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2010 Person of The Year

Posted on , Updated on by EthiopianReview.com

By Elias Kifle

In 2011 Ethiopian Review, the longest running independent Ethiopian journal, celebrates its 20th year in service. It is a milestone period in the journal’s history and a special occasion for those of us who have labored hard to keep it going. As the editor-in-chief, in deciding who to select as Ethiopian Review’s Person of the Year,  this time I have decided to look at our own accomplishments and recognize those who have been there through thick and thin over the years. While there are many individuals — too many to list here — who have been providing valuable support to Ethiopian Review, for their enduring contribution special recognition goes to: (In alphabetical order)

Wzr. Meseret Agonafer, who is a fountain of inspiration and moral support, as well an authentic example of a genuine friend.

Ato Elias Wondimu, who once served as the managing editor and after launching his own publishing house, Tsehai Publishers, continued to consult on the editorial direction of the journal.

There is another person who deserves even greater appreciation, for without his consistent moral support and advise there would not have been Ethiopian Review. He is my own father Kifle Seifu.

My father is currently in the US. I, along with my sister and brothers, have brought him and our mother here a few months ago after witnessing Woyanne going after the families of its opponents. He had already survived an attack about 15 years ago by Woyanne gunmen who sprayed his house in Addis Ababa with machine gun bullets. He returned fire taking down (wounding) one of the shooters. It was nothing short of a miracle that he survived the attack. He spent 3 months in jail and was released with the help of the American charge d’affairs in Addis Ababa and Ted Dagne at the U.S Congressional Service.

After he was released, for the past 15 years, Woyanne made sure that my father could not do any business in Ethiopia. Every venture he tried was blocked. After a long legal battle, about 4 years ago, three different courts, including the supreme court of Ethiopia ruled that properties (worth over 63 million birr) that Derg confiscated from my father returned. Woyanne refused to obey the court order and told my father that his properties would be returned under one condition: That he must stop his son from publishing critical opinions and reports about the ruling junta on Ethiopian Review. My father’s answer was unequivocal no. I’m proud of him for that to no end.

I don’t know any one who has worked so hard through out his life as my father did. One time when he was working as a contractor on the Ethiopian Air Force base in Debre Zeit he collapsed due to sleep deprivation. It was normal for him to disappear for several months at a time exploring mines in some of the remotest parts of Ethiopia.

Kifle Seifu, 2010

He is now 84 years old and after all the hard work through out his life he doesn’t have a penny in the bank. During the Derg era its prime minister FikreSelassie Wogderes, and security chief Tesfaye WoldeSelassie confiscated (robbed) most of his properties. The Woyanne junta that replaced the Derg refused to return his properties ignoring court orders, and made sure that he doesn’t earn a living in Ethiopia.

There are countless others who have lost much more than properties in the hands of the two barbaric regimes. They have taken away the lives of so many innocent Ethiopians. I am lucky and grateful to have my father still alive.

The two vampire regimes, Derg and Woyanne, have left my father penniless. But he has one thing that is more precious and that no one could take away from him — honor.

With his skills, experience and hard work, my father could have been one of the wealthiest individuals in Ethiopia. Unfortunately, in a country where the president is a pig, the prime minister is a mass murderer and the patriarch is a thief, it is extremely difficult for a person of honor to succeed and thrive.

I’m profoundly blessed to have a father like Kifle Seifu and in this special milestone year for the journal it is my honor to choose him as Ethiopian Review’s 2010 Person of the year.

153 thoughts on “2010 Person of The Year”

  1. Ye-wend lij wend ende-Elias! Ye-banda lij banda ende-Legesse Zenawi!

    Money and material will be wasted! Human integrity and honor is ethernal!

    Elias, we respect you and your dear father!

  3. Gash Kifle was a close friend of my dad. It has over 30 years since I saw him last time. I remember him as a dignified, humble man who calls every one including his employees “getaye” “emebete”. My dad used to think very highly of him. My dad has passed away several years ago and this story made me think about him in this New Year day. Like Gash Kifle, my own father also sacrificed a lot for me and my siblings to have a better life. I think I have not been as grateful as I should to all my dad did for me. I just took it for granted. Hopefully I will be able to meet Gash Kifle and give him my regards.

  6. Elias, I was at family reunion today and during lunch your choice of person of the year was the main topic of discussion. I want to report to you that every one is supportive of your decision. Great job.

  8. Ato Kifle Seifu is a blessed man to have a son like our own Elias. My own choice for person of the year is Elias himself. It takes an iron will to do what he does.

  10. selam Ato Elias. I am not one of the support of you because the day i heard you on paltalk disrespecting one of “Aregaw” meri Hailu Shawel

    But to day you gave one of the best present to your father and for sur all fathers wish frm his son that is giving him respect and Honer him.

    Happy new year and long live for your father

  17. Elias,

    The apple sure doesn’t fall far from the tree. I sometimes feel like you are the last and only voice screaming the American Patrick Henry’s famous quote “Give me Freedom or Give me Death!” even though you are constantly being drowned by the confused, the hodams, and the true enemies of Ethiopia (Woyane), who never sleep from their final goal of looting and destroying the once proud country.

    And thanks for pointing out that the other Vampire Regime, the Derg, who destroyed the country beyond recognition, kill its best, demolished the moral of the citizens, terrorize whatever was left and delivered the hapless populous to the incoming Vampire Regime in a silver platter.

    But I diagress. Your dad is an exemplary example of the pride that was once Ethiopia. We all can relate to you by remembering our own fathers, some of whom have moved on, lucky in a way, not to see what have come of their country. The countless others who were put in your dad’s shoes have sold the country down the river to what you appropriately termed ‘Vampire Regime’ for whatever they can get out of it. I wonder how they sleep at night.

    I am so proud of your dad, not only for his great life and sacrifice for his country, but for passing on his patriotism to his children, especially you.

    Happy New Year to Abatachen Yetekeberu Ato Kifle Seifu and to our lonely voice in the wildereness Elias Kifle. My admiration and pride to both of you is boundless.

  18. Elias – God bless you! Unfortunatly you are way ahead, most of us are just bunch of losers, that is why weyane still play with our life. If we had 1000 more people like Elias weyane would have been history.

  19. The best decision I have never seen in on ethiopian website. Your father deserves it. By electing your father as the man of the year for Ethiopian Review, you have also honored millions of other ethiopian fathers. God bless you Elias. I wish to your beloved father all the best.

  20. to NO. 82. Teshome

    Family is the pillar of a nation. A nation starts from family. The type of family determines what a country looks like. Please be some what kind the spirit of family. I don’t know how you grew up but most people do value family. This is the first time that Elias did such a noble choice. I will refrain from posting negative comments on his selection of the other two people. Elias should as usual select only one nominee but I guess he didn’t want to look selfish. Any ways, I applaud him for selecting his dad. His dad is what I call the average humble Ethiopian who can be one of the best role models for this generation, according to the story posted. Like father like son. Just slow down on the bitter politics and spice it up with some cunning. Don’t be stubborn and I will wish you are my prime minister.

  21. Elias, I see a lot of inconsistency in your actions all togather. Your choice of person of the year this year focuses on people who contributed for the sucess of either Ethiopian Review or yourself. Why is it so different from your nominations of last year and the year after? What is your definition of person of the year? I am having hard time to figure out what you stand for. It is not only this time. I don’t want to get into details but I don’t trust you anymore.

  22. This deserves for a father of this much determination.One can see now where the solid foundation of Elias Kifle is based, on his committed father. I like your father’s unequivocal NO. What a sprit and a personality this NO shows!! In a Prison State where every activity is looped in misery, we got a father of honor. A right choice, Elias. Long life to your father. God Bless you, your family. God Bless Ethiopia

  24. Behind a strong man there is a strong woman. what had happened to your father has been harshly affecting all your siblings including your mother. I regret you did not mention her name and put up her photo along your father’s picture. I tell you revise your statement and include a story about your mother.

    I feel that every now and then women in Ethiopia are forgotten by their sons not to be included in any activities that are worth mentioning.

    Mothers are pillars of our society and they are the glue that keep the house together. So does your mother and she deserves a honor together with her life long partners- your father. I salute her.

  26. #123 elias certainly not a male chauvinist. i happen to know this family closely.His mother, like many other ethiopian mothers she doesn’t want her son to get involved in ethiopian politics. NO BODY IS SAFE WITH ELIAS. HE GIVES CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. GOD BLESS YOUR FATHER AND HIS FAMILY.

  30. Elias, […] The choice of the person of the year should be for a person whose contribution is shared by many, in fact by several millions. Mr. Kifle as you made it known stood up against EPDRF in behalf of him and his family. That is commendable, but it does not make him to be the person of the year 2010. Because there are so many who stood up against the excess of EPDRF, and if we are going down this road the selection becomes tricky. What about those who stood up for Ethiopians as a whole, and be sent to prison for it? Elias, you could have chosen those prisoners of conscience as person of the year, and you could have made more sense. Here, I think your emotion overtook your reasoning. Whenever a decision is made merely based on emotions rather than objective reasoning, defending that decision becomes impossible. Elias, you made unwise decision, by so doing you degrade the very purpose of choosing the person of the year.

  32. Ato Elias Kifle happy new year to u and your brave father and bless you all. Keep on being peoples bridge and the voice of the neglected Ethiopians.Thank you.

  34. I am familiar with the shootout incident in Beklo Bet. It was a one man vs woyanne hoodlums little war. Your Dad is one strange person who is living his life as a person of typical Amhara stubbornness and self dignity. I have lived in the same neighborhood where he used to roam in with his Land Cruisers. I think I also remember you Elias, before you left, some 26 years ago if i am not mistaken. I wish you guys all the blessings. You are one strange conservative Amhara family; that I know for sure.

  36. I have no problem with the choice. I rather got confused by what it means person of the year say 2010. Does n’t it mean that the person who contributed the most in whatsoever why in the year 2010?
    Mr Kifle had definitely contributed more than his share for the well being of our society and country at large which were probably until a few years ago, not definitely in the year 2010. I think a different scheme should be put in place to recognize those long time contributions. Let me be clear here. I am not arguing that Mr. Kifle does not deserve to be person of the year say 2000 but not 2010. I stand to be corrected should i in case missed a point or two

  37. Elias,

    Siyaasaan siyaasaa, seenaan seenaa! Seenaa manguddicha kanaa dubbisee daba mootummaan Woyyanee ummata Itoophiyaa hundaa irratti dalagaa jiru waan beeknuuf abbaa kankee kabaja guddaa kennaaf, maaliif jennaan karaa dhugaa jedhee itti amanu irratti waan hanga dhumaa qabsaa’eef….
    Let me say this Elias, I totally agree with your choice of the person of the year. It is a right choice at the right time,, for the perseverance and pain he had been through. In fact, today I was telling my younger brother about the heroism and benovelance of our late father, just in case he didn’t know what our father went through…for that somehow tells some of our personalities in a certain way..if we look back…an hour later my brother came and told me Elias Kifle selected his father as the person of the year for 2010 and that it is a story I should read about. I read it and decided to write something, although it is 5:30AM here in America’s hearland and it is the time I should go to bed after talking to my mother who is back home. The story tells people who the real Elias Kifle is…whatever you write from this point forward we look at you through this mirror! I may not agree with all of your political outlook but this is a choice second to nothing as far selecting person of the year is concerned, because it is an idea whose time has come for you!

  39. Mr. Elias,

    Truly you come from a good stock; a great family of honor and true Ethiopians, such is a geniune family in an ideal Ethiopia, long associated with justice, equality, honor and patriotism. People like your fathers would have been the leaders of buisness, industry e.t.c in a just Ethiopia. and if my knolwedge of Ethiopia’s history serve me right, people like your father would have been honered by Ethiopia’s monarchial governors or even the emperor with the titles of, Girazmatch, Kegnazmatch, Fitawrari or even Dejazmatch, such was a country where engeniutity and productivity was rewarded for the betterment of our country and our people. Unfortuanly today’s Ethiopia has beecome the land of bandits, a country where bandas and people with no moral backbone and no patriotism, no love of country, no ethics are thriving financialy with contempt. I pray the day comes that geniune hardworking families, like yours are rewarded while gangsters and gov’t backed robbers, the likes of TPLF mercinaries are forced to abdicate their ownership of every concivable assets and forced to relinquish, where by the true owners are given back what was theirs . I thank you for sharing your background, and I wish you and your father, Ato. Kifle, a happy 2011.

  40. It is a great pick Elias, I can read the bravery, honesty, decency and handwork of our great forefathers through the eyes of your father. I wish that you used a good language whith such an honorary Ethiopian. I have my own reserves for the current regime;However, from what Iam reading, I can tell you that you have hijacked the property, respect and dignity of such great Ethiopian more than anyone else.
    Look how damaging and unethical your language is to label your own father with ” He gun down one…”? It is ridiculously stupid to say the least.
    I hope that he will shine you some of his lifetime knowledge and experiences of Ethiopianess, how fighting for liberty is very different from simple insults.

    God bless Ato Seifu for his lifetime service for a better Ethiopia, for standing strong for what is right and Ethiopian, living high keeing the Ethiopian struggle and sprit alive till this day at this age of his time where he could easily leave the country and live in comfort as many of us did.

  44. So we finally know who pick up the ‘Person of the Year’ award for your magazine. Only one individual that is you. Otherwise your father would not have been chosen.

    A respected magazine (website) which is supposed to share national issuses should have gathered a group of knowledgeable individuals to choose the award.

    As important as your father is to you, he should not be presented the award only because he gave birth to you. In fact by giving the prize you are awarding yourself.

    The award should be given only on merit.

    Abraham
    Jerusalem

  45. I personally know Gash Kifle “The Great”. I met him several times a couple of years ago. He is a wonderful Ethiopian, a true Hero of our homeland and a role model to all of us. I hope that one day more people will know about him and his likes. We have so much to learn from our Fathers. His incomparable knowledge of Ethiopia and its true place in the world is exceptional. Congratulation Gash Kifle! You are our father too!

    Ra’Oeil

  46. Yes, through the recognition of Ato Kifle Seifu, all Ethiopian fathers, including my dad are recognized, as he is the personification of all Ethiopian fatherhood. Elias, God Bless your father, and all Ethiopian fathers that have stood for the honor and the defense of the Motherland!!!

  47. Elias… Absolutely deserved winner of the man of the year, first & foremost for bringing up such a principled and brave man like yourself. Elias, many people would have bowed down for weyane so that they get their properties back. But you and your father refused to sell your conscious and refused to be hodams. And another reason is that you love your country so much and prove that in practice not only in words… you walked the walk. Despite disagreeing with some of your pinions, I love your courage and bravery. After all I’m shaebia and believe in tolerating the opinions of others as it was this principle that kept shaebia steadfast throughout its darkest times (bahli neqefeta and re’esi neqefeta). You gave a voice here in your journal and opinion ER to everyone regardless of ones origin or political stands. For that you deserve the man of the year yourself but your Dad deserved it even better for instilling such principle in you. Congratulations!

  49. Elias.Excellent choice!But as a regular reader of Ethiopian Review and thus know well how diverse the opinions posted are, I am a litle curious that I have not seen a single opposition to your choice of the year 2010.

  50. Dear Elias
    I join you in congradulating your honorable father of being the man of the year. He also should feel proud of having a brave son, Elias Kifle.
    Berta
    Takele

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