BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
Teferi Mekonen is famed and trusted as progressive man who can transform Ethiopia to a modern and developed state. Teferi has got instruction from Samuel Wolde Kahin, an Ethiopian religious scholar, and from Dr. Vitalien, a surgeon from Guadeloupe, French overseas region. He speaks good English and French. He has also toured Europe and the Middle East. This learning and world experience must have helped Teferi to rise to power. In 1930, Teferi in reign name Haile Selassie I began his modernization pursuit; art and education were at the heart of all.
Emperor Haile Selassie expanded education access from primary to territory level. He gave his Guenete Leul Palace to serve as the administration building and main campus of Haile Selassie I University now is Addis Ababa University. By establishing strong diplomatic relation, foreign professionals, teachers and trainers came to Ethiopia to help produce skilled human power.
Ethiopian students also got scholarship opportunity to European and American Universities. When sending these students to abroad, the emperor used to give them advice. Most Honorable World Laureate Maitre Artist Afewerk Tekle recalls his majestry saying the following: “You must work hard, and when you come back do not tell us what tall buildings you saw in Europe, or what wide streets they have, but make sure you return equipped with the skills and the mindset to rebuild Ethiopia.”
Even though the Emperor made effort for Ethiopian youth get western education in country or abroad, he has also strong conviction that local wisdom has great potential and must be exploited with care and knowledge. So, he insisted a blend of both to come with power and purpose to heralding a new era in Ethiopia.
The emperor also readied infrastructures for art to thrive in Ethiopia. In 1955, Haile Selassie I Theater (now Ethiopian National theatre) was completed having seats for 1,260 people. The theatre group was founded in late 1940s bringing professionals like Austrian composer Franz Zelwecker. Ethiopian modern music was also blooming since the first official orchestra, The Arba Lijoch (forty Armenian orphans) came from Jerusalem by emperor Haile Selassie.
Then large orchestras such as Army Band, Police Band, and Imperial Bodyguard Band follow suit. Ethiopian artists with the instruction of foriegn music experts and materials sustain to explore music with different lyrics, melody and composition. Music master and pianist Teferra Mekonnen, notable vocalists like Tilahun Gessesse, Ali Birra, Bizunesh Bekele and the growing number of song writers are the product of this initiative. Yared Music school which was founded in 1954 is still the backbone of Ethiopian music producing youth that can play traditional and modern musical instruments.
Russian studied Teklehawariat wrote the first play entitled Fabula:Yeawerewoch Comedia (Fable: the Comedy of Animals) and staged it at Terrace Hotel Addis Ababa in 1921. Since then play performance, writing of plays and poems and other literary acts continued to expand in Hager Fikir Theatre, Haile Selassie I Theater and municiplaity theater.
The theater houses helped artists with talent and training to exhibit their potential to the public. Big names still now Tsegaye Gebremedhin, Mengistu Lema, Tesfaye Gessesse, Abate Mekuria, Debebe Eshetu and Wegayehu Nigatu were writing, directing and performing plays that have sociopolitical significances. The emperor used to visit and his administration provide different support to the theatre houses.
Ethiopia has a long tradition of painting but there was no professionality and no schools that cultivate skills from childhood. The work of emperor Haile Selassie is still visible as Ethiopian reknowed artists have been selected to get standard education here in Ethiopia at General Wingate School and got scholarship by the effort of the King.
Among the lists Most Honorable World Laureate Maitre Artist Afewerk Tekle, Gebrekristos Desta and Skunder Boghossian were the result of the emperor’s commitment to art one way or another. Not just scholarship, the emperor was also encouraging these painters by purchasing their works and insisting others in his administration to do the same.
He was also giving patronage whose works have unusual styles like abstract painting of Gebrekristos Desta. Inagurating Addis Ababa Ale School of Fine art and design, emperor noted the significance of art in spearheading technical development in the country. “We consider it a matter of great importance to revise and develop the fine arts in Our country in a manner which will enable Our artists to combine the historical and traditional art of Ethiopia with the advantages of modern technical developments in the field.”
Many of cabinets of the emperor have become intellectual figures publishing landmark books on areas of education, politics, economy and other significant aspects. Tales of Kebede Michael, epic novel of Haddis Alemayehu, plays of Hiruy Woldeselassie and biographies of Mekonen Endalkachew were popular. It is easy to assume the emperor was passionate about literature and writing in general as he published his autobiography, which maybe the first for Ethiopian leader to published while he was in office.
In addition to all these, the emperor was also promoting art and inspiring next generation of artists by giving awards. The Haile Selassie I Prize Medal is formed with this thought as his majesty on the occasion said this: “We have established this chartered and completely independent organization…to ensure the promotion and encouragement of activities and proficiencies of the Ethiopian people in the diversified fields of Amharic literature, fine arts, agriculture, industry, educational activities and humanitarian activities.”
Laurate Tsegaye Gebremedhin, Gebrekristos Desta and Skunder Boghossian were some of the recipenets of this award. This consistent effort and vision of Emperor Haile Selassie produced the finest of Ethiopia in many fields of art, education and even science. This contribution to art and literacy development in the country can be taken as a model and even be emulated while Ethiopia is seeking to upgrade its quality of education.
Emperor Haile Selassie built the National Archives and Library of Ethiopia and it began service with books donated by the emperor. Likewise, Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed (PhD)’s government have built state of the art Abrehot Library and books are being colected from generous people. This is promising start but further promotion, recognition of artists and expansion of facilities are essential to reciprocate the emperor.
We consider it a matter of great importance to revise and develop the fine arts in Our country in a manner which will enable Our artists to combine the historical and traditional art of Ethiopia with the advantages of modern technical developments in the field
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 16 JUNE 2023
