Sebhat-Leab Gebre-Egziabher (; 5 May 1936 â 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 writing style nor orthodox syntax. Despite using simple words and seemingly light prose, Sebhat's concepts are highly sophisticated and philosophical.
Biography
Sebhat was born on 6 May 1936 near the historical town of Adwa, Tigray in a village called Erba Gered. He is the brother of the scientist Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher.
Sebhat originally intended to be a librarian. He visited Washington in 1960 and stayed there a year. At that time he was intending to write in English. He decided however that Amharic is better suited for his subject matter. He later visited France and received an award from UNESCO.
Sebhat published works of fiction and non fiction in French and Amharic. Some of his works have been translated into English. He also worked as a journalist and columnist for the Ethiopian Herald, Addis Zemen, Menen, and other magazines and newspapers.
Works
Amharic
- áÂÂá±á á áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂá Dawn Yet Not
- áµá©á³áµ Tekusat (Fever), 1997 (romance)
- á°á£á°áÂÂá áÂÂáÂÂá Säbatägnaw Mälak (The 7th Angel), 1999 (romance)
- áÂ¥áÂÂá¨á¡ áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáµ á© áÂ¥á áª Egrä Mängäd 1 enna 2 (Along the way 1 and 2), 2003
- áÂÂáµá³áÂÂá» Mastawäsha (Notes), 2001
- á áÂÂáµáµ áµáµáµáµ á°á£áµ áÂ¥á áÂÂáÂÂá½á á³áªá®á½ (Five, Six, Seven and Other Stories), 1988. Addis Ababa: Bolé Matemia Bet.
- á¨áÂÂáÂÂ
á áÂȇÂÂáÂÂá½ (Love Candles)
- á¦áÂÂá¨áÂÂ
Borchek
- áµáÂÂáÂÂá°áÂÂá áÂÂáÂÂá³ Semntegnaw Gagata(The Eighth Din)
- áÂÂá Zazi
- áÂ¥áÂÂá áÂÂáÂÂá Eneho Jegna(Behold The Hero)
- á¨áµá¨á« áÂ¥á áÂÂ¥ Yetireka Tibeb(The Art Of Narration)
English
- Seeds and other stories, retold in English by Wendy Kindred. African Sun Publishing. Aventures, 2004 -
French
- Les Nuits d'Addis-Abeba, Paris, Actes Sud coll. Aventures, 2004 - , Translated by the author and Francis Falceto; Original title: áÂÂá±áÂÂá¡ á áÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂáÂÂ, I will not see the end of the night, 2004.
- "Letum Aynegalign
References
Further reading