We have fiction and nonfiction, books for children, and for adults; 19 Ethiopian books to choose from — some of which were the recipients of renowned awards. Let’s dive into them. If you’d like to read more about African literature, take a look at our archives. As the stepmother conquers the trust of the lion, she starts to figure out the ways in which to establish a good relationship with her own stepson. The boy brings home some beans, but they are too bitter to eat. That is, until his mother roasts them and they both get to discover how wonderful a drink these bitter beans can make. In this story, a young girl called Alma tries to defy the patriarchal roles imposed by her society by trying to become a beekeeper, a profession usually allowed only to men. In this story, Princess Andromeda takes the highlight. Andromeda was so pretty that it provoked the jealously of Poseidon. He sent a sea monster to try and kill her, but his attempt was thwarted by Perseus. You can see their constellations in the Ethiopian sky. This edition contains the story written both in English and Amharic. Defying her father’s wishes, Selome disguises herself as a boy and runs away to the capital city. This graphic novel about an Ethiopian girl presents several important themes, chief among them the right to an education. And with its multiple endings, it allows the reader to choose their favourite one. This book is a love letter to the county, a nation filled with wonderful resources that has faced several challenges. It’s filled with colourful illustrations of the most amazing Ethiopian settings. She decides to take this matter into her own hands and host a big Buna Bash to bring her culture — and hopefully acceptance — into her class. Note: Buna means coffee in Ethiopia. Taking place between Africa and America, this book is an enthralling family saga. The author has also written the memoir My Own Country: A Doctor’s Story. When so many books about war focus on men, The Shadow King is, at his core, a story about what it is like to be a woman at war. It takes place during Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935, and it was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize. It is a story of immigration, (be)longing, and how much it takes to create new roots and find a new place to call home. Mariam is a midwife trying to protect an abandoned baby, but as she works towards her goal, she realises it is time to face her own abandonment as well. This was the 2018-19 People’s Book Prize For Fiction. It is a story about familiar bonds across a ravaged Ethiopia, and about the importance of friendship. The author has done a great job at writing a gripping tale, all the while making sure we get a good understanding of this time in Ethiopia’s history. It is Mengiste’s debut novel. Amongst these voices are Adam Reta, Mahtem Shiferraw, Linda Yohannes, Sulaiman Addonia, Lelissa Girma, and Rebecca Fisseha. It is an ode to the city, its history, and the myths surrounding it. It follows the fascinating history of modern Ethiopia, from feudalism to democracy, across a century. The stories of both the woman and the country are deeply intertwined, offering us a close-up of the cultural and sociological landscape of this nation. Shallow Graves is a personal account of this war — and some of the time before and after it — in a firsthand reportage that analyses and records conversations with local witnesses. It also contains bits and pieces of the stories of Armenians in the country, and regarding the Armenian-Ethiopian contribution, which isn’t widely known across the globe. Rebecca left Ethiopia at 11 years old in exile, and returned to it as an adult. The book also offers a good look at the country then and now. It goes from his childhood into the author’s adult life, and his struggle to get his visa to Australia approved, and to find a place to stay rooted. The narration is a mixture of reality and myth, presenting the country to us without the stereotypes and images we are so often fed by the media. It reads almost like fiction. The author has also written a novel, which is well worth reading, titled The God Who Begat A Jackal. Sources: Ethiopian Embassy Nations Encyclopedia
