ዓለም ፀሐይ ወዳጆ

Alemtsehay Wedajo was born and raised in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. At the age of 13, her talent for the arts was discovered by her music teacher the late Melaku Ashagre. He encouraged and introduced her to the stage after which she started to act as an amateur performer in different stages including at Hager Fikir. When she was in high school she was elected vice president of the student association. In that capacity she was able to network with other high schools and Addis Abeba University student leaders. After finishing high school, she was selected, among many talented young Ethiopians, and joined the National theatre and was trained by the late Nobel Laureate Tsegay Gebremedhin and his contemporaries. After two years she graduated with diploma and later started working at the National theatre. At the time when women faced many challenges and prejudices, she wrote, produced and directed theatres. At the National Theatre, for example, she produced “Amachoch” and “Tigil New mefthew”; she wrote a full theatre in title “Ber” and “Demachen” co-written by two others. She was assistant director on five major theatrical productions and served as the head of Program and Production office as well as Head Public Relations Officer of the Ethiopian National Theater. She is the first female play director among Ethiopians. Alemtsehay is a founder of the Ethiopian Actors’ Association and has served as its chairperson for fourteen years. She has received professional training in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, and the Soviet Union among other places. She acted in Ethiopian movies and played a leading role in such as “3002”, including a movie with 11 international awards in titled “Woven,” which is based on a fictional story about the lives of Ethiopian and American families. as well as a large number of stages, TV dramas and appeared on over fifteen international stages in Nigeria, Russia Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Norway, Amsterdam and USA, to name a few Alemtsehay’s contribution in the fight against HIV/AIDS has been recognized in the World Aids Conference in Cameron and Sweden. Her commitment, love and dedication towards children knowing that they are the futures of the world is inspiring. She has served as the head of Children Theater Department at the Ministry of Culture. She had an opportunity to involve herself in the committee that was supposed to draft and organize a Children’s Amba to serve the Children of the war victims and abandoned children. She played a major role in bringing the Children’s Theatre to life designing the format and advocating its importance that was neglected. The group trained in music, drama and the arts in general and performed in many national and international and before many Heads of States visiting Ethiopia. She published two books, one CD and wrote many plays for stage. She has written over 500 lyrics for over 52 singers of contemporary songs. It is said that there is not popular Ethiopian vocalist or lover of music who has not been impacted by her prolific work and touched by her words. After she immigrated to the U.S in 1991, her love for her profession never faded away. So, she continued to bring together Ethiopian immigrants of background in the Arts and music and she found a forum named “Ye Ethiopia Kinetebeb Muyategnoch Mahber” (Ethiopian Artists Association) After three years of trial, she found “Tayitu Cultural & Educational Centre” (TCEC), a not-for-profit organization that promoted Ethiopian performing arts and culture in Washington DC. The center was named after the famous Empress of Ethiopia, Empress Tayitu Bitul, who fought side by side with her husband, Emperor Menelik, during the Ethio-Italian war at the battle of Adwa in 1896. The Italians was defeated at that battle. Since the inception of the organization has personally funded with little to no outside funding and has realized much success over the years. The mission of this center is to promote good citizenship through academic excellence and introduce Africa's rich cultural heritage through literary presentations, poems, drama and artistic productions. this is all done with the aim of enriching the lives of residents of the communities in which Black Americans are living. It provides its services to all without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, or sexual orientation. Tayitu cultural center will be celebrating its 21 Twenty-one-year anniversary this year in 2021. Alemtsehay working two jobs and raising two children, started attending college and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Her short comedy play was produced at the University of Southern California on celebration of “Voices from Black diaspora” –a The title of her play is “YALTEYAZE” which means “AVAILABLE” It was shown in in Washington Dc in 2007. She has received so many Professional Excellence Awards in recognition not only of her personal achievements but also of her positive contribution towards the preservation and promotion of Ethiopian values and culture The practical tips she gives for all who wants to follow in her footsteps are: Have faith, dream high, be strong and do not quit!

Books by ዓለም ፀሐይ:

የማታ እንጀራ

Poetry, Literature

Download AfroRead app To buy and read the Author book: