Ethiostar pays tribute to two great Ethiopian scholars, Gash Getaneh Anteneh and Dr. Berhanou Abebe Gedle, who made significant contributions to the fields of education and translation.
Dr. Berhanou Abebe Gedle was a distinguished Ethiopian scholar who made significant contributions to various fields of study. He was born on October 14, 1932, in Addis Ababa, and completed his elementary education with “Great Distinction” at the Teferi Mekonnen and Alliance Française schools from 1939 to 1946. He then attended the Lycée Guebre Mariam School for his secondary education and obtained the Baccalauréat with “Great Distinction” in 1953.
Dr. Berhanou left for France to pursue further studies after completing his secondary education, where he stayed from 1953 to 1967. During his fourteen years in France, he graduated in different disciplines from several higher learning institutions. He studied the Historical Ethnology of East Africa and the Science of Administration at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Sorbonne from 1961 to 1963, where he successfully completed the study with “Very Great Distinction” and was awarded a Licence és Lettres.
Dr. Berhanou obtained his Doctorate Degree on the evolution of land ownership in Shoa covering the period from the 19th to the 20th century from the internationally well-known university of Sorbonne in 1962-1964. He obtained le Doctorat d’Etat es Lettres (the highest level of academic distinction in France) from the University of Sorbonne in 1965-1967 on the social history of 19th and 20th century Ethiopia with a special emphasis on the reign of Emperor Menelik II. While conducting his research in Paris for two years, the French Government made available all the relevant documents located in various French institutions.
Dr. Berhanou was a lawyer, historian, and linguist, and he had a mastery of several Ethiopian and foreign languages, including Amharic, Geez, Tigrigna, Oromifa, French, English, Italian, Latin, Classic Greek, and Arabic. He made significant contributions to the development of Ethiopia’s economy and worked for the Ethiopian government in various capacities.
Dr. Berhanou’s dedication to his work, his commitment to his country, and his unwavering belief in Ethiopia’s potential are qualities that young Ethiostarians can emulate and strive to embody. He published a number of research-based works in the course of his long period of dedicated service, such as on the Annales d’Ethiopie. Furthermore, he made presentations at national and international historical, linguistic, and cultural symposia on Ethiopia and Africa. He also served as the Secretary of the All African Pre-history Council. Dr. Berhanou received innumerable letters of appreciation and awards of merit, including the Commandeur de l’Ordre de Hailesellassie (Ethiopie), Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (France), Chevealier de l’Ordre du Merite (France), Commandeur des Arts et lettres (France), and Officer des Palmes Academiques (France). He is always remembered with his Amharic French and French Amharic dictionaries, Italian Amharic dictionary, and the famous translation of Arthur Rimbaud’s Le Bateau Ivre (ሰካራሙ ጀልባ) and many more.
Dr. Berhanou passed away on July 1, 2008, due to a sudden natural cause while on line of duty in Zimbabwe. His death was a great loss not only to his family members, relatives, close friends, and colleagues but also to the country and continent he loved. Dr. Berhanou was married to Wzo. Fikirte Seyoum and is survived by three children. Although he is no longer with us, his remarkable deeds, character, and memories shall remain with us forever.
His life in the world of scholarship was very impressive, and he shall remain a role model for young Ethiostarians. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations to work towards excellence.
Gash Getaneh Anteneh was not only a dedicated educator but also a talented translator who made significant contributions to the field of translation. In addition to teaching Amharic and French, he taught French as a foreign language to adults at the Alliance Ethio-Française. He also worked at the International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA), now known as the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), where he assisted translators with terminology for five years.
After his stint at ILCA, Gash Getaneh returned to the Alliance Ethio-Française, where he worked as a coordinator and instructor. Later, he joined the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) as the coordinator of only the French language program. He worked tirelessly to promote the French language and culture in Ethiopia and was highly respected by his colleagues and students.
Gash Getaneh Anteneh is now retired, but his legacy lives on. He was a talented translator who did a lot of marvelous translation works, which is why Ethiostar commorates him. Some of his works include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, Bichegir (a collection of local and translated folk tales for kids), Topaz (a play by Marcel Pagnol staged at the National Theatre), and Mamma Besemay (Tower in the Sky) and his most recent publication, Manon des sources (ጎቤው) of Marcel Pagnol.
Gash Getaneh Anteneh’s dedication to teaching and translation is a testament to his love for his country and its culture. He is a role model for young Ethiostarians, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations. His innovative approach to teaching and his exceptional translation skills helped to promote the Amharic and French languages and cultures in Ethiopia. We are honored to have him as our first Calem prominent figure and we thank him for his invaluable contributions to the field of education and translation.
