Writers Famous Writers from Ethiopia

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List of famous writers from Ethiopia, listed alphabetically with photos when available. Ethiopia is home to many prolific writers, including those who write fiction, non-fiction, poetry, biographies and more. These are some of the best Ethiopian writers that have ever lived, so if you're a native of Ethiopia and an aspiring writer then use this list as inspiration to achieve your own writing goals.

List features writers like Mengistu Lemma, Nikos Papatakis and more!

This list answers the questions, "Who are popular Ethiopian writers?" and "Which writers are from Ethiopia?"

You can click on the names of these renowned writers of Ethiopia in order to get more information about each one. Some of these historic writers may no longer be living in Ethiopia, but they're all of Ethiopia descent.

1

Nikos Papatakis Died at 92 (1918-2010) Nikos Papatakis was a Greek-born naturalised French filmmaker, who lived in France.

2

Haile Gerima age 72 Haile Gerima is an Ethiopian filmmaker who lives and works in the United States. He is a leading member of the L.A. Rebellion film movement, also known as the Los Angeles School of Black ...more

3

Nega Mezlekia age 60 Nega Mezlekia is an Ethiopian writer who writes in English. His first language is the Amharic language, but since the 1980s he has lived in Canada so speaks and writes in English. Nega was born ...more

4

Dinaw Mengestu age 40 Dinaw Mengestu is an Ethiopian-American novelist and writer. In addition to three novels, he has written for Rolling Stone on the war in Darfur, and for Jane Magazine on the conflict in northern ...more

5

Mengistu Haile Mariam age 81 Mengistu Haile Mariam is an Ethiopian politician who was the most prominent officer of the Derg, the Communist military junta that governed Ethiopia from 1974 to 1987, and the President of the ...more

6

Hama Tuma age 68 Hama Tuma is an Ethiopian poet and writer in the Amharic and English languages.

7

Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin Died at 70 (1936-2006) Loret Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin was Poet Laureate of Ethiopia, as well as a poet, playwright, essayist, and art director.

8

Sahle Sellassie age 82 Berhane Mariam Sahle Sellassie is an Ethiopian author who has written in three languages: Gurage, English, and Amharic. He wrote the first novel in Chaha, a Gurage dialect, which was translated ...more

9

Haddis Alemayehu Died at 93 (1910-2003) Haddis Alemayehu, also transliterated Hadis Alamayahu, was a Foreign Minister and novelist from Ethiopia. His Amharic novel Fəqər əskä Mäqabər is considered a classic of modern ...more

10

Asfa-Wossen Asserate age 70 Le'ul Dr. Asfa-Wossen Asserate, is a Consultant for African and Middle-Eastern Affairs, a political Analyst and a bestseller author writing in German. He is a member of the Imperial House of ...more

11

Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin is an Ethiopian economist and a former Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange. She has had many years of experience working on agricultural markets - ...more

12

Dirbdil Assefa Akriso Dirbdil Assefa Akriso is an Ethiopian film director and screenwriter.

13

Kebede Bekere age 48 Kebede Bekere is an Ethiopian non-fiction writer. He was born in western part of Ethiopia from parents who did not have formal education. Though they were not educated, his parents sent him to ...more

14

Mengistu Lemma Died at 64 (1924-1988) Mengistu Lemma was an Ethiopian playwright and poet. Mengistu was born in Harar, to Aleqa Lemma Hailu and Wro Abebech Yilma. After undertaking traditional religious studies at the Tiqo Mekane ...more

15

Afevork Ghevre Jesus Died at 79 (1868-1947) Āfeworq Gebre Īyesūs was an Ethiopian writer, who wrote the first novel in Amharic, Libb Wolled Tarik. Bahru Zewde writes, "Few people before or after him have demonstrated such superb ...more

16

Moges Kebede Moges Kebede, sometimes credited as Moges Kebede Damte or Moges Damte, is an Ethiopian author, essayist, and editor. He is the publisher of Mestawet Ethiopian Newspaper, a monthly magazine for ...more

17

Mammo Wudneh Mammo Wudneh was a playwright, journalist and President of the Ethiopian Writers' Association. He was actively involved as a peacemaker between Ethiopia and Eritrea working on an interfaith ...more

18

Demese Tsege Demese Tesege is an Ethiopian author and journalist. He works for the Addis Zemen newspaper. He writes in the Amharic language.

19

Kidist Bayelegne

20

Taddasa Liban Tāddasa Lībān is an Ethiopian writer known for the collection Maskaram from 1956.

1 Nikos Papatakis Died at 92 (1918-2010) Nikos Papatakis was a Greek-born naturalised French filmmaker, who lived in France.

2 Haile Gerima age 72 Haile Gerima is an Ethiopian filmmaker who lives and works in the United States. He is a leading member of the L.A. Rebellion film movement, also known as the Los Angeles School of Black ...more

3 Nega Mezlekia age 60 Nega Mezlekia is an Ethiopian writer who writes in English. His first language is the Amharic language, but since the 1980s he has lived in Canada so speaks and writes in English. Nega was born ...more

4 Dinaw Mengestu age 40 Dinaw Mengestu is an Ethiopian-American novelist and writer. In addition to three novels, he has written for Rolling Stone on the war in Darfur, and for Jane Magazine on the conflict in northern ...more

5 Mengistu Haile Mariam age 81 Mengistu Haile Mariam is an Ethiopian politician who was the most prominent officer of the Derg, the Communist military junta that governed Ethiopia from 1974 to 1987, and the President of the ...more

6 Hama Tuma age 68 Hama Tuma is an Ethiopian poet and writer in the Amharic and English languages.

7 Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin Died at 70 (1936-2006) Loret Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin was Poet Laureate of Ethiopia, as well as a poet, playwright, essayist, and art director.

8 Sahle Sellassie age 82 Berhane Mariam Sahle Sellassie is an Ethiopian author who has written in three languages: Gurage, English, and Amharic. He wrote the first novel in Chaha, a Gurage dialect, which was translated ...more

9 Haddis Alemayehu Died at 93 (1910-2003) Haddis Alemayehu, also transliterated Hadis Alamayahu, was a Foreign Minister and novelist from Ethiopia. His Amharic novel Fəqər əskä Mäqabər is considered a classic of modern ...more

10 Asfa-Wossen Asserate age 70 Le'ul Dr. Asfa-Wossen Asserate, is a Consultant for African and Middle-Eastern Affairs, a political Analyst and a bestseller author writing in German. He is a member of the Imperial House of ...more

11 Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin Eleni Zaude Gabre-Madhin is an Ethiopian economist and a former Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange. She has had many years of experience working on agricultural markets - ...more

12 Dirbdil Assefa Akriso Dirbdil Assefa Akriso is an Ethiopian film director and screenwriter.

13 Kebede Bekere age 48 Kebede Bekere is an Ethiopian non-fiction writer. He was born in western part of Ethiopia from parents who did not have formal education. Though they were not educated, his parents sent him to ...more

14 Mengistu Lemma Died at 64 (1924-1988) Mengistu Lemma was an Ethiopian playwright and poet. Mengistu was born in Harar, to Aleqa Lemma Hailu and Wro Abebech Yilma. After undertaking traditional religious studies at the Tiqo Mekane ...more

15 Afevork Ghevre Jesus Died at 79 (1868-1947) Āfeworq Gebre Īyesūs was an Ethiopian writer, who wrote the first novel in Amharic, Libb Wolled Tarik. Bahru Zewde writes, "Few people before or after him have demonstrated such superb ...more

16 Moges Kebede Moges Kebede, sometimes credited as Moges Kebede Damte or Moges Damte, is an Ethiopian author, essayist, and editor. He is the publisher of Mestawet Ethiopian Newspaper, a monthly magazine for ...more

17 Mammo Wudneh Mammo Wudneh was a playwright, journalist and President of the Ethiopian Writers' Association. He was actively involved as a peacemaker between Ethiopia and Eritrea working on an interfaith ...more

18 Demese Tsege Demese Tesege is an Ethiopian author and journalist. He works for the Addis Zemen newspaper. He writes in the Amharic language.

19 Kidist Bayelegne

20 Taddasa Liban Tāddasa Lībān is an Ethiopian writer known for the collection Maskaram from 1956.