KING LALIBELA                                                                                                                    Nominated by Nebyou Israel
King Lalibela was one of the most prominent rulers of Ethiopia’s Zagwe Dynasty who reigned in the 12th century.  He is the ruler credited with the construction of the world-famous rock-hewn ancient Churches in the town of Lalibela in northern Ethiopia.  In fact the town - previously known as Roha – was named after king Lalibela himself upon his death.  According to an Ethiopian legend, God instructed king Lalibela to build the unique churches that have been a collective centre of pilgrimage over the centuries.  This legend also states that the churches of Lalibela were built with the help of angles.  The design of the churches is quite unique: they are carved below ground level; they are massive (several are in excess of 10 meters high); and they are connected to each other by a tangled maze of tunnels.  Yet they are also different - in size and style - from one another. 

One of the most famous of all the churches in Lalibella is The Church of Bete Geiorgis (pictured) which has been a symbol of Ethiopia’s tourism industry.  The Church of Bete Geiorgis in Lalibela is to Ethiopia, what the Pyramids are to Egypt.  But it is so unique and so sacred, that it can never be compared to any structure anywhere in the world.  The churches constructed in accordance with the vision of king Lalibela and with a divine instruction are sacred places of worship; they are giant and tangible symbols of Ethiopia's glorious past.  The 12th century king shingle-handedly responsible for the construction of these unique places of worship and national landmarks will live eternally through his eternal work, and Ethiopians give thanks to him as they welcome the New Millennium.   

ALULA ABANEGA                                                                                                                   Nominated by Mezgebe Berhe
Alula Abanega was the commoner who joined forces with Ethiopia’s ruling elite taking extraordinary leadership roles.  He worked with Emperor Yohannes IV and Emperor Minilik to fight some of the country’s toughest battles with the Italians and Britons as well as with the then enemies in Sudan and Egypt.  Alula Abanega is largely credited with being a heroic figure tirelessly defending his country from foreign aggression, and also with being the strategist during the Battle of Adwa when Ethiopia defeated the Italians under the leadership of Emperor Minilik.  He was also fighting an internal battle with those who wanted to take his place and he is said to have been a man of wisdom exercising tolerance with a determination not to succumb to attempts to bring him down.  Alula Abanega – a distinguished warrior who contributed to the force that has kept Ethiopia independent - died on 16 February 1897 - aged 70 - of a wound he sustained during an internal battle with his opponents.  A giant statue of Alula Abanega was erected in 1982 in Northern Ethiopia so as to thank him and to keep his wonderful Ethiopian spirit alive.  

ETHIOPIAN PATRIOTS                                                                                           Nominated by Misrak Demesachew
Four years before the start of the Second World War, Italy invaded Ethiopia on 3 October 1935 under the orders of the then Italian Prime Minister - Benito Mussolini. They had much more advanced weaponry than Ethiopians and attacked on ground and from air. They soon seized several Ethiopian towns across the northern part of the country despite stiff resistance by the Ethiopian army. Supported by hundreds of planes, cannons and different types of weapons, the Italian army swept across Ethiopia committing untold war crimes. The Italians took control of the capital - Addis Ababa - on 5 May 1963 and Emperor Haileselassie left Ethiopia for Switzerland to ask for international help to oust Italy from Ethiopia at the League of Nations in Geneva. He was officially in exile. In response to the Emperor's appeals, the League of Nations voted to impose economic sanctions on the aggressor. Yet the sanctions remained fruitless because of staggering indifference on the part of the Western powers.

In Rome, Mussolini proclaimed Italy 's king Victor Emmanuel III emperor of Ethiopia and appointed Badoglio to rule as viceroy. Mussolini was quoted as saying in 1936 that ‘Ethiopia is Italian'. Vigorous resistance continued and an attempt to kill the ruthless Italian general – Rodolfo Graziani – was made. In reprisal, the Fascists carried out three days of massacre in Addis Ababa in which hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians were shot dead, beheaded or disemboweled. The internationally banned mustard gas was used against civilian Ethiopians and thousands of women and children were gassed to death. Houses were set alight and all types of fascist brutality used without any restrain.

Despite the unprecedented number of death tolls suffered by Ethiopians, the massacre and its brutal nature failed to have an intimidating effect. Instead it backfired on the fascists as it served only to strengthen the resolve of the Ethiopian people. Soon, a patriotic movement was organized to reinforce the resistance all over Ethiopia. The resistance gathered momentum and the Italians couldn't succeed in conquering the whole country. Ethiopian patriots got some help from Britain in 1940 and Italian forces were badly weakened. The British - who had a stake in East Africa - made the decision to help Ethiopia after Italy declared war against Britain. The Ethiopian patriots then librated Addis Ababa on 6 May 1941 and this victory officially ended Italian occupation. Fascist Italy's attempts to colonize Ethiopia came to an abrupt end on this day. Emperor Haileselassie returned to Addis Ababa on 5 May 1941.  This particular victory was realized as a result of the world-famous swift resistance by Ethiopian patriots.  The victory was realized on 6 April 1941 and Ethiopians have been commemorating this day ever since.    

In 1996, Italy admitted to have killed 275,000 Ethiopians during its unsuccessful attempt to colonize Ethiopia. It was Italy 's second humiliating defeat by Ethiopia . The first invasion of Ethiopia by the Italians was in 1895 and they were defeated at Adwa the following year.    

BELAY ZELEKE                                                                                                           Nominated by Zinash Debella
Belay Zeleke was born in 1896 in the Wollo province of Ethiopia to a mother of Wollo Borena and to a father of Gojam Berenta origins.  At a very young age in a mysterious situation, Belay Zeleke killed his uncle which prompted him to flee his village and live as a fugitive isolated from his family and friends for the subsequent 15 years.  In his solitary life, Belay Zeleke learned to be courageous and decisive.

In 1935 Italy invaded Ethiopia.  Like the many patriotic Ethiopians, Belay Zeleke felt the need to defend his country and led an insurgency movement against the occupation in Gojam.  Soon, he became known for being remorseless among Italian generals and they fought him as hard as they could. Not only did he defeat the Italian army that was sent to destroy him, he also took into custody the army’s general and executed him by hanging.  After driving the Italian army out of Gojam and some parts of Wollo, he put himself in charge of these particular regions much to the gladness of the population.  His courageous heroism inspired thousands of Ethiopians to resist the occupation and many wanted to be like him.

The Ethiopian patriots librated Addis Ababa on 6 May 1941 and this victory officially ended Italian occupation. Fascist Italy's attempts to colonize Ethiopia came to an abrupt end on this day. Emperor Haileselassie returned to Addis Ababa on 5 May 1941 after spending the preceding 5 years in exile in Europe. This particular victory was realized as a result of the world-famous swift resistance by Ethiopian patriots.  The contributions made by Belay Zeleke to the struggle and ultimately to the victory of Ethiopia against the colonialist aggression of Fascist Italy were enormous. Throughout Ethiopia, - particularly in Addis Ababa – signs of Italian presence in the past remain intact to date.  Yet unlike most of the different parts of Ethiopia, there are no physical signs of Italian invasion in the province of Gojjam.  It is believed that Belay Zeleke never let the Italian troops camp anywhere in Gojam let alone build construction to leave a legacy of any sort.

Upon the Emperor’s victorious return to Ethiopia in 1941, Belay Zeleke was put in charge of a small region in Gojam when he had assumed a higher rank to be able to play a much bigger role in reconstructing and administering the region.  He declined the position in protest and started living life as an outlaw.  Soon he was caught and sent to jail accused of being a threat to the monarchy.  After making unsuccessful attempts to break out of jail, the patriot Belay Zeleke was then brutally executed by hanging. 

In a heartbreaking error of judgment, an Ethiopian hero who gave the country freedom was given death in return.  And it will always be remembered as an act of giving a national hero a grave injustice.

BISHOP ABUNA PETROS                                                                                   Nominated by Henock Abera
Abune Petros was a bishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in much of the central and Eastern part of Ethiopia during the late 1920s and early 1930s. When Fascist Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935, Abune Petros went to the frontline to help the wounded, consecrate the dead and preach the Gospel. During that time he witnessed firsthand how the invading army - with the help of nerve gas and technologically advanced weaponry - burned down many villages and indiscriminately killed innocent civilians. In the midst of the invasion, Abune Petros went to the monastery church of Debre Libanos to urge the priests and monks to fast and pray for the mercy of God to the people of Ethiopia . He continued his teachings and preaching to the people to stand-up for their belief and conviction. He went on further and preached against Italy 's occupation of Ethiopia with terror and violence. He urged the people not to be afraid of the terror and violence but to resist it.

The Italians then arrested him and gave him the ultimatum to stop preaching against the occupation and accept the Italian authorities in Addis Ababa or face imminent execution. Abune Petros refused to comply with the ultimatum and through interpreter gave the following answer to the interrogating officers of the invading army: "The cry of my countrymen who died due to your nerve-gas and terror machinery will never allow my conscious to accept your ultimatum. How can I see my God if I give a blind eye to such a crime." His defiance prompted the Italians to sentence him to death. Then on 29 July 1936 he was taken to an execution chamber where many people and the Fascist army officers and generals were gathered. When he was told to say his last words, he said the following implausibly courageous words as written in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church newspaper Vol. 1, No. 8.9.10, 1945: "My countrymen do not believe the Fascists if they tell you that the patriots are bandits, the patriots are people who yearn for freedom from the terrors of fascism. Bandits are the soldiers who are standing in front of me and you, who come from far away and violently occupy a weak and peaceful country: our Ethiopia . May God give the people of Ethiopia the strength to resist and never bow down to the Fascist army and its violence. May the Ethiopian earth never accept the invading army's rule." Upon delivering his final words, Abune Petros was brutally murdered. Fascist Italy was defeated and driven out of Ethiopia in 1941.

DENEKNESH/LUCY                                                                                               Nominated by Alemseged Taye
In 1974, scientists unearthed the earliest known fossil evidence of hominids from the Middle Awash region of Ethiopia that is dated from about 3.2 million years ago. Two discoveries were particularly notable. One is an individual specimen popularly called Lucy that includes nearly half of the bones of the preserved skeleton; the other is a series of fossils, popularly called the First Family that includes remains from at least 13 individuals.

The 40 percent complete skeleton – which was named Deneknesh or Lucy - gave the world of science a much clearer evidence as to where human beings come from.  And the fact that it was found in Ethiopia has reinforced the belief that the country indeed is the cradle of mankind.  Lucy has come to verify that Ethiopia is not just a country of diverse cultures and ancient civilization, but also a country where it all began, a country that holds the key to understanding human ancestry.  She is a national pride for Ethiopia and a vital treasure for the world at large.      

SAINT YARED                                                                                                            Nominated by Zelalem Bereket
St. Yared was the creator of hymns, the first to introduce poetry - the songs of Degua – and the first to write musical notes and to use musical instruments to accompany his hymns.  His compositions bear witness to his being a composer of music, a writer and a poet of highest talent.

All the hymns composed by St.Yared continue to be sung in churches all over Ethiopia giving Ethiopia’s church traditions their unique charm.  Thse hymns are accompanied by various musical instruments created by Yared giving the performance more fullness. Yared was also blessed with a wonderful voice.

Born on 25 April 505 A.D., St.Yared was the author of many religious songs and hymns devoted to particular occasions of the seasons, months, days and festivals of the saints and the Holy Trinity.  He divided his hymns into four parts, each with its own melody.  He named the great book comprising these church hymns – Degua.  The great Degua is also called Mahlete Yared meaning treasury of hymns or songs of Yared.  After having written the Deguas on parchment, he created ten tones with notaions.  His innovation was centuries old before Europeans created the present musical notation with its seven letters of the alphabet.  He wrote five books on different kinds of musical notations with their distinctive meanings.  Tsome Degua which is part of the Degua is written about fasting.  Therefore it is sung only during Lent.  Meeraf is sung on Sabbath vigils - for prayer – praising the Lord or when hymns are performed.  Zimare is sung after communion in honour of the Holy Communion.  Mewasit is for funeral services, requiems and for Easter Eve.  And Quidase is performed during communion. 

St. Yared was not only a composer of hymns but also the originator of a new system of education, revealing his discoveries to the people in Geez which they could easily understand.  Therefore, he is the father of Ethiopian education and has greatly contributed to Ethiopian culture.  As can still be seen today, ecclesiastical music and poetry comprise a major part of traditional Ethiopian education and the bases of these were laid down by St. Yared.

THE FARMER OF ETHIOPIA                                                                     Nominated by Yohannes Ejigu Desta
As Philip Briggs - who wrote the book: Guide to Ethiopia - puts it, 'contrary to western myth, the elevated central plateau which covers half of Ethiopia's surface area that supports the large majority population is quite possibly the most extensive contiguous area of fertile land in the eastern land of Africa.' Yet some parts of Ethiopia are prone to periodic rain failures and locust plagues. And very unfortunately - and unfairly - Ethiopia is known around the world as a 'drought-stricken' and barren country. The agricultural and land ownership policies of the different governments of Ethiopia have arguably been contributing to this problem as well. Under the present regime - for instance - land is entirely state-owned and is tenurable only by leasing from the government.

In the face of such adversities - however- the Farmer of Ethiopia always works hard to put Injera on every Mesob and to bring solace to every hungry person. Given that most of the farming in Ethiopia is done by traditional means and requires difficult manual labor, perhaps the Farmer of Ethiopia is the hardest working anywhere in the world. Faced with uncertainties on his land rights, the Farmer of Ethiopia - who is the backbone of the country's economy - always persists in working hard to provide Ethiopians with one of their basic needs. Ethiopians will always remain indebted to the Farmer, who pays dues not only to the government, but also to the landlord.