Baalu Girma
Baalu Girma | |
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| Native name | በአሉ ግርማ |
| Born | 22 September 1939 Illubabor Province, Ethiopia |
| Died | 1984 (Disappeared) |
| Occupation |
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| Nationality | Ethiopian |
| Education | Addis Ababa University (BA) Michigan State University (MD) |
| Period | Modern (20th century) |
| Genre | |
| Literary movement | realism, social realism, socialist realism |
| Years active | 1963-1984 |
| Notable works | Beyond the Horizon The Bell of Conscience The Call of the Red Star Haddis The End (1983) |
| Spouse | Almaz Aberra |
| Children | Meskerem Zelalem Kibre |
Bealu Girma (Amharic: በአሉ ግርማ, romanized: Be’ālu Girma; 22 September 1939 – 1984) was an Ethiopian journalist known for his criticism of prominent members of the Derg, in his book Oromay ("The End"). Girma disappeared in 1984, and it is widely believed he was abducted and killed by the Derg for his critical writings. He was a notable Journalist during the time of Emperor Haile Selassie and served in various media positions in the country[1][2] He has also written notable works, including Beyond the Horizon, The Bell of Conscience, The Call of the Red Star, and Haddis.
Girma was born to an Indian father and Ethiopian mother, at Illubabor Province, Ethiopia in 1939 while fascist forces led by the Axis were occupying Ethiopia. Nonetheless Girma's career is centered around the capital, Addis Ababa. Girma's writing have influences of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley and others critical of government and philosophical positions regarding freedom and natural rights for societies.[3]
Early life
[edit]Baalu Girma was born on 22 September 1939, in the Illubabor Province, Ethiopia. His father was an Indian businessman, and his mother a local woman born to a wealthy family. His parents’ marriage ended when his father decided to move his family to Addis Ababa, and his mother’s family refused to permit them to leave. After the separation, Baalu's father continued to provide for his son; but Baalu never managed to develop a strong relationship with his father. In college, he changed his last name to Girma, after a family who took him in as their own and gave him love and care throughout his childhood in Addis.[4]
Aside from being very close to his maternal grandfather and having some loving memories of one particular teacher, Baalu rarely talked about his childhood in Illubabor. After he completed traditional Ethiopian schooling as a child, he moved to Addis Ababa and became a boarding student at the Zenebe Worq Elementary School.[4]
Although he was academically very bright, as a youngster, he was also known for being a bit of a troublemaker. In fact, he was known to organize a school-wide protest in order to get his wishes. Girma's excellent grades earned him a scholarship at General Wingate Secondary School. In 1951, he entered General Wingate, and it was there that he found his calling in journalism and creative writing. He often thanked his English teacher, Miss Marshall, for inspiring him and teaching him the technique of writing short sentences.[4]
College
[edit]In 1962, Girma earned a bachelor's degree in political science and journalism from Addis Ababa University. As an undergraduate, he mixed academic excellence with the practice of journalism. He served as a news correspondent for the Ethiopian Herald (a prominent English-language newspaper) and as editor-in-chief of News and Views, a well-known university newspaper. As a young editor, he was often critical of the emperor's administration and his government’s policies, which at times forced Girma to interrupt his school and go into hiding.
Despite these challenges, Girma earned a full scholarship and obtained a master's degree in political science and journalism from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
Professional career
[edit]Bealu Girma is the most consistently good writer of Ethiopia.
Reidulf K. Molvaer, —Black Lions: The Creative Lives of Modern Ethiopia's Literary Giants and Pioneers, (c. 1997)
Late in 1963, Girma returned to Ethiopia and began his career in the Ministry of Information as Editor-in- Chief of Ye'Zareyitu Ethiopia, a weekly newspaper published in the Amharic language.[1]
In 1965, he was appointed editor-in-chief of Addis Reporter, a weekly magazine published in English. After three years, Girma left the Addis Reporter and became editor of the Ethiopian Herald, a daily English-language newspaper. The early stage of his professional life did not go without incidents. Once he was suspended from his editorship role over a controversial editorial, he had written in Addis Reporter, a weekly magazine published in the English language. Later, when returned to work, he had to accept a salary cut.[5][6]
From 1970 to 1974, Girma served as Editor-in-Chief of Addis Zemen, a mainstream daily newspaper published in Amharic. During the country-wide violence and profound political change in 1974, Addis Zemen, under Girma's editorship, remained the only source of information not fully controlled and thus giving unparallel amounts of general public trust regarding sources of information in the interest of the public.[7][8]
While he was the editor-in-chief of Addis Zemen, Girma also wrote two of his most popular novels, Kadmas Bashager (Beyond the Horizon) and Ye'hillina Dewel (The Bell of Conscience).[1] Girma is also known for his 1983 Amharic novel Oromay. Contrary to Girma's repeated distribution of Derg propaganda he subsequently chose one day to critique them. Which nonetheless ultimately caused his novels and writings to be subsequently banned by the Derg regime for its critique against communism.[9][10]
Although his book was banned within the time frame of less than 24 hours, the book had sold over 500 copies which themselves were redistributed and copied by press machines to which spread throughout the country. The Derg regime wasn't able to successful hinder the printage of Oromay and as such it was a national hit.[11][12][13]
In 1974, Girma left Addis Zemen and became Deputy General Manager of the Ethiopian News Agency. Within a year, he was promoted to the General Manager position and remained in that post until 1977. At the end of 1977, he became the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information.[14] In addition to being a journalist and writer, Girma served as guest lecturer of creative writing at Addis Ababa University.[15]
Disappearance
[edit]Family members found Baalu Girma's car outside of Addis Ababa on the way to Bishoftu. The military junta classified him as a missing person, and no one has heard from Girma since. Nonetheless it is a widely held consensus among the general population and historians that he was murdered by the Derg regime.[16][17]
Along with his wife, Almaz Aberra, Girma is survived by his daughter, Meskerem, his sons, Zelalem and Kibre, and his granddaughter, Naomi-Baalu Gizaw.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Meseret Chekol Reta (16 May 2013). The Quest for Press Freedom: One Hundred Years of History of the Media in Ethiopia. University Press of America. pp. 226–. ISBN 978-0-7618-6002-0.
- ^ Tsegaye, Tadesse (August 13, 2022). "Finding Be'alu Girma, Direction of Ethiopia's Literature". Addis Fortune.
- ^ In his book Oromay, Baalu is described as having its influences from notable western writers according to Dr. Wendy Belcher, professor of African literature at Princton University. [1]
- ^ a b c The Baalu Girma foundation provided such while they had their website working
- ^ "Ethiopia: Bealu Girma Foundation Launched". AllAfrica. February 17, 2009.
- ^ "Still working at 86: Yakob Wolde-Mariam inspires colleagues". The Ethiopian Observer. July 20, 2015.
- ^ "Bealu Girma". Committee to Protect Journalists. April 1984.
- ^ Girma is universally regarded in Ethiopian literature as a light barer for truth during the time of his authorship [1]
- ^ Esposito, Veronica (May 10, 2023). "It is hateful and mean': fighting back with the banned book reading room". The Guardian.
- ^ "Photography Lecture Series with Eric Gottesman". Stanford University. January 29, 2015.
- ^ Abraham, Kinfe. Ethiopia, from Bullets to the Ballot Box: The Bumpy Road to Democracy and the Political Economy of Transition. Lawrenceville, NJ: Red Sea Press, 1994, pp. 113–114.
- ^ Article 19 (Organization), and American Library Association. Information Freedom and Censorship: World Report 1991 ; Article 19. Chicago: American Library Association, 1991, p. 16.
- ^ Molvaer, Reidulf K. Black Lions: The Creative Lives of Modern Ethiopia's Literary Giants and Pioneers. Lawrenceville, NJ [u.a.]: Red Sea Press, 1997, p. 351.
- ^ Emmanuel Kwaku Akyeampong; Henry Louis Gates; Mr. Steven J. Niven (2 February 2012). Dictionary of African Biography. Oxford University Press. pp. 409–. ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5.
- ^ Girma served as not only a chief editor but a lecturer at Addis Ababa University
- ^ Mengesha, Selamawit (November 4, 2023). "Spotlight on a national Mystery". The Reporter (Ethiopia).
- ^ "Baalu Girma". MacLehose Press.
Books
[edit]- Reta, Meseret Chekol (16 May 2013). The Quest for Press Freedom: One Hundred Years of History of the Media in Ethiopia. pp. 226–227. ISBN 9780761860020.
- "Africa dissatisfied with Arab aid". MIDDLE EAST ECONOMIC DIGEST. Weekly News, Annalisis and Forecast. 21 (9). 4 March 1977.
- United States. Dept. of State. International Information Administration. Documentary Studies Section and United States Information Agency and United States Information Agency. Special Materials Section and United States. International Communication Agency (1990), "Problems of Communism", Problems of Communism: U.S. Information Agency, 39, Documentary Studies Section, International Information Administration, ISSN 0032-941X
- Tiruneh, A. (1993). The Ethiopian Revolution 1974-1987: A Transformation from an Aristocratic to a Totalitarian Autocracy. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521430821.
External links
[edit]- Baalu Girma Foundation
- Biography at Baalu Girma Foundation
- In Memoriam
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