Tesfaye Sahlu
| Tesfaye Sahlu | |
|---|---|
 Tesfaye at Seifu on EBS in September 2015 | |
| Born | 27 June 1923 Kedu, Bale Province, Ethiopian Empire |
| Died | 31 July 2017 (aged 94) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Resting place | Holy Trinity Cathedral, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Medium |
|
| Years active | 1955–2004 |
| Genres |
|
| Subject(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
Tesfaye Sahlu (Amharic: ተስፋዬ ሳህሉ; 27 June 1923 – 31 July 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]
Early life[]
Tesfaye Sahlu was born on 27 June 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 31 July 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 fruits" (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[]
- ^ a b c Feyissa, Girma (Aug 12, 2017). "Tribute to a Man of All Trades". Addis Fortune.
- ^ a b "Happy Birth Day Ababa Tesfaye - Untold Storys of Ababa Tesfaye". DireTube. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Fantasia, Rarefy (August 3, 2017). "Remembering Fayette Sahlu, children's television programmed icon".
- 1923 births
- 2017 deaths
- Ethiopian comedians
- Male stage actors
- Ethiopian male actors
- 20th-century Ethiopian male actors
- 21st-century Ethiopian male actors
- Ethiopian male writers
- 21st-century Ethiopian writers