BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
For all Ethiopians to get benefitted from universal knowledge and world experiences, it is essential to haveas many masterful translators. Luckily, many translators are emerging these days and are daring to bring timely and significant issues for readers. Tatek Kebede who is an experienced journalist and communicator is another person embarking on translation with a timely subject. Tatek wanted Ethiopians to talk about and address the alarming trend of growing hatred, intolerance and toxic media before it is too late. To make his point clear and powerful, he translated the book “An Ordinary Man : An Autobiography” as written by Paul Rusesabagina.
It is personal story of Paul Rusesabagina who dared to save people from the Rwandan genocide in1994. It tells how things unexpectedly went wrong to result in cruel mass killing of people who lived together for years sharing common nation. But there is Paul Rusesabagina who maintains his sanity and dared to save people. Paul was a hotel manager and his heroism has inspired the film Hotel Rwanda. He is nicknamed the “Oskar Schindler of Africa”–refused to bow to the madness that surrounded him. Confronting killers with a combination of diplomacy, flattery, and deception, he offered shelter to more than 12,000 members of the Tutsi clan and Hutu moderates, while homicidal mobs raged outside.
In his translation, Tatek changed the book’s title to “Tikur Adagn” meaning Black Savior. Black in Ethiopia symoblizes a stranger, the unkown or the unexpected. By choosing this word Tatek must have discribed Paul as “a Good Samaritan”.
The launching of this book on January 15th brought artists, journalists, public figures and government officials together. It was a colorful ceremony creating atmoshpere for discussion. Speaking about the book’s significance, Tatek appealed to Ethiopians to consider the looming threat of bloodshed as the social bond has continued to be eroded by blind hate, false propoganda and extremism.
“ The book is just all about awaking Ethiopian people and stopping them going down the wrong path. It is letting people learn from Rwanda’s mistake. Rwandese had a terrible history of killing eachother. Ethiopians shouldn’t repeat that. We should never kill each other. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. We know we are in a difficult situation. There is conflict, hatred and use of unncessary words. It is then essential to know where this could lead us. It is when we know our path is drastic we turn our face to peace, harmony and tolerance. This book shows the conseqeuence of hatred, and by every means we should stop haterade from growing and destroying us.”
In order to avert the looming threat of violence and mass killing, people should refrain from hate speech,while media should embrace professionality. Democratic instituions should be strengethened, Tatek pointed.
“To begin with, we should tame our tongue. We should know what we speak. Our tongue should be used only to build a nation; to improve livelihood of citizens. We can observe the result of unprofessional and inappropriate usage of media from Rwandan case. Ethiopian media should take a lesson from that incident and embrace professionality and have objectivity. We should also build instituions to protect our peaceful coexistence and shared vision.”
Panelist Birhanu M. Lenjiso (PhD) examined the similarities and differences of Rwanadan and Ethiopian community during the discussion. Birhanu, who is a researcher and currently government official, higlighted that Ethiopia’s multitudeness when it comes to religion and ethnicity can be taken as opportunity and comforting news. For him, Rwanda, being basically a two tribe state, was at two extremes with no pacifier. Other things like narratives, historical resentments, competition over dominance and others make the two countries similar. However, he stressed there needs to be national forgetting on some of controversial issues. Accordingly, the nation will have strong consensus and thrive.
Netsanet Hailu, experienced journalist and media operator, discussed the destructive role of Rwandan media in creating a hlotbed of genocide. As media is a powerful tool reaching large audience, it must be practiced with caution, Netsant said. Coming to Ethiopian practice, he expressed his concern as the media is being exploted by interest groups. Hence Netsanet urged professionals to struggle and retrieve media professionality.
The other crucial element in preserving harmony and peace among people is religion. Wakuman Kudama, expereinced journalist and theology graduate, attempted to find what role the church in Rwanda played. As he exemplified his critics of the book with some direct quotes, he puts observed cruelty among the faithful to the extent of exposing and even killing their church members. “Pastors started killing their church members and church members killed pastors. Husbands killed wives. It’s a bizarre situation no one can describe,” Therefore, catholic church in Rwanda failed to live up to its doctrine. They were expected to protect their church members, to be the voice of a reason and pacifiers but the clergy themselves were blinded by hatred rand fear. There is a similar trend in Ethiopia too. Some religious fathers in Ethiopia are seen inapprorpately gulfed by political discourse. But, religious fathers should be loyal to their doctrines and guided by religious principles only, Wakuman stressed.
State Minister of Peace, Taye Dendea was also a particpant of the book launching and discussion. Taye took the opportunity to urge people to be bold to condemn hate speech and expose false narratives and false propoganda. Taye reflected Rwandan genocide could have been averted if people with knowledge and reason have spoken. But they chose to be silent fearing criticism.
The attendees appreciated the translator’s effort, skill and thoughtfulness as he used his talent to the noble cause. The book will continue to ignite discussion as it travels across the nation. This is a rare experience for Ethiopian authors to travel and launch their book. Given the topic many people are expected to buy the book, appear in the launching ceremony and brainstorm on raised issues and forward own outlooks during the discussions.
In this age of technology, people across the world have become close to each other. They can buy goods and services, communicate and most importantly exchange wisdom. They discuss relevant matters such as preserving peace, harmony and brotherhood among people. Thanks to our translators, the larger segment of Ethiopian population have become beneficiaries of this discussion. They can celebrate the good and learn out of the terrible experiences of human history. Along with the world, they have condemned the agony of Jewish people reading “The diary of Anne Frank.” They got courage, comfort and vital lessons through such books. The hope and the effort of translators like Tatek Kebede is that Ethiopians would also learn from stories of Rwandan genocide. To reign over emotions, to have professionality, principle, kindness and humanity are the messages of the book the author and the translator want to be heard loudly.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 22 JANUARY 2023
