unique spark to every production. With commanding performances and exceptional talent, she has proved time and again that she was not only born for the world of art but also destined to shine within it. For her, theater is far more than a craft; it is also vessel for healing, transformation, and empowerment.
An Actress, a Poet, and Playwright Alemtsehay Wedajo is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Ethiopian theatre and music. With a career spanning decades, she has wowed audiences both on the stage and through her poetry, while also playing a transformative role behind the scenes as a playwright, director, producer, and cultural advocate. Her contributions extend far beyond the stage, as she actively continues nurturing the next generation of artists through the Tayitu Cultural and Educational Center, which she founded and continues to lead as Managing Director.
This unwavering devotion is evident in every performance, every script, and every initiative she touches. Through her work, Alemtsehay has not only reimagined Ethiopian theatre but also created a platform where culture, identity, and artistic excellence converge.
From acting to theater productions, from musical poems to compositions, and from the stage of the Ethiopian National Theatre to the America, she shines like the glittering gold with her distinctive artistic talent.
For Alemtsehay, art is more than a profession; rather, it is the essence of her life. “Art is my addiction—I can’t live without it. If I were given a second chance at life, I would choose the same path and be the same Alemtsehay,” she once said.
Born and raised in Addis Ababa, Alemtsehay began to show her talent for the arts from a young age. While she was in fourth grade at Fitawrari Habte Giorgis Primary School, her involvement in the school’s arts club caught the attention of her teachers. Observing her enthusiasm and creativity, they recognized the potential within her early on. The captivating poems that she wrote at her young age were also a clear reflection of her artistic gift, earning her admiration from both teachers and classmates, and marking the beginning of a lifelong journey in creative expression. Her Amharic teacher was always reading aloud her poems to the class, making her an example for others.
After completing her elementary education at Fitawrari Habte Giorgis Primary School, Alemtsehay continued her studies at Medhanialem Secondary School, where her literary talent began to flourish. Her growing skills were soon recognized national recognition during a prominent competition organized across the country and brought together the most talented high school students from across the country. Alemtsehy, stood the first rank and accepted her first national literary award with pride and grace. This moment was both a remarkable opportunity and a path that created great fortune for her.
As noted in her biography, Alemtsehay’s first experience on stage came when her music teacher, Melaku Ashagre, who often organized student theatre tours, invited her to perform at the Hager Fiker Theatre. She soon became part of an amateur troupe based there. However, her growing passion for the acting clashed with her family’s expectations. Upon returning from Greece, her father insisted she prioritize her studies and pursue a prestigious career, such as medicine or law. He issued stern warnings, even threatening violence if he ever saw her performing. Despite the tension at home, her grandmother quietly, supported her, permitting Alemtsehay to continue acting as long as she remained committed to her education and refrained from publicizing her performances. Performing in secret was far from easy since her roles were public. Thus, she often had stand-ins ready in case her father showed up unexpectedly.
However, after completing her high school education, she joined The Ethiopian National Theater; where she underwent two years of training in acting. It was after that she emerged as a shining star on the theater stages. She served there for years being queen of the theatre stages. During her years, she further improved her skills taking training in Germany, the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, and Czechoslovakia to develop her career.
Aside from her acting prowess, Alemtsehay is also a distinguished poet, celebrated for her evocative lyrics. She has written, and continues to write, music lyrics for many renowned Ethiopian musicians, including the late Tilahun Gessesse and Muluken Melese, Aster Awoke, Mahmoud Ahmed, Tewodros Tadesse, Kuku Sebsibie and others. Her works have transcended generations, leaving a lasting legacy in Ethiopian music.
Of all the lyrics, the song titled ‘Ethiopia’ and she wrote it for the veteran singer Artist Tilahun Gessese, was a wonderful work in which Alemtsehay has truly showcased her talent.
Equally important, beyond her formal work, her commitment and involvement in social issues is very great. She has always been at the forefront in protecting her profession from exploitation or abuse. She is also well known for advocating the rights of those professional in the art, tirelessly championing their interests and well-being. As part of this effort, she strived to established associations.
She also co-founded the Ethiopian Actors’ Associations, and she was the driving force who made World Theatre Day celebrated in Ethiopia. Targeting to nurturing the talent of art in the younger generations, Alemtsehay was travelling to Ziway Children Amba, the largest and most modern orphanage center in Ethiopia and Africa established by the Derg for children who lost their parents due to war twice in a week to teach children there.
She also founded and headed the Children’s Theatre department, based on a model she visited in East Germany, and ran it for seven years under the Ministry of Culture. Under her leadership, artists advocated for better pay for actors. One of the most notable achievements was organizing a week-long anti-AIDS festival in Addis Ababa during the mid-1980s, a time when discussions about sex and sexually transmitted diseases were still taboo. The festival featured performances by many prominent artists, and organizers distributed condoms in matchboxes with the slogan “Play it safe.” To help ease the discomfort people felt about condoms, they even had fun by blowing them up like balloons inside the stadium.”
After moving to the United States, she took on various roles to support her family, yet she never abandoned her passion for the arts. In 2000, Alemtsehay founded the Tayitu Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., where she served as Managing Director. Despite limited funding, the center has hosted Ethiopian cultural events for over 13 years, producing more than 35 plays and holding 150+ poetry nights. It also organizes workshops for young professionals and travels annually to 17 states and Europe, performing mainly for Ethiopian diaspora communities. The center plays a crucial role in preserving Ethiopian culture, connecting the diaspora to their roots and future hopes. Recently, it opened the first Ethiopian Amharic Library in Washington, D.C. One of Alemtsehay’s dreams is to see a statue of Empress Taytu erected in Addis Ababa.
Recently, Artist Alemtsehay Wedajo inaugurated the Tayitu Cultural and Educational Center in Addis Ababa which was renovated in a collaborative undertaking between the Artist and the City Administration.
BY STAFF REPORTER
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 8 MAY 2025
