To her friends, she is known as Alem. Mrs. Wodajo has been in the public eye ever since she was attending Medhanealm High School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the 60’s and 70’s. She is a gifted and talented writer and poet, an enviable actress, eloquent speaker, and a positive role model to so many young artists in Ethiopia as well as in the Diaspora Community. She has written lyrics for very many contemporary songs. It is said that there is no popular Ethiopian vocalist who has not been impacted by her prolific work, and no lover of music who has not been touched by her words. Alem is a founder of the Performing Arts in Ethiopia and has served as its chairperson for 14 years. She is a warm-hearted person with deep humanitarian concern. Her contribution in the fight against HIV (Aids) has been recognized in the World Aids Conference in Sweden in the 1980’s. Alem is the founder of Children’s Theater Group in Ethiopia that trained orphans and children of the less fortunate in music, drama and the arts. Under her leadership the group has performed and recognized in many European and African countries. Mrs. Wodajo has received professional training in Germany, the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Checozlovakia and other places. She has served as an Administrator and Public Relation Officer of the National Theater as well as Head of Programs and Productions at the Institution. She has used her position and influence to bring about a more positive image of artists and just compensation for their work. Mrs. Wodajo is admired by her peers, respected and loved by her fellow Ethiopians, revered for her devotion to children’s concerns and her commitment to community service.

Ethiopia’s treasure and our own “Shakespeare”, Mr. Tsegaye was born in Ambo region in Ethiopia. As a young boy, he attended the traditional Church School, as a young man Wingate and Commercial Schools in Ethiopia and as an adult in the United States he attended (Blackstone School of Law) in Chicago where he took his Bar Exam. Since the 1940’s, Mr. Tsegaye has written numerous poems, plays, essays, lyrics etc. He is probably and more recently known for his work in the 70’s and in the 90’s. Such plays as Ha Hu Besedist Wer, Inat Alem Tenu (Mother Courage), Melekete Wezader, Ha Hu Weyem Pe Pu, Abogida Keyiso, Addressed to Ourselves etc. are but a few to mention. Mr. Tsegaye Gebremedhin is a founder and director of the Department of Theater Arts at Addis Ababa University, a significant influence in the establishment of The City Municipality Theater and Arts Gallery and the Ministry of Cultural and Sports Affairs. A recipient of many awards, fellowships, Mr. Tsegaye has lectured in several U.S., European and African Institutions. The Congress of World Poets and United Poets Laureate International has honored him with the prestigious Gold Laureate Award with the title Honorable Poet Laureate. The Honorable Poet Laureate Tsegaye Gebremedhin is a man of noble spirit and humanitarian principles. He possesses a compassionate understanding of his people and is able to appeal to our consciences through his prolific writings and poetry. He is respected by his peers, loved and revered by his fellow Ethiopians all over the world.

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Born in the 1930’s in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam completed his elementary and secondary schooling at Teferi Mekonen High School and London matriculation in 1951. Prior to that, as a young boy, he was a student of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for many years and was ordained a deacon in 1946. After successfully matriculating from high school, Mr. Mesfin, won a scholarship to study abroad. He received his B.A degree from Punjab University in India in 1955 and M.S from Clark University in the U.S. in 1957. Mr. Mesfin taught geography at the formerly Haile Sellassie University (now Addis Ababa University) between 1959-1973 and was the Head of the Department till 1972. He had left and briefly returned to the University in the late 70’s. Professor Mesfin has published numerous articles/books in various fields and topics: Geography, economics, political and historical analysis, drought and famine, the environment, human rights concerns, and has participated in a number of conferences of significance in the affairs of Ethiopia. He has shared his philosophy, thoughts or views of various issues concerning Ethiopia through his writings. We have all been enriched by his relentless courage to freely express his views and from his unselfish devotion for human rights, unfading interest and love for Ethiopia and Ethiopians. Mr. Mesfin is a Senior Fullbright scholar (71, 86 & 87) and a recipient of a number of recognition for his various contributions. He has lectured in many institutions of higher learning in Ethiopia and abroad. He is loved and revered by his students, admired and respected by his associates and all who have been impacted by his positive contributions to our society.