It is the example parents set that children imitate or replicate. In this piece we shall introduce you to a young architect who impresses her Facebook fans with amazing literary works.
She has set an example it is quite possible to use the social media to good ends.
The Ethiopian Herald: To begin with who is Beza Tezera? Tell us about where you were born and brought up?
Beza Tezera: I was born here in Addis 23 years back. I do not know how I define Beza. She is a single human being that hails from a poor family, poor country but always strives to make a better person out of herself.
Herald: Could you brief us about your educational background?
Beza : Since my parents swapped from one rental house to another I think I am one among the many students who went to different schools. The whole family was often moving from one end of the city to the other. I attended my elementary school education at New Era found in Piazza. Then we moved to Sebeta. So, for my high school education I enrolled there at a local school named Kaleab.
Years later I came back to Addis. I joined Radical Academy for a preparatory school education at. Finally, I held my B.SC from Jimma University in architecture. I graduated last summer. I count that a great achievement of all the exertions I made to date. It felt as if I became just an older soul then after. Now, I hear about a lot of bad things about campus students and the campus before and even after I joined. I cannot say everything is a lie but one thing I know is it will help to be full human beings with challenging life experience and to set a way one sees the world.
Herald: You actively participate in poetry groups on Facebook and other forums. You also have many fans. When did you develop interest in literature and poetry?
Beza: I always get amazed when people respond as “as far as I remember my life” I think this goes same for me too. Even I never expected myself saying like that.
My father was a voracious reader. He works at Mega Enterprise. Books and papers are stuffs we have in abundance at home. My father used to buy to me children’s story books in English and Amharic. I started reading when I was five. Still now he brings magazines every weekend. Because of this habit of his, we had piles of books in the
house. As such, as an avid reader, I had many options to broaden my horizon of knowledge on top of acquiring command in Amharic and English.
My dad was one of the brilliant minds and he wanted to pursue his education further but for some reasons he was unable to do that. So, he urged me to be intelligent in my education. He wants to achieve his dreams via me. He was also a writer when he was young. So, I think the writers’ blood flows in our vein.
Stealing his papers, I was able to read and comprehend my father’s writings when I became a grade six student. I think that was when I really wanted to become a writer because my dad was my model and all I wanted to emulate was his action.
When I was a kid reading poems and stories in front of classmates always fascinated me a lot but I never knew I had a bent for writing till we were ordered to write poems when I was in elementary school. All I did previously were simple attempts for the consumption of my passion. After noticing how my teacher and classmates positively accepted my works, I felt I must press ahead with this task. I reflected I can do more. That was how I started trying my hands on different literary genres.
Even if I was fascinated and loved the interest for literature mounting inside me, a kid, I was a bit shy to present myself as I was. My dad also did not like my inclination towards literature as he wanted me to fully throw my weight behind academic pursuits. I used to read and pen down my creative literary works. I had to do it hiding from my dad. If I opted to do it during Bega time (when schools are open here in Ethiopia) I had to do it hiding. He only let me on the summer, during school vacation. So, my story writing experience was not a vast one. While I was a kid, I fought shy from sharing.
While in campus, I continued writing during my leisure time. As such, I was able to join a religious writing club that changed me amazingly. I was able to become a recognized poet and playwright. I also produced long stories whose themes were borrowed from reality. There is also a book club like-minded individuals and students created in Jimma. That too helped me a lot because I managed to make friends with the same interest. Brainstorming and arguing on ideas after reading books became our favorite hobby.
Herald: You also write poems into English letting foreigners enjoy a window into Ethiopian literary works. Could you tell us about that? What does the feedback look like? How did you develop your language ability in both languages?
Beza: At the beginning it was creating another account I started sharing my poems and writings. I was writing to people I do not know as such I wasn’t confident. And also, it felt people who know me could be biased based on emotions.
The responses I used to get were in the affirmative. That emboldened me to post or share my works in groups and social media. So many people support me saying that I can do more. And it was a good thing.
I wrote very few English poems. I cannot tell exactly whether I am good at literary pieces in English. I feel more comfortable doing it in Amharic as many poets. I have a plan practicing my talent in English too. It is not actually about projecting me to foreigners. There are so many stories that should be seen at international levels such as problems confronting mankind. I really want the world to look at it.
Herald: On which areas do the themes (messages) of your poem’s focus? Do you think social medias like Facebook help shape the mentality of people specially the youth? How could such forums be used for the better of society?
Beza: I am not sure whether I have specific themes because when one writes on human beings it touches everything –nature, life, death, religion, personal experience and current situations, among other things. But I envisage depicting female characters with the existing reality pertaining to women’s life. When one gets a chance to move to other parts of the country (devoid of the touch of modernity) one realizes the big gap among big cities and rural areas.
Also, my mom was a great person/ character who lives (sacrifices) just like most Ethiopian mothers. Entailed in my objectives is depicting the domestic chores and painful life many Ethiopian women specially housewives undergo every day, while we are engrossed in our day to day activity. Even after working for many years on gender-based discrimination, there is social barrier we have not managed to break till now. By the way if any organization working on women’s life has interest on this issue, I am glad to work for them.
I believe there is nothing as such a good or bad thing. Things are just things. It is the engagement and how people use the “thing” makes it good or bad. The social media helps to shape the mentality of a person if only that person is responsible enough. I mean the internet world is just like a buffet. So one has to choose what is good for one. It is visible that some people use it for violence, false rumors and things one does not expect from a literate person. I believe that users too must have the ability to ignore such things.
Herald: Does your field Architecture and your life calling literature cross fertilize (help each other)? Have you faced up and downs in life be it in your field of specialization or literature?
Beza: I think so, I have good places for both professions. I love literature and I respect Architecture. Both need dedication, ambition and time. Architecture needs reading. One must be updated well to move keeping pace with time. Even though I cannot say am good at it.
Space and time are essential elements in Architecture, which goes the same for literature and us. Good building one that surfs the tide of time and stays strong. The same is true with literary works. It is not one that dilapidates but it can be lovable with the passage of time. This makes me to think that our life span is limited with time that we won’t stay here for eternity. We have to consider the value/effect/impact of things we are doing. Life is an option we can be good or bad, but why must we be bad? I think finding owns purpose and standing as single person is more preferable than moving with the mass.
The scope of imagination creates good architect as well as a good writer. Both need people with the same character who really care. So, they somehow cross-fertilize each other. But at times I cannot keep doing both. I give priority for architecture and focuses on it.
Herald: Do you have a plan to get published?
Beza: I believe that what all writers dream is getting published. I exactly do not know when. If it is the will of God, It will not be very far. When I manage to come up with a good story that could impresses me first well, I will do that.
Herald: If you have something to add or a message to convey you are welcome?
Beza: The advancement of technology has altered the idea of having softcover books because a new trend with more interesting options has come. But still families must consider and prevail on their kids to read. I mean that is how they will obtain wisdom. Because schools make a person only a professional.
Good books make the reader a good person. I believe the problem we are facing these days is not economy-related one, because poor people lead proud life after all. Those countries we used as example of prosperity started from mind set and I think we really need that. And books have the lion’s share in it.
Finally, I want to thank The Sunday Edition of the Ethiopian Herald a lot, for deciding to support emerging writers. I think that is a big deal. And I want to thank those people who believe in & supporting me.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition 24 November 2019
BY ALEM HAILU
