Ethiopian Poet Solomon Deressa Dies at 80

Ethiopian News outlet Borkena reports that prominent Ethiopian poet Solomon Deressa has died at the age of 80. "He lived in the United States since the 1980’s and died in Minnesota. He has put his own marks in Ethiopian literature, especially in poetry," they write. More:

Solomon Deressa was born in Wellega to a family of an Oromo nobility. His brother Yilma Deressa served as finance minister and foreign affairs minister during the imperial government of Haileselassie.

In the 1960’s, Solomon Deressa wrote extensive articles on Ethiopian magazine. His thoughts are solid and tend to readers into the realm of philosophy.

The concent “Hyphenated-Ethiopian” is very much linked to him – he employed it to capture the challenges of living in two different cultures.

Solomon studied philosophy in the United States and earned a degree, and taught at the University of Minnesota.

If we are to call an Oromo who is very doubtful, if not disgusted by it, ethnic politics, Solomon Deressa is on the top of the list. “What do I know as to who passed my grandma for me to claim that I am an Oromo” is his famous remark that resonates very well among Ethiopians of this generation, who are -ironically – victims of ethnic politics.

He always considered himself as a proud Ethiopian.

Find the full report and call for tributes at Borkena.