– Azeb Alfred Shafi
Azeb Alfred Shafi was born and raised here in Addis Ababa. She attended primary and secondary school education at Lycee Guebremariam and Nazareth Girls Schools. Wilson High, a school found in the United States, was her choice to complete 11th and 12th grade education.
She later preferred to join Harvard University, where many famous Africans went and graduated in political science and other field of studies. She then received a second degree in technological management from the American University of Maryland. While she arrived in the USA, there was a political movement aimed at bringing regime change in Ethiopia. Azeb was attracted by the then-poletical lobby group and joined it.
She later became one among many students who had been struggled against the regime of Emperor Haileselase I. Though she had lived for over 38 years abroad, Azeb was not able to overlook her home country. Thus, she has been attentively coming across everything going on in Ethiopia and trying to contribute her part. Even now, she is blissful about the start of national dialogue in Ethiopia and trying to add her own input. She is now doing her best to encourage the active participation of the diaspora community in national development efforts.
The Ethiopian Press Agency recently made a short stay with her and discussed multiple issues, giving special emphasis to the national dialogue. Have a nice read!
Shall we begin our conversation on how you deicded to travel and live in USA?
Just before I started grade 11 schooling, my brother Samson Alfred passed away following a car accident he came across. The accident occurred in the nearby area. As I have had a special place for my brother, the incident broke my heart. I was not able to condone.
My family was highly disturbed and worried about my spiritual wellness. They sent me to the USA, assuming that might help me overcome the depression I was in. When I departed from my homeland and arrived in the USA, it was high time for pan-Africanism sentiment. I also joined the then-political movement parallel to my education. After I received my first degree, I decided to start some sort of work. Though I had an interest in continuing education, I left it for the time being. I got married and became the mother of one. I have reard my child without quitting a job. Finally, I was able to join the university.
When my daughter grew up, I started a job at the University of Maryland, with the mission of getting scholarships both for me and my child. When my daughter joined the university, I also got the opportunity to do my second degree in technology management. And I had a plan to go back home after I finished my second degree. The primary reason that I came up with this plan was that, in the USA, you can get everything in the form of loan. And I planned to pay the entire loan within a year and came back home.
My friends did not expect that I would take such a decision. However, I prayed day and night to come back home. I prayed “My god, if you take me home, I will not be complaining about everything I look into” As per my plan, my daughter joined the university, and I was hired to access capital and come back home.
When you were in the US, how was your political participation in the issues related to Ethiopia?
When I was in school, students including me went to rural parts of Ethiopia during the summer school break and part of the program called Harambe Ethiopia. We visited Wollo, Tigray, Asmera, Gondar, and Gojjam.
We came across the lifestyle of the people residing in rural parts of Ethiopia. The visit highly influenced me. I was confused by what happened there. The famine was out breaking. I was especially touched by the scenario in Dessie. When I arrived in the US, members of the student movement welcomed me. I was ready for this sort of activity. I joined the Ethiopian Union in North America (EUNA). During that time, I struggled for regime change. I joined the rallies holding placards promoting regime change.
During that time, we read communist books and discussed with friends interested in the matter. We were somehow emotionally driven youth at that moment. Many of my friends lost their lives due to their involvement in politics. First, we sensitively raised the idea of dropping out from school to contribute for the political struggle. I was judicious and exploring escaping mechanisms and I told them that my father warned me not to quit education. Most of my friends back home interrupted their school to join the struggle.
When my friends came home, the Haileselassie regime was thrown away. The territory of the country was under the supervision of the Derge regime. A number of youths with a brilliant mind were slaughtered. The Derge regime was not different from the Haileselassie. Looking at the death of my friends and the derailing of the struggle from its original objective made me reconsider my decision to engage in the politics. I hate politics as a whole. However, this never hindered me from reading books and inquiring.
I want to convey a message to the youth not to repeat the blunder we made. War has not brought any good rather than death of many people. I am living witness for the tragedy on my friends. If they were alive, they would have become doctors and engineers who serve their society. As they adore their country more than self, it is hard to imagine how much they serve it. I am sure that they will come back home right away after completing their education abroad. They will not spend their whole lives abroad talking about politics.
The time was socialism; my teacher at Howard University was very intelligent. Especially the origin of my political science lecturers were third-world countries and other states where black people lived in large numbers. My political engagement helped me to be brave in education. My political participation has helped me in my research.
What inspired you to plunge deeper in to politics? Is the Harambe Ethiopia Tour alone or you had any other reason better than that?
My father was a man with progressive toughness. He was security director during the regime of Haileselassie. He also served as the governor of Dire Dawa town. He adored his country of origin and wants to transfer this sentiment to us. He repeatedly said do not expect from me any property or wealth. “When there is a regime change, our land will be taken. So you have to work out to be intellectual as it always stayed with you,” he told me.
My mother also loves her country. She had a special place for Emperor Haileselassie. She said, “I will curse a man who is against the Emperor”. Once she came to the US to rare my child and I had better understanding on her attitude. Both my mom and dad gave an advice for me to serve my home country.
During your decades of participation in Ethiopia’s political struggles and movements, what are the main problems that you have observed?
As we were raised under diverse circumstances, our desires also vary like our skin colors. When I was a young woman, I wished to see a revolution in Ethiopia. I now want to have a peaceful regime change. I have seen war as an option; it dragged us toward the back instead of pushing the country forward. So, as of now, we have to engage in various tasks that make our country champion in all fields.
During the reign of Emperor Haileselassie I, I had participated in a political movement to overthrow the regime without properly understanding the purpose. Now, I built a children’s care center on the plot of land which I received from my family. While staying in the care center, children learn how to chant the national anthem of Ethiopia and hoist the flag. These small efforts will be further intensified. I think the best solution for this is working on patriotism.
Can we conclude that Ethiopia reached this stage due to the absence of nationalism sentiment?
That is the primary reason that forced me to open Kindergarten. It is good for the children to be educated about their country. However, the most difficult thing is trying to influence them when they become an adult. When children grow up, they evoke what they learned before. I for instance was thought about patriotism when I was a child. Patriotism is a sentiment that I have got from my parents.
The knowledge I have obtained in those days is still intact in my mind. I have cultivated and gained patriotism through different techniques. When I was young, I developed it through revolutionary democracy sentiment. I am getting older and have lost my friends. The change will come through peaceful means, as war cannot be a solution for any problem we faced. Ethiopian politicians who were assassinated both in the Haileselassie and Derg regimes may had a possibility of engaging in various sectors and uplifting the country in all sectors. We lost them as if assassinating people brought something valuable for the common good of all.
At some point we used to consider many intellectuals, such as Aklilu Habtewold, traitors. But when we knew them well and understood the sacrifices they paid for their country, we thoroughly have regretted by what we were doing. Even now we need to refrain ourselves from doing similar errors. Actually it would be a prejudice to consider oneself wise enough to advise others. It is so hard to give suggestion for someone who grew up under a difficult situation. When I lived in Ethiopia, I faced no difficulty. I promised to myself to do something good for my country and doing things accordingly.
However, I was not that courageous and physically strong to involve in any sort of battle fronts. Indeed, I am getting older and am not able to go to the warfront holding any sort of weapon. Therefore, I advise children not to engage in war while they grow up. I will do my level best for children to have boundless patriotism. What I am doing right now is transferring the knowledge I received from my parents. When our children grow up, I expect them to analyze things critically and bring better things for their country.
How can parents inculcate the feeling of love of nation in the minds of their children?
My father was the Mayor (Administrator) of Dire Dawa city. They named a bridge in the town by his name called Alfrad Shafi and memorize him for the good deeds. My father went to Dire Dawa and has strived to make the city a better place for its residents just because he was a patriot. My parents had practically shown us the meaning of patriotism. My mother is also a patriot. Though there are ups and downs, the patriotism sentiment will definitely come back again.
My father was born in the Gurage zone of the Southern region. While he was in Dire Dawa, he enjoyed the unconditional love of the residents. I have learned much from the good deeds of my parents. I think patriotism is an intangible heritage that can be transferred to posterity. I have seven brothers and sisters in the US.
The situation here in Ethiopia is totally different from US. I was not comfortable in living in the US. The sense of patriotism is within my blood. My engagement in the student movement helped me to know my country well. Since then, I have had a dream of coming back home. 15 years have elapsed since I came back home. This does not mean that everything here make me content. Ethiopia may not be conducive for a Diaspora residing in the US. However, wherever I go, I cannot feel excited except in Ethiopia.
What is your advice for the Ethiopian Diaspora?
It is hard to advise people to do this or that. However, all of them should evaluate themselves. Patriotism and supporting a country does not necessarily require physical presence. It is possible to support Ethiopia from where ever you are. My sisters and brothers surely have not forgotten their country. As I told you earlier, I am now educating children in my family house. This is unthinkable without the willingness of my sister and brothers. This by itself is a big support.
I have a lot of family in the US. They all want to come back home to live and work here. However, they are still waiting for a better Ethiopia to come. We are the ones who make Ethiopia better, and that is why I come here and work for my country. Now, there are various challenges that I have been facing. Indeed, there is a shortage of electricity, an absence of water, and other governance problems. With all the absence, there is no better place than a country of my origin.
How do you explain the ongoing process of the national dialogue, which has already begun?
Every Ethiopian needs to engage in national dialogue rather than resorting to gossip. We have done many attempts, but not successful in any of them. Ethiopia deserves to be in a better place than it is today. We are not successful because the approach we chose was not perfect.
We must know that sometimes our own people, who are agents of outsiders, try to cut off the unity and territorial integrity of Ethiopians. In return, they earn an income. Citizens who are working by receiving the agenda of disintegration of Ethiopia hate the country as it is a source of wealth for them.
I consider that the problem in our country will be solved when we stop fighting and start listening to each other. We still exist with the help of the almighty. I am not a religious person. But considering the number of our enemies and the plots they have on us, there is a possibility for us falls apart. Hence, the national dialogue is very important step to move forward together as a country.
What do you want to convey in terms of the national dialogue?
Understanding that it is a tablet for our problems created by ourselves and rooted deep by the influence of foreign enemies, efforts should be made to involve the people at large. For years, they have been working to disintegrate us.
Those who have special interest over Africa have finished the natural resource we have had. They are now going to Mars to get additional resources. Exploiting Africa is a guarantee for their survival. In order to sustain this vision, they have been striving to break up Ethiopia for more than six decades. Unless we understood that they are always searching a point to squabble one another, we can never grow.
I hope, the national dialogue will help us to understand point of contentions. There are some people who may conspire against their country. The dialogue helps to identify them well. Now, everywhere in the world, we are observing the scrambling for resources. The developed countries badly need our wealth than ever.
You are participating in the national dialogue. How do you see the beginnings?
Once, Emperor Haileselassie I, said; “We know how to start up things, but our problem is finalizing it.” The national dialogue is a good beginning. I am happy in that. However, we may be failing if our external enemies erode our unity. This is a threat. The other thing is that the willingness of the people to partake in the national dialogue. A thing sturdy in the startup point will further be strengthened while it goes forward but is not botched. We should work in the national dialogue to strengthen its base. This requires having strong motives. There is a big difference between a person who thinks the benefit he or she gets and someone who is ready to contribute for this noble cause. So, I always support and encourage any instrument that helps us to solve our setback peacefully.
I thank you for staying with me.
Thank you too.
BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2024
