Tesfaye Sahlu

Tesfaye Sahlu (Amharic: ተስፋዬ ሳህሉ; June 27, 1923 – July 31, 2017)[1][2] also known as Ababa Tesfaye, was an Ethiopian comedian and children's storybook author. He provided entertainment for the Ethiopian troops of the Agnew Battalion serving in the Korean War.[3] He received awards from Emperor Haile Selassie, the Ethiopian Fine Art and Mass Media Prize Trust.[3] He was most widely known for his children's television program on the Ethiopian national broadcaster EBC, where he coined the catchphrase, "Lijoch Yezare Abebawoch Yenege Freywoch" (roughly translated as "Children! Today's flowers, tomorrow's fruit!").[1]

Tesfaye Sahlu
Tesfaye at Seifu on EBS in September 2015
Born(1923-06-27)June 27, 1923
Kedu, Bale Province, Ethiopian Empire
DiedJuly 31, 2017(2017-07-31) (aged 94)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Resting placeHoly Trinity Cathedral, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Medium
  • Television
  • radio
  • book
Years active1955–2004
Genres
Subject(s)
Children1

Early life

Tesfaye Sahlu was born on June 27, 1923[2] in Kedu, a town in the Bale province of southeastern Ethiopia, to Egerssa Bedane and Yewenzwork Belete. He later moved to the capital Addis Ababa. His father, used to describe Tesfaye as "10 people in one" due to his multi-talented nature.[1] Both of Sahlu's parents died during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.[3]

Career

1950s-60s

With the opening of the national theatre in 1955, Salu's comedic shows reached a broad audience. During this time he was involved in 70 stage productions and appeared on television. He played many roles, including female roles, reflecting a shortage of female actresses in theatre productions.[3]

1970s-1980s

Sahlu published his first two children's books Lijoch, Ye Zare Abebawotch, Yenege Frewoch (1972) and Ke'Abbatoch Lelijjoch (1986).[3]

Personal life

Sahlu was married and had one child.

Death

Sahlu died of natural causes on July 31, 2017 at his home in Addis Ababa.[3] His funeral was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where he was interred.

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1960-2004 Ababa Tesfaye's Storytime Host, narrator Broadcast on ETV

Other

Theater
  • Alula Aba Nega
  • Ha Hu Be Sidist Wor
  • King Oedipus
  • Dawitna Orion (David and Orion)
  • Othello
  • Ya Zawntoch kebeb
  • Enat Alem Tenu

Literature


Book
  • "Children! Today's flowers, tomorrow's seeds" (Amharic: Lijoch, Yezare Abebawotch, Yenege Frewoch) (1972)
  • From Fathers to Kids (Amharic: Ke'abbatoch Lelijjoch) (1986)
  • Ababa Tesfaye and his Stories (Amharic: Ababa Tesfaye Ena Teretochachew) Volume 1-4 (2004)

Awards
  • Golden Watch Award by H.I.M. Haile Selassie
  • Lifetime Achievement Award by Ethiopian Fine Art and Mass Media Prize Trust

References
  1. Feyissa, Girma (Aug 12, 2017). "Tribute to a Man of All Trades". Addis Fortune.
  2. "Happy Birth Day Ababa Tesfaye - Untold Storys of Ababa Tesfaye". DireTube. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  3. Fantasia, Rarefy (August 3, 2017). "Remembering Fayette Sahlu, children's television programmed icon".
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