“Hiruy Wolde-Selassie – The father of Amharic literature”
The Ethiopian Herald
Arts & Culture
May 27, 2007
by Melese Telahoun[1]
A joint discussion forum under the theme the “literary life and
social contribution of writer (author) and poet Blaten
Geta Hiruy Wolde-Selassie” was conducted in the hall of School of
Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University on Sunday morning 20 May, 2007. The
forum was jointly organized by Theatrical Department, AAU, in cooperation with Hanos Reading Centre. Experienced literary professionals
presented papers at the forum. Numerous participants including youths, authors,
translators, distinguished elders were present at the forum.
Ato Wondwessen Adane, from AAU, facilitated the progress of the forum. In
line with the programme, author and critic Asfaw Damte was supposed to make
an introducing speech. But he was reportedly unable to be present because of
reason beyond his control. Ato Wondwessen
read Asfaw Damte’s
introductory speech to the audience.
In his introductory remark, Ato Asfaw
said “Relatively speaking, a lot has been said and written about Blaten Geta Hiruy
Wolde-Selassie. However, I have personally not come
across works which exhaustively deals with or gives a detailed account of his
contributions. Foreign writers have made better efforts in this regard. However
these writers have committed errors in their writings because they were not
careful. “In my modest view, Blaten Geta Hiruy has made multi-faceted
and important contributions. This can be divided in to two sections.”
The first section constitutes the tasks that Hiruy
has accomplished in his capacity as a government official. This is a wide area
which deserves independent research. Hiruy has served
as Director of Addis Ababa Municipality, as a government delegate and as
foreign minister.
Asfaw went on to say that the second section
constitutes the contribution Hiruy has made to the
Ethiopian literature (both Amharic and Gee’z
literature).
Although a lot has been said about Hiruy in this
sphere, it would be difficult to assume that sufficient and appropriate work
has been done so far. “I have nothing to say about Hiruy’s
contributions to Gee’z Quine
because I do not have the capacity to do so.”
In Asfaw’s words “Blaten Geta Hiruy has made significant
contributions towards consolidating the Amharic language as a medium of
literature. In 1904 E.C. had published a book
entitled ‘the number of books found in Ethiopia.’ This writing is a work which
makes effort to introduce an activity which is not usually done in our country.
This writing was published for the second time after 16 years under the title
“A catalogue of books in Ethiopia written in Gee’z
and Amharic languages”.
Blaten Geta Hiruy has written and published 20 books most of which are
non-fiction. The basic objective of these books is to bring Ethiopia to the
level of those countries who are said to be civilized.
This objective is clearly indicated in the book he has written about Japan
which he visited at the time.
Hiruy has produced three literary works, namely, Wodaje Libe (My Dear Friend)
which portrays human behaviour and life through
sayings (1915 E.C): Yelib Hassab (the marriage Birhane and Tsion Mogessa), (1923 E.C) and Addis Alem
(New World, the abode of genuine and generous people) 1925 E.C.
All the three creative works indicate that they were written to get across the
objectives and messages of the author Hiruy.
Ato Getachew Senai a student of literature at AAU presented a study
paper to the forum so that it would serve as a point of departure on the works
and contributions of Blaten Geta
Hiruy Wolde-Selassie. In
his lengthy presentation, Getachew surveyed the life
of Hiruy as a government official and the efforts he
made in several areas including literature for the betterment of his country.
Here are excerpts from the presentation: Blaten Geta Hiruy Wolde-
Selassie was born in May 1881 (E.C) at a place called
Merhabete, Shoa, Amhara region. He has reached
great heights by educating himself. He was a self-made man. Hiruy
is referred to as “The Father of Amharic Literature”. He is well known by many
for the books of history, literature, biography which he has written.
Information written about him indicate that Hiruy started works as government employee. He was
appointed government official through his own knowledge, efforts and patriotic
feelings. Hiruy has been decorated by medals from
other countries in recognition of his dedication and strength.
Hiruy in
his days, made efforts to eradicate harmful (backward) traditional practices.
Hiruy indicated in his books that change was unimaginable
under conditions where the society cannot free itself from old, outdated
traditional practices. Positive changes could not be witnessed in Ethiopia,
unless the society liberates itself from outdated traditional practices.
Getachew pointed out in his paper that Hiruy never spent his time idly. He was a voracious reader.
Moreover, Hiruy was a literary figure who used to
frequently read newspapers. Whenever he came across ideal in articles published
in newspapers, he would never refrain from expressing his views about the
articles. Whenever the need arose.
Hiruy has, in two of his books demonstrated that old
practices and violation of women’s rights were unjust.
In his book entitled Addis Alem, Hiruy
portrays the squabbles between an educated youth on one side, and his family
and a priest (cleric) on the other. The book depicts the outlooks of those
days, reflects the living standards of the society, and the religious
oppressions improve on the then community. Hiruy has
left behind artistic works which reflect the realities of his days.
In his book Wodaje Libe, Hiruy wishes the Ethiopian people to assimilate deep
knowledge through reading and examining books. Wodaje
Libe carries a great message which advises readers to
“Read and examine books.”
Getachew says Blaten Geta Hiruy has performed great
tasks in favour of his country by maintaining
contacts with great leaders of the day. He has, among others served as Director
of Ethiopian Printing Press as the first President of Ethiopian Red Cross and
as a diplomat. He has written some 40 books under time pressure. Some 28 of the
books are creative works.
In his books, Hiruy repeatedly emphasizes in one form
or another that working is the basic answer to the issue of development. He
says no work should be despised or look down upon.
“The smith, the farmer, the trader, the tanner should be respected for their
work”.
In his book entitled Addis Alem (New World), Hiruy focuses on tezkar (feast or
banquet in commemoration of a dead relative). We know tezkar
is a bad tradition that has not yet been eradicated even to this day. Most
communities still compete in organizing the tezkar.
But Hiruy had been struggling against this bad
traditions in his life time
Hiruy has repeatedly said in his books that married
life is very important and useful. In one of his books, he has shown that the
two characters (husband and wife) remain together until their death.
Through his characters in his books Hiruy condemns
conjugal infidelity and extra marital relations. He says such affairs will
shake up social foundations.
An AAU student who has written a term paper on the book Addis Alem says; “This book was written at a time when the
society had little awareness on the issue of ensuring respect for women’s
rights. Hiruy has written the book to create
awareness in the communities of those days on the question of women’s rights.
The books shows that respect for women’s rights starts
from her own family members.
The question of early marriage, and its negative
consequence are all dealt with in the book. In conclusion, Getachew
said that the writer Hiruy has made efforts to teach
the community to liberate itself from harmful traditional practices.
Following the presentation several participants have expressed their views and
opinions on Blaten Geta Hiruy Wolde-Selassie and his
writings.
Dejazmach (Dr.) Zewdie
Gebre- Selassie made the following observation on Blaten
Geta Hiruy.
Blaten Geta Hiruy is one of the important Ethiopian personalities who was raised, nurtured by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Hiruy has never wasted his time idly. He was and avid reader and writer. In the area of diplomacy he was
quite farsighted and wise. He had a great vision for his country. He wanted
Ethiopia to become as economically advanced as the then Japan. He made great
efforts to make Ethiopia advance as Japan without changing its basic identity,
cultures and morals. At one time, Hiruy had the
opportunity to visit Japan. During his stay in Japan, he made notes of his
observations, and upon coming back to Ethiopia he wrote an inspiring book on
Japan emphasizing that Ethiopia, should in certain aspects emulate Japan in
terms of attaining economic development. The book about Japan which was written
in Amharic was translated into Japanese and published. This was simply because
the Japanese were so impressed by Hiruy’s book.
Hiruy was in his time, the architect of Ethiopian
diplomacy. However Hiruy did not accompany Emperor
Haile-Selassie when he went to Geneva. Hiruy was
extremely depressed when he was living in exile in Britain during Ethiopian
occupation by Italy. He was seldom seen in public while living in exile in
England. He was extremely disturbed so that he isolated himself from the
public. He later died in 1931 (E.C) while he was in
exile in London.
Ato Mammo Wudineh, a well known author and translator of many books
said the following:
Personally I used to study Blaten Geta
Hiruy’s book at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, (IES). I had the intention to get each of his books
published. But my intention has not been realized so far. As you indicated
earlier Hiruy’s books have not been properly and
deeply examined.
These books remain there unexplored. They have not been proprerly
introduced to the generations. And I think it is necessary to introduce Hiruy’s rich literacy heritages to the public. The present
generation shoulders the great responsibility to further examine the works of Hiruy and other pioneers to the present and future
generations. So we call upon you (the young generation) to transmit these
literary heritages to future generations.
Another participant said during his life time made Hiruy
efforts to promote good governance. He was extremely modern in terms of
accepting people to his office. He never accepted people in his office without
prior appointments. He talked to people who came to him upon appointment
without the intervention of any body.
Still another participant said: I would like to say a few words in addition to
what has been said by others early on. I have a great admiration for Blaten Geta Hiruy
Wolde-Selassie- whom I have come to know about him
since the past seven years. I never knew him in person. I knew about Hiruy through having read his books. My late father had a
collection of Hiruy’s books and I had the opportunity
to go through them. Hiruy had a number of great
qualities. He read reviewed books, and assimilated deep knowledge from these
books. He used to openly expressed his views on what be believed was correct or right. Hiruy
had never had the chance to go abroad to have modern education. But he educated
himself through the assistance and teaching of private tutors. It is such
effort that he had learnt foreign languages like English. He also learnt how to
speak Arabic and French languages through his own personal efforts. Blaten Geta’s literary works
which are presented in beautiful language deserve to be deeply examined
re-examined and studied. The present young generation should deeply study the
works of Ethiopia’s renowned writers such as Hiruy, Kebede Mikael and others. This great man, I think has made
great contributions towards the development of his country. However, so far,
there is nothing, that commemorates this great man. A home belonging, to Blaten Geta had been confiscated
should I think be returned to member of his family. And the home should be
named after Hiruy on commemoration of his
contributions. And the house should be turned into a museum where his works are
and stored for generations to come.
One of Blaten Geta’s
granddaughters had the following to say:
Blaten Geta Hiruy does not belong to us. He belongs to the Ethiopian
people. Blaten Geta belongs
to the world. He is also your grandfather, great grand
father. I would like you to help us financially, or other-wise to effect the return of this house.
***
The following short pieces of advice are taken from Blaten
Geta Hiruy Wolde-Selassie’s book entitled “Father’s advice to his
son.”
. My dear son! Don’t worry too much. Don’t worry about
what would happen in the future.
. Don’t be friends with people who do not fear God.
. Dear son, do not be bothered to enjoy excessively. If you want to do this,
you would never be kind and generous to others.
. Don’t be aggressive towards your wife and children.
. Cry for a friend who does evil things rather than for a friend who is dead.
***
The following message which was sent from abroad for this event was read to the
audience.
“Jacksonville University, May 2007
J. Calvitt Clarke said,[2] It is a
great honor for me to have been asked to write a few words in honor of Blattengeta Heruy Welde Sellase.
I doubt, however, that I can add much to what you already know.
In a few words, I would like to stress the difficulties Heruy faced as Ethiopia’s foreign minister in the 1930s before the Second Italo-Ethiopian War of 1935 and 1936. The central problem he faced was, “How could Ethiopia acquire the economic, political, military, and social tools that made white, European civilization strong, without falling subservient to those same Europeans?”
In preserving Ethiopia’s independence, Heruy had little to work with. Colonies of more powerful European states surrounded Ethiopia, and these states were often hostile and always patronizing toward Ethiopia. As Ethiopia struggled to preserve its independence and integrity, the Ethiopians had their own interests, which Heruy sought to advance, and he manipulated the other powers as best he could. By offering commercial opportunities, by seeking military support, and by reaching out to world opinion, Heruy tried to soften the stark reality of a stronger Italy seeking to encroach on his country. Heruy adeptly tailored Ethiopia’s public message to specific audiences and to the world at large.
Although an Anglophile, in his diplomacy his most interesting approach was toward Japan. With the Japanese posing as the leader of the world’s “colored peoples,” many colonials and American blacks turned to Japan for inspiration. Europeans feared this connection, and they feared Japan's growing economic and political influence in the colonial world and in Ethiopia—formerly the sole preserves of European imperialism. Heruy’s effort to associate Japan with Ethiopia ultimately backfired, however. The government in Tokyo proved reticent to obligate itself in ways Ethiopia needed, and Ethiopia’s association with Japan muted world resistance to Italy’s aggression in autumn, 1935.
That Heruy failed to preserve Ethiopia’s independence after 1935 was no fault of his. For decades he had worked diligently, cleverly, and persistently to find a model for modernization that would build Ethiopia’s position in the family of nations. But in the end, neither he nor Ethiopia had the necessary time or resources.
Nonetheless, in the vast fabric of world history, the resistance of Ethiopia and Heruy himself to Italy’s aggression was not in vain. The Italo-Ethiopian War played a crucial role in developing the postwar, colonial, independence movements that destroyed Europe’s empires. The last African territory colonized and the first freed from that status, Ethiopia presaged what was to come in Africa and Asia. In fact, the war galvanized the colonial peoples of color to resistance, and in important ways changed the nature of that struggle. We owe Heruy and Ethiopia a debt of gratitude.
[1] Heruy’s grandson, Shimelis Yilma, who now lives in California, asked me to post this article .
[2] I have taken the liberty of inserting here what I originally wrote. The Ethiopian Herald article made some changes. Shimelis asked me to write this congratulatory letter, which he read to the assembled group.