This is a list of notable

Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...

ns, sorted by the fields for which they are best known. The list includes people born in and residing in Ethiopia, as well as people strongly associated with Ethiopia, and people of significant Ethiopian ancestry.

Academics and philosophers

* Alemayehu Fentaw Weldemariam * Mohamed Hikam Sheikh Abdirahman, Islamic scholar * Dereje Agonafer, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at

University of Texas at Arlington The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA or UT Arlington) is a public research university in Arlington, Texas. The university was founded in 1895 and was in the Texas A&M University System for several decades until joining the University of Te ...

Amsalu Aklilu Amsalu Aklilu (2 September 1929 – 19 December 2013) was a distinguished lexicographer of Amharic and a language professor at Addis Ababa University, a major figure in Ethiopian studies. He was born in Dessie, Wällo; attended a local church sch ...

, lexicographer of

Amharic Amharic ( or ; (Amharic: ), ', ) is an Ethiopian Semitic language, which is a subgrouping within the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic languages. It is spoken as a first language by the Amharas, and also serves as a lingua franca for all oth ...

Hizkias Assefa Hizkias Assefa (1948) is a conflict mediator known widely in Africa for his non-aligned work as a consultant who has mediated in most major conflict situations in sub-Saharan Africa in the past 20 years, as well as in a dozen countries elsewhere. H ...

, professor of conflict studies and consulting mediator *

Bahrey ''Abba'' Bahrey ( Ge'ez: ባሕርይ ''bāḥriy'', "pearl") was a late 16th-century Ethiopian monk, historian, and ethnographer, from the southern region of Gamo. He is best known for his 1593 work on the history of the Oromo and their migrati ...

, 16th-century monk historian * Gäbre-Heywät Baykädañ (1886-1919), intellectual and reformer who served as treasurer for Emperor

Menelik II , spoken = ; ''djānhoi'', lit. ''"O steemedroyal"'' , alternative = ; ''getochu'', lit. ''"Our master"'' (pl.) Menelik II ( gez, ዳግማዊ ምኒልክ ; horse name Abba Dagnew (Amharic: አባ ዳኘው ''abba daññäw''); 17 A ...

Yosef Ben-Jochannan Yosef Alfredo Antonio Ben-Jochannan (; December 31, 1918 – March 19, 2015), referred to by his admirers as "Dr. Ben", was an American writer and historian. He was considered to be one of the more prominent Afrocentricism, Afrocentric scholars ...

, writer and historian * Eleni Gebre-Medhin, economist *

Gebisa Ejeta Gebisa Ejeta (born 1950) is an Ethiopian American plant breeder, geneticist and Professor at Purdue University. In 2009, he won the World Food Prize for his major contributions in the production of sorghum. Early years Ejeta was born in the re ...

, 2009 World Food Prize laureate and Distinguished Professor at

Purdue University Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded in 1869 after Lafayette businessman John Purdue donated land and money ...

Getatchew Haile Getatchew Haile (; April 19, 1931 – June 10, 2021) was an Ethiopian-American philologist widely considered the foremost scholar of the Ge'ez language and one of its most prolific (he published more than 150 books and articles). He was acknowled ...

, scholar of the Ge'ez language *

Walda Heywat Welde Hiwot (Amharic: ዋልዳ ሄወት) ( fl. 17th century), also called Mitku, was an Ethiopian philosopher. Biography Walda Heywat was the student of Zera Yacob, whose work he continued in his ''Treatise of Walda Heywat'', written in Ge' ...

, philosopher *

Ephraim Isaac Ephraim Isaac (born 29 May 1936) is an Ethiopian scholar of ancient Ethiopian Semitic languages and of Classical African civilization, African and History of Ethiopia, Ethiopian civilizations. He is the director of the Institute of Semitic Studi ...

, scholar of ancient languages *

Taddesse Tamrat Taddesse Tamrat ( am, ታደሰ ታምራት; 4 August 1935 – 23 May 2013) was an Ethiopian historian and scholar of Ethiopian studies. He is best known as the author of ''Church and State in Ethiopia 1270–1520'' (1972, Oxford University Pre ...

, Ethiopian historian * Shekh Muhammad Tānī, Islamic scholar *

Merid Wolde Aregay Merid Wolde Aregay (1934 or 1935 – 2008) was an Ethiopian historian and a scholar of Ethiopian studies. Merid Wolde Aregay was born in Adwa in 1927 according to the Ethiopian calendar. He earned his BA in 1956 from what was called Univers ...

, Ethiopian historian *

Mesfin Woldemariam Mesfin Woldemariam ( Ge'ez: መስፍን ወልደ ማርያም; 23 April 1930 – 29 September 2020) was an Ethiopian academic and human rights activist. Early life and education Mesfin Woldermariam was born on 23 April 1930 in Addis Ababa, E ...

, academician *

Zewde Gebre-Sellassie ''Dejazmatch'' Zewde Gebre-Sellassie (12 October 1926 – 15 December 2008) was a prominent nobleman, historian, and former deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia. He was born in the village of Galdu, in the subdistrict of Mecca, to the north-west of Add ...

* Edemariam Tsega, physician

Artists

* Mickaël Bethe-Selassié,

papier mâché Papier may refer to : *paper in French, Dutch, Afrikaans, Polish or German, word that can be found in the following expressions: **Papier-mâché, a construction material made of pieces of paper stuck together using a wet paste **Papier collé, a p ...

sculptor * Alexander Boghossian * Gebre Kristos Desta * Wosene Worke Kosrof *

Tadesse Mamechae Tadesse Mamecha (born 1941, also known as Tadesse Mamecha Gebre-Tsadik) is an Ethiopian sculptor. His most famous sculpture is "The Afar" which stands in front of the National Theater on Churchill Road. Tadesse Mamecha studied at the Art School in ...

, sculptor *

Julie Mehretu Julie Mehretu (born November 28, 1970) is an Ethiopian American contemporary visual artist, known for her multi-layered paintings of abstracted landscapes on a large scale. Her paintings, drawings, and prints depict the cumulative effects of urban ...

Aida Muluneh ''Aida'' (or ''Aïda'', ) is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt, it was commissioned by Cairo's Khedivial Opera House and had its première there on 24 December 1 ...

, photographer *

Afewerk Tekle Afewerk Tekle (; 22 October 1932 – 10 April 2012) was an Ethiopian artist, particularly known for his paintings on African and Christian themes as well as his stained glass. Early life and career Born in Ankober, in Shewa Province, to e ...

* Abel Tilahun, visual artist *

Elizabeth Habte Wold Elizabeth Habte Wold (born 1963) is an Ethiopian artist known for her mixed-media work. She completed degrees in fine arts at the School of Fine Arts in Addis Ababa and Baltimore City Community College in Maryland, and an MFA at Howard University ...

, mixed-media artist * Zerihun Yetmgeta
* Ale Felege Selam

Athletes

Gezahegne Abera Gezahegne Abera ( Amharic: ገዛሄኘ አበራ; born April 23, 1978) is an Ethiopian athlete, winner of the marathon race at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Born in Etya, Arsi Province, Gezahegne's first international competition was the ...

* Haimro Alame (born 1990), Ethiopian-born Israeli runner *

Bezunesh Bekele Bezunesh Bekele Sertsu (born 29 January 1983) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in cross-country running and marathons. Biography She was born in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. She took a number of circuit wins on the ...

Kenenisa Bekele Kenenisa Bekele ( om, Qananiisaa baqqalaa; am, ቀነኒሳ በቀለ; born 13 June 1982) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. He was the world record holder in both the 5000-metre and 10000-metre from 2004 (5,000m) and 2005 (10,000m) unti ...

(born 1982), long-distance runner * Almensh Belete (born 1989, Addis Ababa), female long-distance runner *

Abebe Bikila ''Shambel'' Abebe Bikila ( am, ሻምበል አበበ ቢቂላ; August 7, 1932 – October 25, 1973) was an Ethiopian marathon runner who was a back-to-back Olympic marathon champion. He is the first Ethiopian Olympic gold medalist, winnin ...

(1932-1973), long-distance runner *

Worku Bikila Worku Bikila (born 6 May 1968) is a retired Ethiopian long-distance runner, who specialized mainly in the 5000 metres. His 10,000 metres time of 27:06.44 minutes in 1995 was the second-fastest time that year, behind Haile Gebrselassie. He repres ...

(born 1968), long-distance runner *

Meseret Defar Meseret Defar Tola (Amharic: መሠረት ደፋር; born 19 November 1983) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes chiefly in the 3000 metres and 5000 metres events. She has won medals at top-tier international competitions including Ol ...

Baruch Dego Baruch Dego (or Barukh, he, ברוך דגו; born 28 March 1982) is an Ethiopian-born Israeli former association footballer, who played for the Israel national team. Early life Dego was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to an Ethiopian-Jewish fam ...

Ejegayehu Dibaba Ejegayehu Dibaba Keneni ( om, Ijigaayoo Dibaabaa; Amharic: እጅጋዬሁ ዲባባ); born 21 March 1982, in Bekoji) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. She won the silver medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Ejegayehu ear ...

Genzebe Dibaba Genzebe Dibaba Keneni (Oromo language, Oromo: ''Ganzabee Dibaabaa Qananii''; Amharic: ገንዘቤ ዲባባ ቀነኒ; born 8 February 1991) is an Ethiopian Middle-distance running, middle- and Long-distance running, long-distance runner. A 150 ...

Tirunesh Dibaba Tirunesh Dibaba ( om, Xirunesh Dibaabaa, Amharic: ጥሩነሽ ዲባባ ቀነኒ; born 1 June 1985) is an Ethiopian athlete who competed in long-distance track events and international road races. She has won three Olympic track gold medals, ...

Ageze Guadie Ageze Guadie ( he, גואדה אגזה; born September 11, 1989) is an Ethiopian-born Israeli Olympic marathon runner. Early and personal life Born in Ethiopia, he is an Ethiopian Jew (Beta Israel) and is the seventh of nine children in his fami ...

(born 1989), Ethiopian-born Israeli Olympic marathon runner *

Haile Gebrselassie Haile Gebrselassie ( am, ኀይሌ ገብረ ሥላሴ, ''haylē gebre silassē''; born 18 April 1973) is an Ethiopian retired long-distance track, road running athlete, and businessman. He won two Olympic gold medals and four World Champions ...

Letesenbet Gidey Letesenbet Gidey (Tigrinya: ለተሰንበት ግደይ, born 20 March 1998) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who holds three world records plus one world best. A 10,000 metres 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist, at the World Athletics C ...

, 5000 meters world record holder *

Sifan Hassan Sifan Hassan ( om, Siifan Hassan; born 1 January 1993) is an Ethiopian-born Dutch middle- and long-distance runner. She completed an unprecedented triple at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics winning gold medals in both the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres, ...

, Ethiopian-born Dutch middle- and long-distance runner *

Youssouf Hersi Youssouf Hersi (born 20 August 1982) is a retired professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Born in Ethiopia, Hersi represented the Netherlands at youth international level. Club career Hersi has played in the Netherlands ...

Benjamin Kibebe Benjamin Kibebe (born August 13, 1981) is a Swedish professional former Association football, footballer who played as a Defender (association football), defender. He won one Cap (sport), cap for the Sweden national football team, Sweden national ...

Werknesh Kidane Werknesh Kidane (; born November 21, 1981), is an Ethiopian long distance runner from Tigray who competes in both 5000 and 10,000 metres. She has won numerous medals at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and represented Ethiopia at the S ...

Tesama Moogas Tesama Moogas (Hebrew: טסמה מוגס, born 2 February 1988) is an Ethiopian-born Israeli long-distance runner. Early life Moogas was born in Ethiopia, and grew up in the village of Jojam. He immigrated to Israel when he was 20 years old, in ...

, Ethiopian-born Israeli Olympic marathon runner * Jamal Sadat, footballer *

Theodor Gebre Selassie Theodor Gebre Selassie (born 24 December 1986) is a Czech professional footballer who plays for Czech club Slovan Liberec, either as a right-back or as wing-back. He earned 54 caps and scored three goals with the Czech national team. Havin ...

* Lencho Skibba *

Ydnekatchew Tessema Yidnekatchew Tessema ( Amharic: ይድነቃቸው ተሠማ; 11 September 1921 – 19 August 1987) was a footballer in Ethiopia. Soccer career He played for his school for five years, for the first Ethiopian soccer team, the St. George Cl ...

Derartu Tulu Derartu Tulu NL COL ( om, Daraartuu Tulluu, Amharic: ደራርቱ ቱሉ; born 21 March 1972) is an Ethiopian former long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at ...

Italo Vassalo Italo Vassallo (1940 – 30 July 2021) was an Italian-Eritrean footballer. He played for Ethiopia internationally, scoring in their 1962 Africa Cup of Nations final victory over Egypt. His half-brother is Luciano Vassallo, a former footballer f ...

Luciano Vassalo Luciano Vassallo (15 August 1935 – 16 September 2022) was a footballer of Eritrean and Italian origin who played for the Ethiopia national team in the 1960s. He captained the winning team at the 1962 African Cup of Nations, Ethiopia's only t ...

* Asi Vassihon (born 1982), Ethiopian-Israeli footballer *

Mamo Wolde Degaga "Mamo" Wolde ( amh, ማሞ ወልዴ; 12 June 1932 – 26 May 2002) was an Ethiopian long distance runner who competed in track, cross-country, and road running events. He was the winner of the marathon at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Ear ...

(1932-2002), long-distance runner *

Million Wolde Million Wolde (Amharic: ሚሊዮን ወልዴ; born March 17, 1979) is an Ethiopian athlete, winner of the 5000 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics. At the age of only seventeen, Million Wolde competed in the 1996 World Junior Championshi ...

Mengistu Worku Mengistu Worku (Amharic: መንግስቱ ወርቁ; 1940 – 16 December 2010) was an Ethiopian Association football, footballer, recognised as one of the best Ethiopian footballers in history with Luciano Vassalo and Ydnekatchew Tessema. He is ...

* Andargachew Yelak, footballer *

Miruts Yifter Miruts Yifter (, affectionately known as "Yifter the Shifter", 15 May 1944 – 22 December 2016) was an Ethiopian long-distance runner and winner of two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics. His date of birth is often given as 15 May 1944, t ...

* Zohar Zemiro (born 1977), Israeli marathon runner

Businesspeople

Mahlet Afework Mahlet Afework is an Ethiopian fashion designer and entrepreneur. Early years and education Afework was supposed to study nursing for two years. But in the middle of her studies, she quit to study Fashion. Career Afework began her career at ...

, fashion designer and entrepreneur *

Tewodros Ashenafi Tewodros Ashenafi (born 26 August 1969) is an Ethiopian entrepreneur. He currently serves as CEO of SouthWest Energy. Education Ashenafi holds a degree in Economics from Columbia College of Columbia University, where he studied under Professor ...

, CEO of

SouthWest Energy SouthWest Energy Ltd is an Ethiopian oil and gas exploration and production company located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The company was established in 2005 by Tewodros Ashenafi. It is registered in Hong Kong. In December 2005, SouthWest Energ ...

Sophia Bekele Sophia Bekele Eshete (Amharic: ሶፍያ በቀለ; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) is an entrepreneur, corporate executive, governance and risk management specialist, policy advisor on ICT, commentator and philanthropist. As an entrepreneur, Bekele has ...

, corporate executive and entrepreneur * Betelhem Dessie (born 1999), tech entrepreneur *

Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi Mohammed Hussein Ali Al-'Amoudi ( ar, محمد حسين علي العمودي; born 1946) is a Saudi billionaire businessman. He was born Ethiopia in 1946 to a Yemeni father from Hadhramaut and Ethiopian Amhara mother from Wollo. In 2016 ...

(born 1946), Ethiopian-Saudi

billionaire A billionaire is a person with a net worth of at least one billion (1,000,000,000, i.e., a thousand million) units of a given currency, usually of a major currency such as the United States dollar, euro, or pound sterling. The American busin ...

Juneidi Basha Juneidi Basha ( Ge'ez: ጁኔይዲ ባሻ; born February 19, 1961) is an Ethiopian business executive who served as the General Manager of Harar Brewery and Vice President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations. He most r ...

, business executive * Melesse Temesgen (born 1964), businessman and researcher *

Mazengia Demma Mazengia Demma Soru ( Ge'ez: ማዘንግያ ደማ ሶሩ; born July 26, 1970) is an Ethiopian Ethiopians are the native inhabitants of Ethiopia, as well as the global diaspora of Ethiopia. Ethiopians constitute several component ethnic gro ...

, businessman and investor * Eleni Gebre-Medhin, entrepreneur and business woman *

Tewolde Gebremariam Tewolde GebreMariam Tesfay (Amharic: ተወልደ ገብረማርያም ተስፋይ) is an Ethiopian business executive who served as the group chief executive officer of the Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines Group from 2011 to 2022. He se ...

, business executive, former

Chief Executive Officer A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopian Airlines (commonly referred to as Ethiopian; am, የኢትዮጵያ አየር መንገድ, translit=Ye-Ītyōṗṗyā āyer menged), formerly ''Ethiopian Air Lines'' (EAL), is the flag carrier of Ethiopia, and is wholly owned by t ...

* Girma Wake, business executive and Chairman of

Diplomats and ambassadors

* Aida Girma-Melaku UNICEF Representative in Pakistan * Tekeda Alemu (born 1951), representative to the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

* Teketel Forsido, ambassador and former

Minister of Agriculture An agriculture ministry (also called an) agriculture department, agriculture board, agriculture council, or agriculture agency, or ministry of rural development) is a ministry charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister f ...

Abdul Majid Hussein Dr Abdul Majid Hussein ( so, Cabdulmajiid Xuseen; ar, عبد المجيد حسين; ) born 1944), also called የማሰብ ችሎታ ያለው አንበሳ (The Intelligent Lion), is an Ethiopian politician, who was the Permanent Representative o ...

(1944-2004), representative to the

Makonnen Kebret Makonnen Kebret (1935–1990) was an Ethiopian diplomat. Makonnen Kebret was a specialist in agricultural education. *From 1948 to 1968 he was professor and dean of the College of Agriculture, Addis Ababa University. *From 1968 to 1971 he was ass ...

, diplomat and agricultural education specialist * Atsede Kidanu, career diplomat * Mateus, 16th-century ambassador to

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

and

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

Andargachew Messai Andargachew Messai (25 March 1902 – 16 August 1981) was an Ethiopian diplomat and the husband of Princess Tenagnework Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, the eldest child of Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen Asfaw. He was born in the Shewa ...

(1902-1981), diplomat and husband of Princess Tenagnework Haile Selassie * Saga za Ab, 16th-century ambassador to Europe *

Lorenzo Taezaz Lorenzo Taezaz (30 June 1900 – 23 June 1947) was an important diplomatic official for Ethiopia. He served as Emperor Haile Selassie's diplomatic representative during the Emperor's exile in Britain following the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, being t ...

, (1900-1947), diplomat and later

Minister of Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...

Tayé-Brook Zerihoun Tayé-Brook Zerihoun (born 13 December 1942) is an Ethiopian politician. He was appointed Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs in the United Nations Department of Political Affairs on 28 April 2010 by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ...

(born 1942), Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs in the

United Nations Department of Political Affairs The United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) is a department of the Secretariat of the United Nations (UN) with responsibility for monitoring and assessing global political developments and advising and assisting t ...

Entertainers

Senait Ashenafi Senait Ashenafi (born March 10, 1966 in Addis Ababa) is an Ethiopian-born actress in the United States who played Keesha Ward in ''General Hospital'' from 1994 to 1998. Senait was nominated for a NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Actress In A ...

, actor *

Mahder Assefa Mahder Assefa (born 5 October 1987) is an Ethiopian actress. She has performed leading roles in ''Seberta, Yalteneka Amalayu'', ''Ye Bet Lij'', ''Shefu'', ''FBI 2'', ''Made In China'' and the ''Triangle'' trilogy. Mahder also garnered a public a ...

, actress * Dege Feder, dancer *

Amleset Muchie Amleset Muchie ( am, አምለሰት ሙጬ; born April 5, 1987) is an Ethiopian model, actress, and filmmaker. She is the wife of Ethiopian singer Teddy Afro since 2012. Early life and career Amleset was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on April 5 ...

, actress and filmmaker * Tesfaye Sahlu (1920-2017), comedian and children's television host *

Alebachew Teka Alebachew Teka (Amharic: አለባቸው ተካ; 1962 – 16 January 2005) was an Ethiopian comedian and television personality. He was known for his talk show ''The Alebeh Show''. Biography Alebachew was born in Wollo Province, in a small town c ...

, actor and comedian

Fashion models

Gelila Bekele Tyler Perry (born Emmitt Perry Jr., September 13, 1969) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, and playwright. He is the creator and performer of the Madea character, a tough elderly woman. Perry's films vary in style from orthodox filmmak ...

Liya Kebede Liya Kebede ( am, ሊያ ከበደ; born 1 March 1978) is an Ethiopian-born model, maternal health advocate, clothing designer, and actress. She has appeared on the cover of ''Vogue'' three times. Kebede has served as the WHO's Ambassador for M ...

Sara Nuru Sara Nuru (born 19 August 1989) is a German fashion model and entrepreneur. She was the winner of the fourth cycle of ''Germany's Next Top Model''. Since 2016, Nuru has been running nuruCoffee, a fair trade coffee company, and supporting Ethiop ...

Berta Vázquez Berta Vázquez (born Birtukan Tibebe; 28 March 1992) is a Ukrainian-born Spanish actress, model, and singer. Her career began in dance, and later transitioned to acting and music. Vázquez first appeared in ''Palm Trees in the Snow'' (2015). Sh ...

Filmmakers

Adanech Admassu Adanech Admassu (born 30 May 1977) is an Ethiopian filmmaker. The central axes of her work are cooperating with NGO programs in Ethiopia and addressing public health and human rights problems in Ethiopia and across Africa, with a focus on storie ...

Haile Gerima Haile Gerima (born March 4, 1946) 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 Filmmakers. His films have receive ...

* Nnegest Likke *

Theodros Teshome Theodros Teshome Kebede (Amharic: ቴዎድሮስ ተሾመ ከበደ; born 7 January 1970) is an Ethiopian filmmaker. Theodros is known for initiating the revival of the Ethiopian film industry in the early 2000s, and for helping to create a bo ...

Humanitarians

Yohannes Gebregeorgis Yohannes Gebregeorgis is an Ethiopian businessman and the founder of Ethiopia Reads, a philanthropic organization committed to bringing literacy to the children of Ethiopia. In 2008, he was recognized as one of the " Top 10 Heroes of the Year" by ...

* Abebech Gobena *

Lale Labuko Lale Labuko is an Ethiopian activist and founder of the Omo Child Shelter which houses children who are at risk of being killed due to certain tribal beliefs. Background Lale Labuko comes from the Kara tribe and grew up in the village of Dus whi ...

* Yetnebersh Nigussie * Alemayehu Fentaw Weldemariam *

Military personnel

Haile Tilahun Gebremariam Haile Tilahun Gebremariam (born 1954) is an Ethiopian military officer. On January 28, 2015 he was appointed the Head of Mission for United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Biograph ...

, former

Ethiopian National Defense Force The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) ( am, የኢፌዲሪ መከላከያ ሠራዊት, Ye’īfēdērī mekelakeya šerawīt, lit=FDRE Defense Force) is the military force of Ethiopia. Civilian control of the military is carried out t ...

(ENDF) general, present Head of Mission of the

United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) is a United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei, which is contested between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. UNISFA was approved on 27 June 2011 by the United Natio ...

(UNISFA) * Lieutenant General

Birhanu Jula Gelalcha Birhanu Jula Gelalcha ( am, ብርሃኑ ጁላ) is an Ethiopian field marshal of the Ethiopian National Defense Force. He is currently the Chief of General Staff of Ethiopia since 4 November 2020. He served as the Force Commander of the United ...

, Force Commander of UNISFA from 2014 to 2016 * Major General

Tesfay Gidey Hailemichael Major General Tesfay Gidey Hailemichael is a general with the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF). He served as the Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) from 2017–2018. Major General Hailemichael w ...

, Force Commander of UNISFA from 2017 to 2018 * Major General

Halefom Ejigu Moges Major General Halefom Ejigu Moges is an Ethiopian major general who was acting Head of Mission of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) from 2014-2015. His assignment ended with the appointment of Haile Tilahun Gebremariam H ...

, acting Head of Mission of UNISFA from 2014 to 2015 * Major General

Hassen Ebrahim Mussa General Hassen Ebrahim Mussa is a general with the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF). He served as the Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) from 2016–2017. Biographical information General Mussa ...

, Force Commander of UNISFA from 2016 to 2017 * Lieutenant General

Tadesse Werede Tesfay Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede Tesfay ( ti, ታደሰ ወረደ (ወዲ ወረደ)) is Commander-in Chief of the Tigray Defense Forces. He was born in Mekelle, a city in Enderta woreda of the Tigray Region. He was the Head of Mission and ...

, commander of UNISFA from 2011 to 2013 * Major General

Yohannes Gebremeskel Tesfamariam Lieutenant General Yohannes Gebremeskel Tesfamariam was the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) from 2013-2014. He was appointed to this position by the United Nations Secretary-Genera ...

, commander of UNISFA from 2013 to 2014 * Major General Gebre Adhana Woldezgu, Force Commander of UNISFA since 2018

Musicians

Aminé Adam Aminé Daniel (born April 18, 1994) is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He first gained notability for his commercial debut single, "Caroline", which peaked at number 11 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. Aminé released hi ...

, American rapper of Ethiopian descent * Mulugeta Abate, songwriter and composer * Madingo Afework (1978-2022), singer *

Teddy Afro Teddy is an English language given name, usually a hypocorism of Edward or Theodore. It may refer to: People Nickname * Teddy Atlas (born 1956), boxing trainer and fight commentator * Teddy Bourne (born 1948), British Olympic epee fencer * Teddy ...

, singer *

Alemu Aga Alemu Aga ( am, ዓለሙ አጋ; born 1950) is an Ethiopian musician, singer, and master of the Begena. Life Born in Entotto, near Addis Ababa, Alemu became interested in the Begena (a ten-stringed member of the lyre family, also known as " ...

Mahmoud Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed ( Amharic: ማሕሙድ አህመድ; born 8 May 1941) is an Ethiopian singer. He gained great popularity in Ethiopia in the 1970s and among the Ethiopian diaspora in the 1980s, before rising to international fame with African mus ...

, singer * Tadesse Alemu *

Mulatu Astatke Mulatu Astatke (; French pronunciation: Astatqé; born 19 December 1943) is an Ethiopian musician and arranger considered as the father of "Ethio-jazz". Born in Jimma, Mulatu was musically trained in London, New York City, and Boston where he ...

, musician and father of "ethio-jazz" *

Aster Aweke Aster Aweke ( am, አስቴር አወቀ; born 1959) is an Ethiopian singer who sings in Amharic. Aster's voice has attracted broader public popularity, especially tracing back in 1990s singles and her single "Abebayehosh" in Ethiopian New Year. ...

, singer *

Abatte Barihun Abatte Barihun ( he, אבטה בריהון, born 1967) is an Israeli jazz saxophonist and composer. His sound is reminiscent of John Coltrane's, who has highly influenced Barihun. Early life and career (1967–1999) Barihun was born in Addis Ab ...

, jazz saxophonist and composer * Aragaw Bedaso, traditional singer * Eyasu Berhe, singer *

Girma Bèyènè Girma Bèyènè, born in Addis Ababa, is an Ethiopian lyricist, composer, arranger, vocalist, and pianist, most active during the golden era of Ethiopian vinyl records (1969–78). He only recorded four songs as a vocalist, but arranged more than ...

Ali Birra Ali Mohammed Musa (29 September 1950 – 6 November 2022), known professionally as Ali Birra, was an Ethiopian singer. He was regarded as the most popular Oromo icon, as well as an influential artist in the other regions and urban areas of Ethi ...

, singer and composer * Tamrat Desta, singer-songwriter *

Alemayehu Eshete Alemayehu Eshete Andarge ( am, ዓለማየሁ እሸቴ አንዳርጌ; French pronunciation: Alèmayèhu Eshèté; June 1941 – 2 September 2021) was an Ethiopian singer. He had performed since the 1960s and primarily in Amharic. He had been ...

, Ethio-jazz singer *

Rophnan Rophnan Nuri Muzeyin ( Amharic: ሮፍናን ኑሪ ሙዘይን; born 22 June 1990), known mononymously as Rophnan (stylized as all caps), is an Ethiopian musician, singer, songwriter, DJ, and audio engineer. Widely acclaimed, he is currently co ...

, electronic musician and songwriter *

Tilahun Gessesse Tilahun Gessesse ( am, ጥላሁን ገሠሠ; 27 September 1940 – 19 April 2009) was an Ethiopian singer regarded as one of the most popular Ethiopian artist of the 20th century. Noted by his tenor voice, he was nicknamed "The Voice" during hi ...

, singer * Gigi, singer *

Thomas Gobena Thomas "Tommy T" Gobena (born 1971) is the bassist for Gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello. He is of Ethiopian descent and was born in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. He moved to Washington D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_cap ...

, bassist of the Gypsy punk band

Gogol Bordello Gogol Bordello is an American punk rock band from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, formed in 1999 by musicians from all over the world and known for theatrical stage shows and persistent touring. Much of the band's sound is inspired by Ro ...

Hachalu Hundessa Hachalu Hundessa ( om, Haacaaluu Hundeessaa Boonsaa; am, ሃጫሉ ሁንዴሳ; 1986 – 29 June 2020) was an Ethiopian singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. Hachalu played a significant role in the 2014–2016 Oromo protests that l ...

, Oromo singer-songwriter *

Kenna Kenna Zemedkun, known professionally as Kenna, is an Ethiopian-born American musician, philanthropist and technology creative. His track "Say Goodbye to Love" was nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in the 2009 Grammy Awards. Kenna ...

Getatchew Mekurya Getatchew Mekurya (Amharic: ጌታቸው መኩሪያ ወልደ ተክሌ; 14 March 1935 – 4 April 2016) was an Ethiopian jazz saxophonist. Early career Mekurya was born on 14 March 1935, in Yifat, Ethiopia. His father was a honey merchant. ...

, jazz, saxophonist *

Munit Mesfin Munit Mesfin (born 1981) is an Ethiopian singer and songwriter best known for working in a duo with German vocalist and guitarist Jӧrg Pfeil. Munit sings in her mother tongue Amharic and English, with inspiration from traditional Ethiopian ...

, singer-songwriter * LoLa Monroe, rapper, model, actress *

Emilia Rydberg Hanna Emilia Rydberg-Mitiku, known simply as Emilia (born 5 January 1978), is a Swedish pop music and soul singer. Her 1998 hit single " Big Big World" reached number one in the music charts in several countries. Life and career Rydberg's father ...

, partial Ethiopian descent, performs in English and Swedish * Kuku Sebsebe *

Kiros Alemayehu Kiros Alemayehu ( Ge'ez: ; 26 July 1948 – 13 October 1994) was an Ethiopian singer. He was born in Tigray region, Saesi Tsaedaemba and was the only child to his parents. Biography Early life Kiros was born to his father Girazmach Alemayehu Mel ...

, Tigrayan singer *

Tigist Shibabaw Tigist Shibabaw (1980 –January 2008) was an Ethiopian singer and one of the original members of the Harlem-based hip hop fusion band Bole2Harlem. She was born in Chagni, Ethiopia, like her sister, the singer Gigi. Early life Tigist was born ...

, singer, sister of Gigi *

Shantam Shubissa Shantam Shubissa (born Mohamed Ibrahim Waday; 25 December 1949) is an Ethiopian composer, singer and poet. He was born in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Along with musicians such as Ali Birra, Shantam Shubissa is regarded one of Oromian significant contrib ...

, composer, singer, and poet *

Walias Band Walias Band (sometimes spelled Wallias Band; am, ዋሊያስ ባንድ) were an Ethiopian jazz and funk band active from the early 1970s until the early 1990s. Formed by members of the Venus Band, Walias backed up many prominent singers with a h ...

Wayna Wayna (real name Woyneab Miraf Wondwossen) is an R&B/soul singer and songwriter who was born in Ethiopia and raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. She worked as a writer for the Clinton White House before releasing three solo albums, garnerin ...

The Weeknd Abel Makkonen Tesfaye (born February 16, 1990), known professionally as the Weeknd, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Known for his sonic versatility and dark lyricism, his music explores escapism, Romance (love), ...

, Canadian performer of Ethiopian ancestry *

Asnaketch Worku Asnaketch Worku () (born 1935 – 14 September 2011) was an Ethiopian singer who sang in the Amharic language and a ''krar'' instrumentalist, the instrument which symbolized her fame during the 1960s and 1970's. Asnaketch also had a long disti ...

, singer and ''

krar Krar (Amharic: ክራር) is a five-or-six stringed bowl-shaped lyre from Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is tuned to a pentatonic scale. A modern ''Krar'' may be amplified, much in the same way as an electric guitar or violin. The ''Krar'', along wit ...

'' player * Dawit Yifru, keyboardist and music arranger *

Gildo Kassa Gildo (died 398) was a Roman Empire, Roman Berber people, Berber general in the province of Mauretania Caesariensis. He revolted against Honorius (emperor), Honorius and the Western Roman Empire (Gildonic War, Gildonic war), but was defeated and po ...

, music composer and singer

Nobility

Faisal bin Turki, Sultan of Muscat and Oman Faisal bin Turki, GCIE (8 June 1864 – 4 October 1913) ( ar, فيصل بن تركي), historic spelling ''Fessul bin Turkee'', ruled as Sultan of Muscat and Oman from 4 June 1888 to 4 October 1913. He succeeded his father Turki bin Said as Sult ...

Menen Asfaw Menen Asfaw (baptismal name: Walatta Giyorgis; 25 March 1889 – 15 February 1962) was Empress consort of the Ethiopian Empire. She was the wife of Emperor Haile Selassie. Family Menen Asfaw was born in Ambassel, located in Wollo Province of ...

Taytu Betul Taytu Betul ( am, ጣይቱ ብጡል; baptised as Wälättä Mikael; 1851 – 11 February 1918) was Empress of Ethiopia from 1889 to 1913 and the third wife of Emperor Menelik II. An influential figure in anti-colonial resistance during the l ...

Abram Petrovich Gannibal Abram Petrovich Gannibal, also Hannibal or Ganibal, or Abram Hannibal or Abram Petrov ( ru , Абра́м Петро́вич Ганниба́л; c. 1696 – 14 May 1781), was a Russian military engineer, general-in-chief, and nobleman of Africa ...

Girma Yohannis Iyasu Prince ''(Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles, Abeto Lij)'' Girma Yohannes Iyasu (born 1961) is the Iyasuist claimant to the throne of Ethiopian Empire. He is also known by the name Girma Amente Ghebresillasie. Life He is the son of ''Dejazm ...

Iyasu II Iyasu II ( Ge'ez: ኢያሱ; 21 October 1723 – 27 June 1755), throne name Alem Sagad ( Ge'ez: ዓለም ሰገድ), was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1730 to 1755, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was the son of Emperor Bakaffa and Empr ...

Iyasu V ''Lij'' Iyasu ( gez, ልጅ ኢያሱ; 4 February 1895 – 25 November 1935) was the designated Emperor of Ethiopia from 1913 to 1916. His baptismal name was Kifle Yaqob (ክፍለ ያዕቆብ ''kəflä y’aqob''). Ethiopian emperors traditio ...

Prince Makonnen Prince Makonnen Haile Selassie, Duke of Harar (baptismal name: ''Araya Yohannes''; 16 October 1924 – 13 May 1957) was the second son, and second-youngest child, of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and Empress Menen Asfaw. He was made ''M ...

Amha Selassie Amha Selassie (Amharic: አምሃ ሥላሴ; Āmiha Šilasē; born Asfaw Wossen Tafari; 27 July 191617 January 1997) was Emperor-in-exile of Ethiopia. As son of Haile Selassie I, he was Crown Prince and was proclaimed Emperor three times. He w ...

Haile Selassie I Haile Selassie I ( gez, ቀዳማዊ ኀይለ ሥላሴ, Qädamawi Häylä Səllasé, ; born Tafari Makonnen; 23 July 189227 August 1975) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as Regent Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia ('' ...

Zera Yacob Amha Selassie Zera Yacob Amha Selassie (; Ge'ez: ዘርዐ ያዕቆብ አምሃ ሥላሴ; born 17 August 1953) is the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie and son of Amha Selassie of the Ethiopian Empire. He has been head of the Imperial House of Ethiop ...

Princess Tenagnework Princess Tenagnework Haile Selassie, GBE baptismal name Fikirte Mariam (12 January 1912 – 6 April 2003), of Ethiopia was the eldest child of Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen Asfaw. Early life Born in the city of Harar, Princess Ten ...

Tewodros II , spoken = ; ''djānhoi'', lit. ''"O steemedroyal"'' , alternative = ; ''getochu'', lit. ''"Our master"'' (pl.) Tewodros II ( gez, ዳግማዊ ቴዎድሮስ, baptized as Gebre Kidan; 1818 – 13 April 1868) was Emperor of Ethiopi ...

Yohannes IV of Ethiopia ''girmāwī''His Imperial Majesty, spoken= am , ጃንሆይ ''djānhoi''Your Imperial Majesty(lit. "O steemedroyal"), alternative= am , ጌቶቹ ''getochu''Our Lord (familiar)(lit. "Our master" (pl.)) yohanes Yohannes IV (Tigrinya: ዮሓ� ...

Zewditu I , spoken = ; ''djānhoi'', lit. ''"O steemedroyal"'' , alternative = ; ''getochu'', lit. ''"Our master"'' (pl.) Zewditu ( gez, ዘውዲቱ, born Askala Maryam; 29 April 1876 – 2 April 1930) was Empress of Ethiopia from 1916 to 193 ...

Imru Haile Selassie Leul Ras Imru Haile Selassie, CBE (Amharic: ዕምሩ ኀይለ ሥላሴ; 23 November 1892 – 15 August 1980) was an Ethiopian noble, soldier, and diplomat. He served as acting Prime Minister for three days in 1960 during a coup d'état ...

Seifu Mikael '' Lij'' Seifu Mikael (Amharic: ልጅ ሰይፉ ሚካኤል, Säyfu Mikāēl, also Sayfu Mikael, Seifu Michael) was an Ethiopian noble, member of the Solomonic dynasty, belonging to the aristocratic Amhara family from Ankober Shewa. He was the ...

Kassa Hailu , spoken = ; ''djānhoi'', lit. ''"O steemedroyal"'' , alternative = ; ''getochu'', lit. ''"Our master"'' (pl.) Tewodros II ( gez, ዳግማዊ ቴዎድሮስ, baptized as Gebre Kidan; 1818 – 13 April 1868) was Emperor of Ethiopi ...

Physicians

Gebrehiwot Baykedagn Gebrehiwot Baykedagn (1886–1919) was an Ethiopian doctor, economist, and intellectual. He was born in 1886 in Adwa, Tigray Region, Tigray. In a trip to the port of Massawa, Gebrehiwot and his friends got permission from the captain of a German sh ...

Workneh Eshete ''Hakim'' Workneh Eshete or Azaj Warqnah Ishete, also known as Charles Martin (21 October 1864 – 9 October 1952) was the first Ethiopian educated as a medical doctor, and an Ethiopian intellectual. He led the Ethiopian diplomatic mission to t ...

(1864-1952), first Ethiopian to be educated as a medical doctor

Political figures

Fisseha Adugna Fisseha Adugna (born 27 September 1955) is an Ethiopian diplomat who was the Ethiopian ambassador to the United Kingdom. He served in this post from 8 March 2002 until March 2006. He was succeeded by Berhanu Kebede. Fisseha was born in Fiche, Sho ...

Abiy Ahmed Abiy Ahmed Ali ( om, Abiyi Ahmed Alii; am, አብይ አሕመድ ዐሊ; born 15 August 1976) is an Ethiopian politician who has been the 4th prime minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia since 2 April 2018. He won the 2019 ...

Aman Mikael Andom Aman Mikael Andom (; ti, ኣማን ሚካኤል ዓንዶም; 21 June 1924 – 23 November 1974) was an Eritrean general and the first post-imperial acting head of state of Ethiopia. He was appointed to this position following the coup d'état ...

Andualem Aragie Andualem Aragie ( am, አንዱዓለም አራጌ; born 4 November 1972) is an Ethiopian politician and activist who is the Deputy Leader of Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (ECSJ), an opposition party formed after the merger of 7 smaller ...

(born 1972), Vice President and Press Secretary for the

Unity for Democracy and Justice The Unity for Democracy and Justice was an Ethiopian political party. It was founded by Birtukan Midekssa on 20 June 2008, based on the parties that constituted the Coalition for Unity and Democracy. It was a major component in the eight-party M ...

(UDJP) party *

Fitsum Assefa Fitsum Assefa Adela (, born 12 May 1979) is an Ethiopian teacher and politician who leads the FDRE Minister of Planning and Development since 16 October 2018. Fitsum also has been a member of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia's Board of directors s ...

Lidetu Ayalew Lidetu Ayalew ( Ge'ez: ልደቱ አያለዉ; born 1969) is an Ethiopian politician who is the founder and the leader of the Ethiopian Democratic Party. He was a deputy chairman and chief spokesperson of Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) ...

Tafari Benti Brigadier General Tafari Benti (; 11 October 1921 – 3 February 1977) was an Ethiopian military officer and politician who served as head of state of Ethiopia from 1974 to 1977 in his role as second chairman of the Derg, the ruling military ...

Hailemariam Desalegn Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe ( amh, ኃይለማሪያም ደሳለኝ ቦሼ; born 19 July 1965) is an Ethiopian politician who served as prime minister of Ethiopia from 2012 to 2018. He also previously served as deputy prime minister and Minister ...

Tsehafi Taezaz Aklilu Habte-Wold ''Ethiopian aristocratic and religious titles#Important offices of the Imperial Court, Tsehafi Taezaz'' Aklilu Habte-Wold ( am, አክሊሉ ሀብተ ወልድ; 12 March 1912 – 23 November 1974) was an Ethiopian politician under Emperor Haile ...

Tesfaye Gebre Kidan Tesfaye Gebre Kidan Geletu ( am, ተስፋዬ ገብረ ኪዳን ገለቱ, Täsfaye Gäbrä Kidan Gälätu, – 4 June 2004) was an Ethiopian general who was the acting president of Ethiopia for one week in late May 1991. Biography Military ...

Bulcha Demeksa Bulcha Demeksa (born 1930) is an outspoken Ethiopian politician and businessman. He is the founder of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM), one of Ethiopia's largest opposition parties. Career In 1967, Bulcha was appointed vice-minist ...

Merera Gudina Merera Gudina ( Oromo: Mararaa Guddinaa) (born 5 July 1956) is an Ethiopian professor and politician. He is the leader of the Oromo People's Congress (OPC), a political party representing the Oromo people. The organization is opposed to the previ ...

* Harka Haroyu * Adem Ibrahim, former Minister of Health *

Tamirat Layne Tamrat Layne Admassu ( gez, ታምራት ላይኔ አድማሱ; born 1955) is an Ethiopian former politician and a converted born-again Christian. He had served as Prime Minister of Ethiopia during the Transitional Government of Ethiopia after t ...

* Negeri Lencho, Minister of Communications *

Endelkachew Makonnen '' Lij'' Endelkachew Makonnen (27 September 1927 – 23 November 1974) was an Ethiopian politician. Born in Addis Ababa, his father, Ras Betwoded Makonnen Endelkachew, served as Prime Minister of Ethiopia in the 1950s. Endelkachew Makonnen ...

Mengistu Haile Mariam Mengistu Haile Mariam ( am, መንግሥቱ ኀይለ ማሪያም, pronunciation: ; born 21 May 1937) is an Ethiopian politician and former army officer who was the head of state of Ethiopia from 1977 to 1991 and General Secretary of the Work ...

Seyoum Mesfin Seyoum Mesfin Gebredingel (; , ; 25 January 1949 – 13 January 2021) was an Ethiopian politician and diplomat. He was Ethiopia's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1991 to 2010 and served as Ethiopia's Ambassador to China from 2011 to 2017. Ea ...

Birtukan Mideksa Birtukan Mideksa ( Amharic: ብርቱካን ሚደቅሳ; born 27 April 1974) is an Ethiopian politician and former judge who is serving as chairwoman of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) since 2018. She was the founder and leader ...

Beyene Petros Beyene Petros is a professor of Biology at Addis Ababa University and a former member of the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives, representing an electoral district in Badawacho of Hadiya Zone. He is currently the chairman of one of the l ...

Mazi Melesa Pilip Mazi Melesa Pilip (born ) is a Republican legislator in New York's Nassau County Legislature representing Nassau County, Long Island's 10th district. She is an Ethiopian Jew who was born in a poor village in Ethiopia, immigrated to Israel when ...

, Ethiopian-born American politician *

Haile Fida Haile Fida (Amharic: ኃይሌ ፊዳ, Oromo: ''Haaylee Fidaa'', 4 April 1939 – 4 April 1979) was an Ethiopian politician and a leader of the All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement (popularly known as "MEISON", after its Amharic abbreviation መኢ� ...

Berhanu Nega Berhanu Nega ( am, ብርሃኑ ነጋ; born 6 December 1958) is an Ethiopian politician who is serving as the current Ministry of Education (Ethiopia), Minister of Education of Ethiopia. He previously was the mayor elect of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ...

* Mulu Nega *

Arkebe Oqubay Arkebe Oqubay ( ti, ኣርከበ ዑቕባይ; born 1957) is an Ethiopian politician who is serving as Senior Minister and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. He is a Tigrayan descent. Background Arkebe is a member of the Tigray ...

Haile Selassie Haile Selassie I ( gez, ቀዳማዊ ኀይለ ሥላሴ, Qädamawi Häylä Səllasé, ; born Tafari Makonnen; 23 July 189227 August 1975) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as Regent Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia (' ...

Hailu Shawel Hailu Shawul (also spelled Shawel or Shawil; gez, ሃይሉ ሻዉል; 1936 – 6 October 2016) was an Ethiopian politician and civil engineer who was the leader of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) during the 2005 Ethiopian general ...

Lia Tadesse Lia Tadesse Gebremedhin ( am, ሊያ ታደሰ ገብረመድኅን; born 1976) is an Ethiopian politician and physician serving as the current Minister of Health since March 2020. Prior to her appointment, Lia served as State Minister of Hea ...

Zinash Tayachew Zinash Tayachew (born 13 January 1978) is an Ethiopian politician, philanthropist and gospel singer. She is the wife of the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the fourth First Lady of Ethiopia. Zinash is a devout Protestant Protes ...

Tekle Hawariat Tekle Mariyam Tekle Hawariat Tekle Mariyam ( Amharic: ተክለ ሐዋርዓት ተክለ ማሪያም; June 1884 – April 1977) was an Ethiopian politician, an Amhara aristocrat and intellectual of the Japanizer school of thought. He was the primary a ...

(1884-1977), contributing author to the

1931 Constitution of Ethiopia The 1931 Constitution of Ethiopia was the first modern constitution of the Ethiopian Empire, intended to officially replace the ''Fetha Nagast'', which had been the supreme law since the Middle Ages. It was promulgated in "an impressive ceremony" ...

Roman Tesfaye Roman Tesfaye Abneh (; Wolaytta: Aabinee Tasfaayee Ooromaano; born 16 April 1968) is an Ethiopian politician and activist who was the third First Lady of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia from September 2012 to February 2018. She is ...

Mulatu Teshome Mulatu Teshome Wirtu ( om, Mulaatuu Tashoome Wirtuu; ; born 1957) is an Ethiopian politician who was the president of Ethiopia from 2013 to 2018. Biography Mulatu was born in the town of Arjo in Welega Province. He was educated in China, rece ...

Samuel Urkato Samuel Urkato Kurke (; born 1 September 1974) is an Ethiopian politician and Council of Ministers (Ethiopia), cabinet minister since October 2018. He was president of Wolaita Sodo University before becoming Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (Ethi ...

Fikre Selassie Wogderess Fikre Selassie Wogderess ( gez, ፍቅረ ሥላሴ ወግደረስ; 13 July 1945 – 12 December 2020) was an Ethiopian politician who was the first Prime Minister of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (PDRE) from 10 September 1987 to ...

Asrat Woldeyes Asrat Woldeyes (Amharic: አስራት ወልደየስ ; June 20, 1928 – May 14, 1999) was an Ethiopian surgeon, a professor of medicine at Addis Ababa University, and the founder and leader of the All-Amhara People's Organization (AAPO). He was j ...

Girma Wolde-Giorgis Girma Wolde-Giorgis (; 28 December 1924 – 15 December 2018) was an Ethiopian politician who was the president of Ethiopia from 2001 to 2013. He was the second person to hold the office of president since the founding of the Federal Democrati ...

Hailu Yimenu Hailu Yimenu (died May 26, 1991) was an Ethiopian politician who was the acting prime minister of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia from November 8, 1989 until May 1991. In May 1991, after hearing of Mengistu Haile Mariam's fall from p ...

Meles Zenawi Meles Zenawi Asres (Tigrinya and ; , born Legesse Zenawi Asres; 9 May 1955 – 20 August 2012) was an Ethiopian soldier and politician who served as President of Ethiopia from 1991 to 1995 and then Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 1995 until his ...

Religious people

Abu Rumi Abu Rumi (about 1750 - 1819) is the name recorded as being the translator for the first complete Bible in Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia. Previously, only partial Amharic translations existed, and the Ethiopian Bible existed only in Ge ...

, first to translate Bible into Amharic *

Aster Ganno Aster Ganno (c.1872–1964) was an Ethiopian Bible translator who worked with the better known Onesimos Nesib as a translator of the Oromo Bible, published in 1899. Biography She was born free, but was later enslaved by the king of Limmu-En ...

, Oromo Bible translator, collector of folklore, and teacher * Dawit Amanuel, Bible translator into Tigre * Jamāl al-Dīn b. Muḥammad al-Annī, Islamic scholar who introduced the Qādirī order to Ethiopia *

Onesimos Nesib Onesimos Nesib ( Oromo: Onesimoos Nasiib; Amharic: ኦነሲሞስ ነሲብ; c 1856 – 21 June 1931) was a native Oromo scholar who converted to Lutheran Christianity and translated the Christian Bible into Oromo. His parents named him Hika a ...

, Oromo Bible translator *

Tekle Haymanot Abune Tekle Haymanot ( Ge'ez: አቡነ ተክለ ሃይማኖት; known in the Coptic Church as Saint Takla Haymanot of Ethiopia; 1215 – 1313) was an Ethiopian saint and monk mostly venerated as a hermit. He was the Abuna of Ethiopia who f ...

, saint of

Ethiopian Orthodox Church The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church ( am, የኢትዮጵያ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ቤተ ክርስቲያን, ''Yäityop'ya ortodoks täwahedo bétäkrestyan'') is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. One of the few Chris ...

Tewolde-Medhin Gebre-Medhin Tewolde-Medhin Gebre-Medhin (1860–1930) was a pastor, educator and translator, originally from the town of Tseazega Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. He was ordained as a deacon in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in 1872. (By local custom, he ...

, Bible translator into Tigre and Tigrinya * Yonatan Aklilu, founder of the Addis Kidan Kahinat Church

Saints

Abuna Aregawi Abuna Aregawi (also called Za-Mika'el Aragawi) was a sixth-century Syrian monk and canonized by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, as well as by the Ethiopian Catholic Church, as well as the Eritrean Orthodox Church. He is one of the Nine ...

Ewostatewos Ewostatewos ( gez, ኤዎስጣቴዎስ, or Yostatewos (Ge'ez: ዮስታንቲዎስ), a version of grc, Εὐστάθιος ''Eustathios''; 22 July 1273 – 23 September 1352) was an Ethiopian religious leader of the Orthodox Tewahedo during t ...

Iyasus Mo'a Iyasus Mo'a (1214 – 1294) was an Ethiopian saint of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church; his feast day is 5 December (26 Hedar in the Ethiopian calendar). In life he was an Ethiopian monk and abbot of Istifanos Monastery in Lake Hayq of Amb ...

Gabra Manfas Qeddus Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus ( Ge'ez:አቡነ ገብረ መንፈስ ቅዱስ; also familiarly called Abo) was an Egyptian Christian saint, and the founder of the monastery of Zuqualla. The fifth day of every month in the Ethiopian calendar is de ...

* Kristos Samra * Emperor

, martyr *

Abuna Theophilos Abune Theophilos (24 April 1910 – 14 August 1979), also known as Abune Tewophilos, was the second Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He officially succeeded Abuna Basilios in 1971 after he had assumed the role of acting patri ...

* Samuel of Dabra Wagag *

Walatta Petros Walatta Petros ( gez, ወለተ ጴጥሮስ; 1592 – 23 November 1642) was an Ethiopian female saint. Her hagiography, ''The Life-Struggles of Walatta Petros'' (''Gädlä Wälättä P̣əṭros'') was written in 1672. She is known for resistin ...

Yared Saint Yared ( Ge'ez: ቅዱስ ያሬድ; 25 April 505 – 20 May 571) was an Aksumite composer in the 6th century. Often credited with the forerunner of traditional music of Ethiopia and Eritrea, he developed the music of the Ethiopian Orth ...

* Emperor

, martyr

Scientists

Zeresenay Alemseged Zeresenay "Zeray" Alemseged (born 4 June 1969) is an Ethiopian paleoanthropologist who was the Chair of the Anthropology Department at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, United States. He recently joined the faculty of the Un ...

, anthropologist *

Berhane Asfaw Berhane Asfaw (Amharic: በርሃነ አስፋው) (born August 22, 1954 in Gondar, Ethiopia) is an Ethiopian paleontologist of Rift Valley Research Service, who co-discovered human skeletal remains at Herto Bouri, Ethiopia later classified as ...

, anthropologist *

Kitaw Ejigu Kitaw Ejigu ; 25 February 1948 – 13 January 2006) was an American scientist and politician who served as chief of spacecraft and satellite systems engineer for NASA for four decades. With his co-workers, Kitaw invented spacecraft and ro ...

Sossina M. Haile Sossina M. Haile ( gez, ሶስና ሃይሌ, born July 28, 1966) is an American chemist, known for developing the first solid acid fuel cells. She is a professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, Illinois, USA. ...

Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher (; born 19 February 1940) is an Ethiopian scientist who won the Right Livelihood Award in 2000 "for his exemplary work to safeguard biodiversity and the traditional rights of farmers and communities to their geneti ...

Aklilu Lemma Aklilu Lemma (; 18 September 1935 – 5 April 1997) was an Ethiopian pathobiologist. In 1989, he was awarded the Right Livelihood Award "for discovering and campaigning relentlessly for an affordable preventative against bilharzia." Education ...

Legesse Wolde-Yohannes Legesse Wolde-Yohannes is an Ethiopian horticultural scientist. He cooperated with Aklilu Lemma on the discovery and research on how to use the plant endod as a means of preventing the parasitic disease bilharzia Schistosomiasis, also known a ...

Melaku Worede Melaku Worede (; 1936 – 31 July 2023) was an Ethiopian geneticist and agronomist renowned for building one of the finest seed conservation centres in the world, employing science to benefit poor farmers, and saving Africa's seeds from oblivion ...

Yohannes Haile-Selassie Yohannes Haile-Selassie Ambaye (born 23 February 1961) is an Ethiopian paleoanthropologist. An authority on pre-''Homo sapiens'' hominids, he particularly focuses his attention on the East African Rift and Middle Awash valleys.Mangels, John (20 ...

Segenet Kelemu Segenet Kelemu () is an Ethiopian scientist, noted for her research as a molecular plant pathologist, and outstanding scientific leadership. For close to three decades, Kelemu and her team's research has contributed to addressing agricultural co ...

Writers

* Haddis Alemayehu *

Yemodish Bekele Yemodish Bekele (born 1960) is a published author of more than seven books, including poetry, short stories, and a novella, and was the first Ethiopian woman to publish her own collection of short stories. A crime journalist, Yemedish was also the ...

(born 1960), journalist and author * Dhoodaan (1941-2013), Somali-Ethiopian poet *

Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin ( am, ጸጋዬ ገብረ መድኅን; 17 August 1936 – 25 February 2006) was an Ethiopian poet and novelist. His novels and poets evoke retrospective narratives, fanciful epics, and nationalistic cannonations. Tsegay is co ...

Baalu Girma Bealu Girma ( am, በአሉ ግርማ, Be’ālu Girma; 22 September 1939 – 1984) was an Ethiopian journalist known for his criticism of prominent members of the Derg, in his book '' Oromay'' ("The End"). Girma disappeared in 1984, and it is wi ...

, author of '' Oromay'' *

Abe Gubegna Abe Gubegna (Amharic: አቤ ጉበኛ; 1 July 1933 – 10 February 1980) was an Ethiopian writer. His name is sometimes spelled "Abbé" or "Abbie". He published eight novels, five plays, three collections of poetry, and translated several biograp ...

Sebhat Guèbrè-Egziabhér Sebhat-Leab Gebre-Egziabher (; 5 May 1936 – 20 February 2012) was an Ethiopian writer from Tigray Region. He is famous for pioneering the naturalist writing style in Amharic. His writing style was not constrained by the traditional Ethiopian wr ...

* Alaqa

Gebre Hanna Aleqa Gebre Hanna ( gez, አለቃ ገብረ ሀና; November 1821 – 1902) was an Ethiopian poet, scholar and religious preacher in 19th-century renowned in Amharic oral tradition for (to quote Donald Levine) his "quick and biting wit." He was ...

, master of ''

qene () is a genre of improvised oral poetry from Ethiopia. The genre originates in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which historically provided traditional religious education, including the composition of qene. Its origins are supposed to d ...

'' poetry * Afawarq Gabra Iyasus *

Moges Kebede Moges Kebede (Amharic: ሞገስ ከበደ), 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 the Ethiopian imm ...

Kebede Michael Kebede Mikael ( am, ከበደ ሚካኤል; 2 November 1916 – 12 November 1998) was an Ethiopian-born author of both fiction and non-fiction literature. He is widely regarded as one of the most prolific and versatile intellectuals of modern Ethi ...

Maaza Mengiste Maaza Mengiste (born 1974) is an Ethiopian-American writer. Her novels include ''Beneath the Lion's Gaze'' (2010) and '' The Shadow King'' (2019), which was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize. Early life Mengiste was born in Addis Ababa, Ethio ...

Dinaw Mengestu Dinaw Mengestu (ዲናው መንግስቱ) (born 30 June 1978) 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 north ...

Eskinder Nega Eskinder Nega ( Ge'ez: እስክንድር ነጋ, born 7 November 1969) is an Ethiopian journalist, blogger and politician who has been jailed at least ten times by the Ethiopian government on convictions for treason and terrorism. Early life ...

* Heruy Welde Sellase *

Abiye Teklemariam Abiye Teklemariam Megenta, also known as Abiye Teklemariam, is an Ethiopian print and radio journalist who co-founded the defunct '' Addis Neger'', which was the largest private newspaper in Ethiopia before its closure in December 2009. Three top e ...

* Alemayehu Fentaw Weldemariam * Mammo Wudneh *

Bewketu Seyoum Bewketu Seyoum ( Ge'ez: በዕውቀቱ ስዩም) is an Ethiopian writer and poet from Debre Markos of Ethiopia. He studied psychology at Addis Ababa University and published his first collection of poems, ''Nwari Alba Gojowoch'' (Unmanned Cottag ...

Other notable people

Alemseged Assefa Alemseged Assefa is the Vice Governor at The National Bank of Ethiopia The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) is the central bank of Ethiopia. Its headquarters are in the capital city of Addis Ababa. Mamo Mihretu is the current governor of the ba ...

, banker * Amsale Gualu, first female airline captain *

Marcus Samuelsson 25 January 1971) is an Ethiopian-born Swedish-American celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality. He is the head chef of Red Rooster in Harlem, New York. Early life and education Kassahun Joar Tsegie was born in Ethiopia. His fat ...

, chef * Adeneko Svhat-Haimovitch, judge in Israel * Eyerusalem Jiregna, photographer and photojournalist

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ethiopians *