Abe Gubegna

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This is an Ethiopian name. The last name is a patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Abe.

Abe Gubegna (Amharic: አቤ ጉበኛ; 1 July 1933 – 10 February 1980) was a writer from Ethiopia. His name is sometimes spelled ‘Abbé’ or ‘Abbie’. He published eight novels, five plays, three collections of poetry, and translated several biographies of world leaders as well as other works. Abe mainly wrote in Amharic, but two of his books were written in English.

Early life and education[]

Abe Gubegna was born in Korench Abo, Achefer woreda, near Bahir Dar. His mother was Yigardu Balay, and his father, Gubegna Ambaye, was a farmer. He was one of 11 children in the family. He went to church schools for 12 years, first in his village and then in Gojjam and Begemder. There he learnt Ge'ez and a style of poetry called qene. Abe then briefly served as an administrator in the church school in his own village, taking the title merigeta. He then attended a government school in Dangila before moving to Addis Ababa. It is unclear whether he completed his secondary education, but in 1958/59 he began work as a journalist at the Ministry of Information before moving to the Ministry of Health.[1][2][3][4]

Career and major works[]

Abe resigned from government service to try and make a living from writing. He was the only Amharic writer to do this, while others all maintained other jobs. Between 1956 and 1977 he published over 20 books and numerous newspaper articles. Many of his books sold well and Abe became well known. Mengistu Lemma regarded him as ‘a hard working writer who has the distinction of having authored the first best sellers in the history of modern Amharic literature’.[5] But his earnings remained low, and he was often in debt. Eventually he returned to Bahir Dar and started a wholesale textile business, but debts to his printers remained at the time of his death.[3][4][6][7]

የሮም አወዳደቅ (1960)[]

የሮም አወዳደቅ [The Fall of Rome] is Abe’s first play, although it was never staged. It portrays how the nobility’s extravagance and self-indulgence brings about the fall of Rome through their exploitation of the poor. The play was published two months before the attempted 1960 coup and was clearly written to mirror the Ethiopia that Abe saw under Haile Selassie.[8]

የፓትሪስ ሉሙምባ አሳዛኝ አሟሟት (1961)[]

የፓትሪስ ሉሙምባ አሳዛኝ አሟሟት [The Tragic Death of Patrice Lumumba] was Abe’s next play. In his preface Abe notes that the publication of several his books was being delayed, which most likely refers to the Government censors, but that he had no patience to wait any longer for this one.[9]

The play condemns the plot against Lumumba in Republic of the Congo. Abe portrays Lumumba as a freedom fighter and as a martyr to his people, while blaming the racism of Western governments and the complicity of Jospeh Kasa-Vubu and Moïse Tshombe for his assassination. The play ends by calling for the execution of Kasa-Vubu and Tshombe. It appeared at a time when Ethiopia was attempting to mediate rifts that the Congolese crisis had created at the Third All African Peoples’ Conference in Cairo and was therefore censored heavily.[10][11]

አልወለድም (1962)[]

In 1962 Abe published አልወለድም [I Will Not Be Born]. The novel was banned and burnt after 800 copies were sold.[10][11]

The story is set in the fictional kingdom of Izraelos. The use of a fictional setting, which Abe returns to in many of his works, appears to have been an unsuccessful attempt to avoid government censorship.[12][13] The unnamed central character, still in his mother’s womb, tells her he will not be born into a world without freedom. Despite his efforts she delivers her baby in hospital, only for him to criticise the doctor’s for bringing him into a world of suffering.

As an adult he finds employment and incites the workers to strike before being fired by his employers. He goes on to establish an agricultural utopia with his friends, which is destroyed when a government official lays claim to their land. As this occurs the government is overthrown in a military coup. The new government adopts a more progressive approach, before quickly becoming more oppressive than the previous regime. He then becomes involved in a revolution that overthrows the military. He declines a role in the new government and returns to his utopia. But he is soon accused of sedition, arrested and sentenced to death. Before his execution is carried out he declares that he wants to be buried in the open and not in church grounds alongside liars and cheats.[14]

Debebe considers the novel both politically naïve and lacking in literary style, with its obvious allusions to mid-twentieth century Ethiopia providing its value.[15]

The Savage Girl (1964)[]

The Savage Girl is Abe’s first and only play in English. It is an allegory of Ethiopian history that takes place over three acts and is partly in verse.[16] It has never been staged.[17]

Act One begins with a young girl standing in a jungle and surrounded by wild animals. She appears to live a solitary and idyllic life. As she sings sadly for her late father the peace is shattered by a gunshot that kills one of her leopards. But her innocence is lost when five hunters appear named, Freeman, Billman, Dianasius, Fisher and Humane who chase the girl. Fisher is captivated be her beauty and she leads them into a cave where she shows them a bible and a letter from her father. Dianasius reads the letter, which speaks of man’s unkindness to each other. A dragon appears, which the girl rides to the confusion of the men. The group then begin a journey to Marillo, the capital of the fictional land of Jiovah. Along the way the girl reminisces about her father and, after falling asleep, the men discuss who could marry her, before all decline.

Act Two opens in a churchyard in Marillo with the girl being christened Mary and Humane becoming her guardian. But Humane’s wife becomes jealous, and Mary moves to her own home where she receives a series of proposals over the telephone. Billman then proposes to her himself and threatens suicide if she declines. But when he realises she has given all her possessions away he changes his mind. Her last visitor is Paul, whom she loves and wants to marry. The act ends with Mary in bed, listening to news of conflict and war on her radio.

In Act Three we learn that Paul has been killed and soon Mary is charged with his murder. She is then released on bail. Six years later we find all the hunters gathered to celebrate Humane’s birthday and Mary still accused of murder. Disillusioned with modern life, we then see Mary return to the jungle where she dies.[18]

The Savage Girl was poorly received. For Beer, too little thought was given to dramatic production and the use of verse is badly constructed.[19] Debebe identifies similar flaws in Abe’s use of language and production.[20]

አንድ ለናቱ (1968)[]

In 1968 Abe published አንድ ለናቱ [His Mother’s Only Child] a 688-page novel based on the life of Emperor Tewodros II. Abe’s interested in Tewodros was far from unique, with novels about the Emperor also written by Makonnen Endelkachew, Birhanu Zerihun and Sahle Sellassie Berhane Mariam.[21]

The novel traces Tewodros’ life from birth until death, with most attention given to the years leading to his coronation.  Abe’s idealised view of Tewodros is made plain in his introduction, stating: “When all other aspects of Tewodros have been found to be controversial only his bravery has been undisputed". But as with much of his work, this position was also made in opposition to Haile Selassie, who fled the country during a time of crisis, while Tewodros died at the Battle of Magdala.[22] Debebe regards it as a phenomenal work, albeit one that at times reads like a history textbook.[14]

International Writing Program at the University of Iowa (1973)[]

In 1973 Abe attended the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa.[23] He was the third Ethiopian author to attend the program after Daniachew Worku and . Peter Nazareth, who participated in the program in the same year, recalled how Abe was hostile towards Americans because he saw their government supporting the rule of Haile Selassie. Nazareth also recalled how Abe was confrontational towards other writers, including arguments with Kole Omotoso and Ashokamitran, and that he tried to strangle a female Japanese author. Ultimately, Nazareth believed that writers on the program began to fear Abe.[24]

Defiance (1975)[]

Defiance portrays the Italian occupation and is Abe’s only novel in English. The manuscript was considered for Oxford University Press’ Three Crowns series but was eventually only published for the local market.[25] The novel tells the story of an old Fitawrari and his family during the years of the Italian occupation.

ፓለቲካና ፓለቲከኞች (1976)[]

ፓለቲካና ፓለቲከኞች [Politics and Politicians] is a play published in 1976/77 after it was performed at the Hager Fikir Theatre the previous year. It is a satire depicting what the author saw as the opportunistic behaviour of leftist politicians.

Farada, the protagonist, ridicules the educated elite for their claims that they were the source of the revolution in the country. He decries the jargon that has emerged and appears to indirectly criticise the Derg. The dissatisfaction with both the previous and new government is clear.

Themes and critical responses[]

Many of Abe’s books and newspaper articles were openly critical of the governments of Emperor Haile Selassie and later during the political repression of the Derg. He often dealt with themes of social, economic, political and religious oppression and exploitation. This led to repeated government censorship and an attempt to divert him away from writing with the offer of a high-ranking position as a provisional administrator.[26] Some of his books were banned and copies burnt.[3][4] He was imprisoned for three years following the publication of አልወለድም [I Will Not Be Born] and was later sent into exile to Gore and Illubabor. In total he spent five and a half years in prison and detention.[3][4][26]

It was Abe’s political position and confrontations with the government that provided much of his fame, with some critics suggesting this has led to his work being overrated.[3][4] Abe himself believed that: “Since the important matter is what is told and not how it is told, the style of writing should always be regarded as secondary to the theme."[27]

Later life and death[]

Abe was in America when the revolution began in 1974, an event he clearly supported.[4][24] After returning to Ethiopia he became disillusioned and spoke out openly against the Derg. He began to drink heavily during his final years and lost much of his inspiration for writing. The reasons for his death in 1980 are unclear. Some refer to a pub brawl and others refer to him dying in a hotel room in mysterious circumstances. He left behind two daughters and a son.[4][7]

Publications[]

  • Defiance, Oxford University Press (1975) ISBN 0-19-572420-8
  • The Savage Girl, Berhanena Selam (1964)

References[]

  1. ^ Dagnew, Tesfaye (1986). The Portrayal of Society and the Concept of Modernization in Abbe Gubegna's Novels (MA thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 5-6.
  2. ^ Alemu, Taddese (1992). A Critical Analysis of Themes and Dramatic Techniques in Abbe Gubegna's Amharic Plays (MA thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 6.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Azeze, Fekede (2003). "Abbe Gubäňňa". In Uhlig, Siegbert (ed.). Encyclopaedia Aethiopica Vol. 1. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 30. ISBN 978-3447047463.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Marzagora, Sara (2016). Alterity, coloniality and modernity in Ethiopian political thought : the first three generations of 20th century Amharic-language intellectuals / (PhD thesis). London: SOAS, University of London. p. 282.
  5. ^ Seifu, Debebe (1980). Ethiopian Literature in English (PhD thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 9.
  6. ^ Marzagora, Sara (2016). Alterity, coloniality and modernity in Ethiopian political thought : the first three generations of 20th century Amharic-language intellectuals / (PhD thesis). London: SOAS, University of London. p. 36.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Alemu, Taddese (1992). A Critical Analysis of Themes and Dramatic Techniques in Abbe Gubegna's Amharic Plays (MA thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 9.
  8. ^ Alemu, Taddese (1992). A Critical Analysis of Themes and Dramatic Techniques in Abbe Gubegna's Amharic Plays (MA thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 13.
  9. ^ Alemu, Taddese (1992). A Critical Analysis of Themes and Dramatic Techniques in Abbe Gubegna's Amharic Plays (MA thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 16.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Alemu, Taddese (1992). A Critical Analysis of Themes and Dramatic Techniques in Abbe Gubegna's Amharic Plays (MA thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 18.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Marzagora, Sara (2016). Alterity, coloniality and modernity in Ethiopian political thought : the first three generations of 20th century Amharic-language intellectuals / (PhD thesis). London: SOAS, University of London. p. 250.
  12. ^ Alemu, Taddese (1992). A Critical Analysis of Themes and Dramatic Techniques in Abbe Gubegna's Amharic Plays (MA thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 2.
  13. ^ Marzagora, Sara (2016). Alterity, coloniality and modernity in Ethiopian political thought : the first three generations of 20th century Amharic-language intellectuals / (PhD thesis). London: SOAS, University of London. p. 163.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Seifu, Debebe (1980). Ethiopian Literature in English (PhD thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 10-11.
  15. ^ Seifu, Debebe (1980). Ethiopian Literature in English (PhD thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 11.
  16. ^ Beer, David F. (1975). "Ethiopian Literature and Literary Criticism in English: An Annotated Bibliography". Research in African Literatures. 6 (1): 49. ISSN 0034-5210. JSTOR 3818515.
  17. ^ Seifu, Debebe (1980). Ethiopian Literature in English (PhD thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 140.
  18. ^ Seifu, Debebe (1980). Ethiopian Literature in English (PhD thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 140-145.
  19. ^ Beer, David F. (1977). "The Sources and Content of Ethiopian Creative Writing in English". Research in African Literatures. 8 (1): 112. ISSN 0034-5210. JSTOR 3818869.
  20. ^ Seifu, Debebe (1980). Ethiopian Literature in English (PhD thesis). Addis Ababa University. p. 146.
  21. ^ Assefa, Taye (1983). "Tewodros in Ethiopian historical fiction". Journal of Ethiopian Studies. 16: 116. ISSN 0304-2243. JSTOR 41965909.
  22. ^ Assefa, Taye (1983). "Tewodros in Ethiopian historical fiction". Journal of Ethiopian Studies. 16: 124-126. ISSN 0304-2243. JSTOR 41965909.
  23. ^ "Abbie GUBEGNA | The International Writing Program". iwp.uiowa.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b Nazareth, Peter (1987). "Adventures in International Writing". World Literature Today. 61 (3): 385. doi:10.2307/40143310. ISSN 0196-3570. JSTOR 40143310.
  25. ^ Low, Gail (2020-07-24). Publishing the Postcolonial. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003060864. ISBN 978-1-003-06086-4.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b Marzagora, Sara (2016). Alterity, coloniality and modernity in Ethiopian political thought : the first three generations of 20th century Amharic-language intellectuals / (PhD thesis). London: SOAS, University of London. p. 161.
  27. ^ Assefa, Taye (1986). Form in the Amharic novel (PhD thesis). SOAS University of London. p. 243. doi:10.25501/soas.00029398.

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