Biography

Ethiopia’s poet laureate and literary giant, Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin, redefined African theater by fusing Amharic poetic traditions with global themes. His masterpiece Oda Oak Oracle (1965) reinterpreted Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex in an Ethiopian context. A polyglot who wrote in Amharic, English, and French, Tsegaye served as artistic director of Ethiopia’s National Theater and earned UNESCO’s Poet of Peace award. His works like Collision of Altars explored identity and postcolonial struggles, making him Ethiopia’s answer to Shakespeare."*

Key Legacy:

• Bridge between Ethiopian folklore and world literature
• Cultural ambassador during the Derg regime