Literary Giant Nebiy Mekonnen Leaves Behind A Legacy of Social Commentary Cultural Connection

On July 3rd, 2024, the news of Nebiy Mekonnen’s passing received a massive shock in the eyes of the public. Nebiy was a renowned figure in Ethiopian literature and journalism. His works, described as timeless and extraordinary by his colleagues, are considered masterpieces, and the general public loves them so much. In addition to his successful professional career, those close to him testified to his charming demeanour and easygoing attitude. Following his passing, his colleagues, friends, and admirers of his work took to social media to pay tribute. Media outlets aired programs that celebrated his work. In this article, EBR’s Dr. Brook Genene pays homage to one of Ethiopia’s significant public figures.

Nebiy was born in the town of Nazareth, now called Adama, and was his parents’ only child. He spent most of his time in his hometown’s modern school system, attending primary and secondary school at Atse Gelawdios.

He lost his father, Mekonen Wondim, who worked as a tax collector at the finance minister’s office when he was preparing to start 7th grade. In an interview with renowned journalist Meaza Birru on Sheger FM 102.1, he stated how much his father wanted him to succeed in his education. He remembers the time he came second in his class at one point. “My father whipped me. That was the only time I was hit until the Derg imprisoned me,” he says with laughter. He managed to use the punishment as motivation. After that, he consistently finished at the top of his class.

He was such an outstanding student that he was made to skip 8th grade. During that time, he went to Debre Zeit, now known as Bishoftu. At first, he applied to a bible academy under the Protestant church. His mother, an Orthodox Christian, was sceptical of that decision. She feared the education might make him change his religion. But he couldn’t attend the programme, so he applied to the Air Force. He was the star of the school and was rewarded for his achievements. After the end of the year, he returned to Atse Gelawdios.

Nebiy attributes his fascination with Ethiopian literature to one of his teachers. His 9th-grade Amharic teacher, Mr. Mezgebu, was one of his inspirations and role models. In addition to literature, Nebiy enjoyed sports. He was particularly adept at table tennis and volleyball.

After joining the university, he majored in Chemistry and minored in Mathematics. He was part of the strong student political movement of the time. As a member of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party, he was jailed for almost eight years during the Derg regime.

Nebiy was a poet, translator, and author. He was also a playwright. But he always asked people to address him as a poet more than anything else. He has published poetry books entitled ‘Tikur, Nech, Gracha Getmoch’ and ‘Sewer Sefet’.

Nebiy is a very humble poet. Fame and accomplishment haven’t consumed him; his friends say he wasn’t full of himself.

He translated the famous book “Gone With The Wind” by Margaret Mitchell while in prison. The Amharic title was “Negem Lela Ken New,” meaning “Tomorrow is another day.” He wrote his translation on three thousand pieces of cigarette paper and later published the book after he finished his prison term. Among his other translation works, the most popular are “The Da Vinci Code” and “Woman at Point Zero.” Nebiy famously said, “When I am sick inside, I cure myself of the illness by writing.”

He wrote a popular show entitled “Bale Guday” that featured Abebe Balcha on ETV. The show’s story revolves around rampant corruption in land acquisition and portrays how civilians suffer because of the gruelling bureaucracy in government offices.

He was one of the founders of Addis Admas newspaper, which launched in 1999. He also served as Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper for two decades. Nebiy was famous for his column in the Addis Admas newspaper, where he documented the lives of Ethiopian diasporas in the United States. The column was titled “Yegna Sew Be Amerika” (An Ethiopian in the U.S.) and was an eagerly anticipated series by readers.

During the widespread epidemic of HIV infection, Nebiy wrote a poem entitled ‘Male Babes Yikes’, which became a popular song on national television and encouraged open discussion about the deadly virus. Many famous singers came together to present a timely and impactful message.

Poet Frezer Admasu describes Nebiy as an excellent teacher. He says Nebiy has taught many people by giving advice and respecting his generation. He shares his ability and knowledge.

Nebiy Mekonon’s works show that he cares deeply about the country. It has been said that what separates Nebiy Mekonen from other Amharic poets is that his works on Ethiopia are not limited to a few poems; more than twenty poems have been written about the country.

He wrote a book titled “The Last Lecture,” published in 2022. Unfortunately, these books remained unpublished more than once until a few years ago. Besides that, Nabiy has written theatre scripts. Among these are Julius Caesar, Nathaniel the Wise, and Adoption.

Nebiy is a great mentor and teacher for young writers and poets. He has created a platform for many poets and writers to gain experience and share their work in his newspaper. People who have worked with him describe him as more of a brother and a friend than a boss.

During the memorial service, his friend Behailu Gebremedin mentioned that Nebiy respected those before him. He stated that Nebiy always praised Mengestu Lemma and Tsegaye Gebremedin in his writings.

“Nebiy is mentioned among the great people who have written their own mark in bold. He was a man of both eras who filled the gap by being a bridge for the new generation to learn from the thoughts, attitudes and visions of the era in which he lived,” says Poet Misrak Terefe.

Misrak tells EBR that Nebiy gave himself, his life, and his age to the youth. “Nebiy tried to listen, help, and love the youth as much as possible. And we noticed that the youth showed a special love and respect for Nebiy,” she added.

Nebiy’s passing is a significant loss for Ethiopia. He has left this world after a decorated career and many meaningful works. But his writings will live long in the memories of his readers. EBR

12th Year • July 2024 • No. 131