- (When God shuts the door he opens the window)
BY ALEM HAILU
Bedlu was born in1972 in Kess sefer (priests’ abode) a village found around Saint Ureal’s Church abutting Kazan chis. His father was a laborer of the Ethiopian Road Authority, while his mother a house wife.
As the saying goes to add an insult to injury Bedelu joined his destitute parents to live with disability – with deformed hands. That was why his parents named him Bedlu, which literary means let him grow as per his fate. He has two sisters and two brothers. During those days it was 80 Birr per month his father used to give to his mother for running the family.
For the purpose of subsidizing the family’s income his mother often took him to churches on festivities. Placing him on a small carpet before congregants she used to collect alms.
Later Bedlu named himself Yoseph, a name by which he now goes by. His friends also nicknamed him Metu, an Indian film star about which Yoseph used to talk too much watching famous movies of the time.
Till he turned ten he could neither sit nor stand upright. But after he managed to do so with fellow children he was allowed to his heart’s content play marble glass balls as well as Tetherball with his legs. That helped him develop his leg muscles and balancing his body.
While a kid he was sent to a priest’s school. Based on what he acquired there and developing his reading skill focusing specially on texts and newspapers he had managed to catch up with students in the regular program. Tuning to the radio was his hobby. After He joined a language school called Saint Mary found in Arat Kilo he did manage to develop his English language communication skill.
As he was practicing writing with his toes it did not take him long to draw pictures in the same manner. Joining Abissinia Art School tuition-fee free, after he won the favor of the kindhearted owner of the school W/ro Genet, he succeeded in further refining his skills of drawing pictures with his mouth. To draw pictures to the the still frequents the school, where a special corner is reserved for him.
“Nonstop I paint pictures there with watercolor on canvases. As I use my mouth for safety reason I have to restrict myself to paint color. I also give advice to students and listen to their reflections. After watching my interview on different media outlets how I’m painting undaunted by the state of living with disability those in the same boat are joining such schools in droves. That has become a source of pride to me. Many are who accord me moral support. I have readied 8 masterpiece pictures for exhibition. I have also sold few pictures to restaurants like Coffee Days and hotels like Jupitar and Elele at Kazan chis. I did participate in eight exhibitions so far.”
He has 3 children from two marriages. He married again when his first wife passed away. He relies on others to hand feed him. It was while dining in a restaurant assisted by a waitress he got his second wife Yenenesh, who first felt pity for him. Gradually she got head over ears in love with him. “Yenenesh, a mother of two of my younger children helps me dine, put on clothes, pee and take shower as my mother and my first wife used to do. I can’t imagine what my life could have been without the assistance of these women.
To my delight this year my eldest daughter received BSc in civil engineering as well as diploma in Business Administration from Arbaminch University. You see she was also attending extension program. Parallel to pursuing education she was vending some items in campus to generate pocket money. Not only has my daughter, my son has also received a diploma from a private college. To mark the occasion I will throw a graduation party to them on October 24.Given my limb hands I was but a cabbage. But God opens the window when he shuts the door.”
Concerning the help he needs “If I get my own studio I could do works without distraction and put up works for sale I could take my painting talent to higher levels .You see now I use our two-room house as my studio.”
He has the following message to convey to the youth “Youths must stand guard not to fall a prey to addiction. They must not easily despair. They have to learn to say ‘Never die!’ If people living with disability managed to stand on their feet to come up with works worth to crow about why must not those whose body parts are intact? Especially when it comes to art as they work in passion people living with disability are seen excelling.
Above all they should have a cherished corner in their heart for their country and fellow Ethiopians.”
As the public buses are not designed in a way that allows people with floppy hands to take a chair easily I did not go to the province to see my daughter graduating. There are issues that beg for solutions when it comes to making things friendly to people living with disability.
Currently Yoseph has finalized preparations to write his autobiography which is worth emulating.
“Before 1986 I was using my toes to write and draw paintings but then after I use my mouth.” Asked which one he prefers “My mouth,” he said.
He likes going to church to say a prayer and express his gratitude to God. “Once a frequenter of the church seeing me read a bible sifting through the pages using my mouth he decided to regularly read the bible inspired by my act. ‘Given your condition if you go to that extent why must not I do the same?’ ”
Regarding things that surprised him most he said “Going from one bar to another in Kazan chis I had to seek alms past midnight. Some neatly dressed and decent looking guys were taking money out of my pocket while those with tattered clothes were helping me get home safe past dark alley roads. You see you can’t judge a book by its cover and a movie by its trailer. Also whenever I stumble on rough or slippery roads I land on my chins to suffer damages. Yet my heart is filled with optimism and gratitude. I have stricken out despair from my dictionary.”
The Ethiopian Herald October 24/2021
