Occupation writer Citizenship Ethiopian | Name Sebhat Gebre-Egziabher | |
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Notable works ትኩሳት (Fever)ሌቱም አይነጋልኝ (Endless Night)ሰባተኛው መላክ (The Seventh Angel) Died February 20, 2012, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | ||
Sebhat-Leab Gebre-Egziabher (var. Gebre Egziabher, Gebregziabher; Ge'ez: ስብሐት ለአብ ገብረ እግዚአብሔር?) (1936–February 20, 2012) was an Ethiopian writer.
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Life
Sebhat was born in 1928 in Tigray region near the historical town of Adwa in a village called Erba Gered. He published works of fiction and non fiction in French and Amharic. Some of his works are available "retold" in English. He also worked as a journalist and columnist for the Ethiopian Herald, Addis Zemen, Menen magazine and other newspapers and magazines in his long writing career.
He is famous for pioneering the naturalist writing style in Amharic. He has a unique writing style which is not constrained by the traditional Ethiopian writing style, nor is his syntax orthodox. Even if he uses simple words and seemingly light prose, Sebhat's concepts are highly sophisticated and philosophical.
Biography
Sebhat originally intended to be a librarian. He visited Washington in 1960 and stayed a year. At that time he was intending to write in English. He decided however that Amharic suited his subject matter. He later visited France and received an award from UNESCO.
Sebhat is the brother of the renowned scientist, Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher.
His lifestyle and philosophy however seems to attract many followers throughout Ethiopia. His openness is always admired by his followers.
Sebhat died on February 20, 2012 in Addis Ababa at the age of 76.