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Baalu Girma

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Ethiopian author and journalist (1939–1984)
Baalu Girma
Native nameበአሉ ግርማ
Born22 September 1939
Illubabor Province, Ethiopia
Died1984(1984-00-00) (aged 44–45)
Occupation
  • Journalist
  • author
NationalityEthiopian
EducationAddis Ababa University (BA)
Michigan State University (MD)
PeriodModern (20th century)
Genre
Literary movementRealism, Social realism, Socialist realism
Years active1963–1984
Notable worksBeyond the Horizon
The Bell of Conscience
The Call of the Red Star
Haddis
Oromay
SpouseAlmaz Aberra
ChildrenMeskerem
Zelalem
Kibre
Baalu Girma's voice Interview to the Ethiopian Television
Recorded 1969–1970

Bealu Girma (Amharic: በአሉ ግርማ, romanized: Be’ālu Girma; 22 September 1939 – 1984) was an Ethiopian journalist and author known for his criticism of prominent members of the Derg, in his book Oromay ("The End"). He was a notable Journalist during the time of Emperor Haile Selassie and served in various media positions in the country. He has also written notable works, including Beyond the Horizon, The Bell of Conscience, The Call of the Red Star, and Haddis.

Girma was born to an Indian father from Gujarat and Ethiopian mother, at Illubabor Province, Ethiopia in 1939 while fascist forces led by the Axis were occupying Ethiopia. Nonetheless Girma's career is centered around the capital, Addis Ababa. Girma's writing have influences of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley and others critical of government and philosophical positions regarding freedom and natural rights for societies.

He also served as acting, deputy minister of information then minister during Mengistu Haile Mariam's rule. In 1984 Girma disappeared, widely suspected to have been assassinated and thus murdered by the Derg for his critical writings and opposition of the then government of Ethiopia.

Early life

Baalu Girma was born on 22 September 1939, in the Illubabor Province, Ethiopia. His father was an Indian businessman, and his mother a local woman born to a wealthy family. His parents’ marriage ended when his father decided to move his family to Addis Ababa, and his mother’s family refused to permit them to leave. After the separation, Baalu's father continued to provide for his son; but Baalu never managed to develop a strong relationship with his father. In college, he changed his last name to Girma, after a family who took him in as their own and gave him love and care throughout his childhood in Addis.

Aside from being very close to his maternal grandfather and having some loving memories of one particular teacher, Baalu rarely talked about his childhood in Illubabor. After he completed traditional Ethiopian schooling as a child, he moved to Addis Ababa at the age of 10 and became a boarding student at the Zenebe Worq Elementary School.

Although he was academically very bright, as a youngster, he was also known for being a bit of a troublemaker. In fact, he was known to organize a school-wide protest in order to get his wishes. Girma's excellent grades earned him a scholarship at General Wingate Secondary School. In 1951, he entered General Wingate, and it was there that he found his calling in journalism and creative writing. He often thanked his English teacher, Miss Marshall, for inspiring him and teaching him the technique of writing short sentences.

College

Girma graduated from Michigan State University after studying in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

In 1962, Girma earned a bachelor's degree in political science and journalism from Addis Ababa University. As an undergraduate, he mixed academic excellence with the practice of journalism. He served as a news correspondent for the Ethiopian Herald (a prominent English-language newspaper) and as editor-in-chief of News and Views, a well-known university newspaper. As a young editor, he was often critical of the emperor's administration and the government’s policies, which at times forced Girma to interrupt his school and go into hiding. Although the emperor served as head of state, the head of government was the prime minister and as such government initiatives and policies were from elected members of parliaments serving in the cabinet and his critical writings were not necessarily only on Emperor Haile Selassie I. Despite these challenges, Girma earned a full scholarship and obtained a master's degree in political science and journalism from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

Professional career

Girma in a discussion in the early beginnings of the 1970s

Late in 1963, Girma returned to Ethiopia and began his career in the Ministry of Information as Editor-in- Chief of Ye'Zareyitu Ethiopia, a weekly newspaper published in the Amharic language.

In 1965, he was appointed editor-in-chief of Addis Reporter, a weekly magazine published in English. After three years, Girma left the Addis Reporter and became editor of the Ethiopian Herald, a daily English-language newspaper. The early stage of his professional life did not go without incidents. Once he was suspended from his editorship role over a controversial editorial, he had written in Addis Reporter, a weekly magazine published in the English language. Later, when returned to work, he had to accept a salary cut.

Girma published various papers throughout his years from the 60s to the 80s

From 1970 to 1974, Girma served as Editor-in-Chief of Addis Zemen, a mainstream daily newspaper published in Amharic. During the country-wide violence and profound political change in 1974, Addis Zemen, under Girma's editorship, remained the only source of information not fully controlled and thus giving unparallel amounts of general public trust regarding sources of information in the interest of the public. He later become acting then deputy minister of information under Mengistu Haile Mariam, where he showcased support of Ethiopia's war efforts against Somalia's invasion of the country during the Ogaden War. Although Girma for his previous authorships as 'The Call of the Red Star' written during his stay in modern day Eritrea, had condoned the Derg's war led front in the then northern Ethiopian province he wasn't exactly to keen and later showcased his disapproval from his employers as a critique writer.

While he was the editor-in-chief of Addis Zemen, Girma also wrote two of his most popular novels, Kadmas Bashager (Beyond the Horizon) and Ye'hillina Dewel (The Bell of Conscience). Girma is also known for his 1983 Amharic novel Oromay. Contrary to Girma's repeated distribution of Derg propaganda he subsequently chose one day to critique them. Which nonetheless ultimately caused his novels and writings to be subsequently banned by the Derg regime for its critique against communism. Oromay had mentioned only a handful Derg officials and the majority had alluded to through course of actions.

Girma on Ethiopian Television during the end of the 60s

Although his book was banned within the time frame of 5 days, the book had sold over 500 copies in a time frame of less than 24 hours, which themselves were redistributed and copied by press machines to which spread throughout the country. The Derg regime wasn't able to successfully hinder the printage of Oromay and thus Kuraz Publishing Agency was able to distribute it in large parts of Ethiopia, making it was a national hit.

In 1974, Girma left Addis Zemen and became Deputy General Manager of the Ethiopian News Agency, a state-owned media organization. Within a year, he was promoted to the General Manager position and remained in that post until 1977. At the end of 1977, he became the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information. In addition to being a journalist and writer, Girma served as guest lecturer of creative writing at Addis Ababa University.

Nonetheless, Girma's career came to an end with a highly suspected Derg secret 'assassination' which ultimately killed Girma.

Disappearance and legacy

Girma is widely regarded as one of Ethiopia's foremost outspoken writers

Disappearance

Family members found Baalu Girma's car outside of Addis Ababa on the way to Bishoftu. The military junta classified him as a missing person, and no one has heard from Girma since. Nonetheless it is a widely held consensus among the general population and historians that he was murdered by the Derg regime. According to Mengistu Hailemariam, the military junta ruler of Ethiopia at the time, said that he had no information about the whereabouts of Girma. He further on stated that he ordered an unsuccessful search to find Girma. Fikre Selassie Wogderess who would later be the Prime Minister of Ethiopia was largely known to be the one who initially censored Baalu Girma's book and thus under Mengistu Hailemariam's perspective, one of the keys but not sole players in Girma's demise. According to Mengistu Hailemariam further due to the Derg's previous employment promotions of Girma, other employees had become 'enemies' of Girma.

Along with his wife, Almaz Aberra, Girma has a daughter, Meskerem, his sons, Zelalem and Kibre, and his granddaughter, Naomi-Baalu Gizaw. Girma disappearance has been subject to speculation. His wide Almaz Aberra has been waiting for Girma's return over 30 years, not believing the Derg had killed her husband. She has on occasion showcased her frustration, ultimately believing that he would not return and thus had been killed by the Derg during the night of 1984.

She has raised her frustration more evidently after the overthrow of the Derg and the then ruling TPLF under the new 1995 constitution and the reformation of a new governmental structure and apparatus.

Legacy

Bealu Girma is the most consistently good writer of Ethiopia.

Reidulf K. Molvaer, —Black Lions: The Creative Lives of Modern Ethiopia's Literary Giants and Pioneers, (c. 1997)

Girma's legacy has had an overwhelming amount of positive feedback towards him in Ethiopia, spreading across the diaspora and including places such as Minneapolis, a heavily populated area of persons of Ethiopian origin. He has also inspired a regular reoccurring theater performances at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in Hager Fikir Theatre. Gallery shows have been showcased for Girma. His book Oromay has recently been translated into English, impacting his reach further than Ethiopia.

Girma is widely recognized across Ethiopian literature as one of the best journalists and writers.

See also

References

  1. ^ Meseret Chekol Reta (16 May 2013). The Quest for Press Freedom: One Hundred Years of History of the Media in Ethiopia. University Press of America. pp. 226–. ISBN 978-0-7618-6002-0.
  2. Tsegaye, Tadesse (August 13, 2022). "Finding Be'alu Girma, Direction of Ethiopia's Literature". Addis Fortune.
  3. In his book Oromay, Baalu is described as having its influences from notable western writers according to Okey Ndibe
  4. "Fighting in Ethiopia". The Washington Post. January 5, 1978.
  5. Mancuso, Anne; DeSmet, Nicole (March 21, 2013). "Spare Times Listings for March 22-28". The New York Times.
  6. Yibeltal, Kalkidan (May 25, 2016). "Book Review: A legend's life & tragic death revealed". Addis Standard.
  7. "Be'alu Girma". Oxford University Press. 2011. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001.
  8. B., Yosef (July 12, 1998). "Ethiopia: Bealu Girma And The Beginning Of The End". Daily Monitor.
  9. "Remembering Bealu Girma, his mysterious death". Ethiopian Press Agency. February 26, 2019.
  10. ^ Esposito, Veronica (May 10, 2023). "'It is hateful and mean': fighting back with the banned book reading room". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023.
  11. "Ethiopia: Bealu Girma Foundation Launched". AllAfrica. February 17, 2009.
  12. "Still working at 86: Yakob Wolde-Mariam inspires colleagues". The Ethiopian Observer. July 20, 2015.
  13. "Bealu Girma". Committee to Protect Journalists. April 1984.
  14. Girma is universally regarded in Ethiopian literature as a light barer for truth during the time of his authorship
  15. A, Berhe (2008). "A political history of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (1975-1991)" (PDF). Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
  16. Adera, Taddesse (November 1, 1995). "From Apologist to Critic: The Dilemma of Bealu Girma". Northeast African Studies. 2 (1). Michigan State University: 135–144. doi:10.1353/nas.1995.0030. ISSN 1535-6574. JSTOR 41931195.
  17. Ross, Jay (February 8, 1978). "Ethiopia Pushes Drive to Recapture Ogaden Area". The Washington Post.
  18. "Photography Lecture Series with Eric Gottesman". Stanford University. January 29, 2015.
  19. Muteki, Afendi (March 26, 2023). "የበዓሉ ግርማ ኦሮማይ – ዛሬ ለምን?". Ethio Review.
  20. Slawson, Nicola (May 11, 2023). "First Thing: Trump repeats conspiracy theories and election lies in CNN town hall". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023.
  21. Abraham, Kinfe. Ethiopia, from Bullets to the Ballot Box: The Bumpy Road to Democracy and the Political Economy of Transition. Lawrenceville, NJ: Red Sea Press, 1994, pp. 113–114.
  22. Article 19 (Organization), and American Library Association. Information Freedom and Censorship: World Report 1991; Article 19. Chicago: American Library Association, 1991, p. 16.
  23. Molvaer, Reidulf K. Black Lions: The Creative Lives of Modern Ethiopia's Literary Giants and Pioneers. Lawrenceville, NJ : Red Sea Press, 1997, p. 351.
  24. "CULTURE, GENDER & DEVELOPMENT FOR EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICAN ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES" (PDF). United Nations University. April 11, 1997.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. Emmanuel Kwaku Akyeampong; Henry Louis Gates; Mr. Steven J. Niven (2 February 2012). Dictionary of African Biography. Oxford University Press. pp. 409–. ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5.
  26. Girma served as not only a chief editor but a lecturer at Addis Ababa University
  27. Mengesha, Selamawit (November 4, 2023). "Spotlight on a national Mystery". The Reporter (Ethiopia).
  28. "Baalu Girma". MacLehose Press.
  29. Teweldebirhan, Seble (April 21, 2013). "Remembering Baalu Girma". Ezega. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024.
  30. Gottesman, Eric (2020). "Who am I to tell the story?". For Freedoms.
  31. A historical theater play of Baalu Grima's life is performed regularly in Addis Ababa composed by Ethiopian playwriters. EBC (Ethiopian state media) in addition to EBS have both reported this and with others such as Fana Broadcasting Corporation:
  32. Jenkins, Mark (December 27, 2013). "D.C. gallery shows: 'Curio,' 'The Straight,' 'Color, Earth, Andes' and more". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014.
  33. O'Driscoll, Declan (December 8, 2024). "Translated fiction: A round-up of the best recent foreign-language books". Irish Times.
  34. Shariatmadari, David; Jordan, Justine; Spencer, Liese (December 28, 2024). "From Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to Pope Francis: the books to look forward to in 2025". The Guardian.
  35. Dessalegn, Aklilu (June 1, 2010). "Existentialism in the Selected Creative Works of Adam Reta" (PDF). Addis Ababa University.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Books

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