First Lady of Ethiopia (
Ge'ez: የኢትዮጵያ ቀዳማዊት እመቤት) is a title for the wife of
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Prime Minister. Officially the concept of First Lady applied in
Ethiopian politics since 1995. Although the first lady's role has never been
codified or officially defined, she figures prominently in the political and social life of the nation. However, the role of
First Lady
First lady is an unofficial title usually used for the wife, and occasionally used for the daughter or other female relative, of a non-monarchical
A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state fo ...
is created by her and contributes her unique position to improve women and children's capacity but her contribution has not been known at the broader public realm.
History
In Ethiopian history, the word ‘
Majesty’ was the symbol of royal title that has been referred to a king or Queen. The wife of royal family could share a power with her
royal title of ‘
Queen’ which has created alliances among the other side. It means, the name of ‘Queen’ had recognized by societies and entitled with a power for the wife of a king, then she had a supreme power to advise her husband to sustain and keep a monarchal system from generation to generation (by appoint her son to be a king) such as Queen Eleni,
Seble wengel,
Mintewab,
Empress Taytu. They were contributed their special position to their country as well as the state of subjects. They have passed their legacy to the advancement of
Ethiopian women
There have been several studies concerning women in Ethiopia. Historically, elite women in Ethiopia have been visible as administrators and warriors. This never translated into any benefit to improve the rights of women, but it had meant that wo ...
. People has followed them as their leaders equivalent to their king (
Tayitu is the best example).
After the annihilated of
Monarchal system and substituted by
military system (socialism ideology), the wife of
Ethiopian leader had not any title for the couple of decades. But after the
Transitional government of Ethiopia succeeded, the concept of first lady come alive when the wife of
President Negasso Gidida Regina Abelt, citizen of
Germany, officially became the First Lady of
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in 1995.
Uniquely,
Regina Abelt was the only person in
Ethiopia history to be nominated for a first ladyship regardless of her citizenship and nomination by the behalf of president.
In 2013,
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia the Office of the First Lady has established during the reign of the former First Lady
Roman Tesfaye. All programs that undertaking by of the office has its significant to the Ethiopian women's empowerment and address the national gender issues.
List of first ladies
References
{{First ladies and gentlemen
First ladies of Ethiopia,
Lists of Ethiopian people
Lists of spouses of national leaders, Ethiopia
Lists of political office-holders, Ethiopia, First Lady