(ማስታወቂያ)
Ethiopian women have played a vital role in shaping the country's history and culture. From administrators to warriors, elite women have been visible throughout Ethiopia's history. In recent years, Ethiopian women have also made significant contributions in various fields, including athletics, politics, business, and education.
In this article, we will explore the lives and achievements of the top 17 most influential Ethiopian women, highlighting their contributions to Ethiopian society and beyond. (They are sorted in Alphabetical order)
Birthday – October 20, 1934 Birthplace – (Shebel) A small rural village in the Amhara region
In 1980, Abebech Gobena established አበበች ጎበና የህጻናት እንክብካቤና ልማት ማህበር (አጎህልማ - AGOHELMA), one of the oldest orphanages in Ethiopia. AGOHELMA provides various services in addition to the orphanage itself, including formal and non-formal education, HIV/AIDS prevention activities, habitat improvement, and infrastructure development, empowerment of women, and institutional care for orphans. Over 12,000 needy children have been supported by the association since its founding, and over 1.5 million people have benefited directly, or indirectly from the association in various regions of the country. Abebech Gobena died due to Covid19 complications on July 4, 2021. Her funeral was held on July 6th at Holy Trinity Cathedral in the presence of government officials and mourners. The funeral was attended by the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Abune Matias, the President of the Oromia Region, Shimelis Abdisa, the Deputy Mayor of Addis Abebe Adanech Abebe, and other public figures.
Birthday – October 20, 1955 Birthplace -
Alemtsehay Wedajo is an Ethiopian culture and arts giant with a distinguished artistic career that spans more than three decades. She is an accomplished director, playwright, actor, writer, poet, lyricist, and community activist. Alemtsehay Wedajo has received professional training in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Nigeria, Russia, and the USA. She is a visionary leader who founded artistic organizations and groups, including YeLijoch Amba, the Ethiopian Actors Association, and the Tayitu Cultural Center in Washington DC. She is a prolific poet and has written lyrics for over forty of the most beloved Ethiopian songs sung by veteran Ethiopian singers, including;
Alemtsehay Wedajo is also known for her roles in the movies Woven (2016) and Lijen: My Child (2022) She continues to direct and perform theater and poetry to Ethiopians in Canada, North America, and Europe.
Birthday – November 30, 1977 Birthplace - Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Captain Amsale Gualu, is an Ethiopian pilot who became the first female captain in the history of Ethiopia in 2010. She is also the first female captain on the Boeing 767, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 in Ethiopia and the second African female pilot to command a Boeing 787. Amsale was in Bahir Dar, the capital city of the Amhara Region, and attended her education at Assai School and Bole Highschool. She earned a BA in architecture from Addis Ababa University. In 2010, she became the first Ethiopian female captain by flying an Ethiopian Airlines BombardierDHC-8-402Q400 from Addis Ababa to Gondar. In December 2017, she captained the first Ethiopian Airlines international flight, crewed entirely by women.
Birthday – 1959 Birthplace – Gondar, Ethiopia
Aster Aweke is an Ethiopian singer who sings in Amharic. Aster's voice has grown in popularity, particularly since her single "Abebayehosh" on Ethiopian New Year in the 1990s. She is best known for her albums Hagere (1999) and Fikir (2006). In 1981, she moved to the United States and released her U.S. major label debut “Aster”. In 1997, she returned to Ethiopia and owned and operated a cafeteria in Addis Ababa called Kabu, which was named after her song "Kabu." On January 3, 2023, Aster released Soba, a collaborative work of other artists. Aster was influenced by Tilahun Gessesse and Bizunesh Bekele and performed songs by Donna Summer and Aretha Franklin. Aster Aweke has been UNICEF's National Ambassador to Ethiopia since 2010.
Birthday – 1980 Birthplace – Zenebework area of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is an Ethiopian entrepreneur and founder of the shoe company soleRebels, which creates sustainable and eco-friendly footwear. In 2005, just after she graduated in accounting from Unity University, Bethlehem founded soleRebels with the goal of creating jobs and promoting sustainable development in her community. The company uses locally sourced and recycled materials to create stylish and comfortable shoes that are sold around the world. Bethlehem's vision for soleRebels is to create a global brand that is both socially responsible and environmentally friendly. The company has been recognized for its innovative business model and has won several awards for its work, including the World Economic Forum's Social Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2012. In addition to her work with soleRebels, Bethlehem is also a prominent advocate for women's empowerment and economic development in Ethiopia. She has been recognized as one of Africa's most successful businesswomen and has been featured on the cover of Forbes Africa magazine. Her success with soleRebels has inspired other entrepreneurs in Ethiopia and around the world to pursue sustainable and socially responsible business practices. She is known for her commitment to promoting economic growth and environmental sustainability in her community and beyond. Below are some Awards and recognitions Bethlehem has received. - Chosen as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2011 - Listed on Forbes magazine's 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa in 2011 - Named one of CNN's "12 Female Entrepreneurs Who Changed the Way We Do Business" in 2014 - Included on Forbes's '100 Most Powerful' and profiled as a "Woman to Watch" in 2012 - Chosen as one of Arise Magazine's "100 Dynamic Women" in 2012 - Listed as #62 in Fast Company's "100 Most Creative People in Business 2013 - Chosen to join the advisory board of the Green Industry Platform, convened by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the UN Environment Program in 2013 - Named by readers of The Guardian as one of "Africa's Top Women Achievers" in 2013 - Listed as one of Madame Figaro's "15 Most Powerful African Women" in 2013
Birthday – April 27, 1974 Birthplace – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Birtukan Mideksa is an Ethiopian politician and former judge who served as chairwoman of Ethiopia's National Election Board (NEBE) since 2018. From 2008 to 2010, she was the founder and leader of the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) party. Birtukan Mideksa was born in Addis Ababa and graduated from Addis Ababa University with a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Art in Public Administration in 2014. Birtukan began her career as an associate judge before being appointed to the federal First instant court's 3rd district court. In 2002, she presided over the high-profile case of former Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) official and former Minister of Defense Siye Abraha, who was accused of corruption. Birtukan resigned from the federal court and established an independent law firm after receiving threats and intimidation from government security officials following his arrest. From late 2003 to 2005, she was a lawyer. Birtukan joined a political party to bring about change, including recognition of the rule of law and respect for the implementation of the constitution. In the 2005 election, her party, Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) won over a third of the seats but was convicted of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and was sentenced to life in prison. She later founded the Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) with the same principles that guided CUD. On 28 December 2008, she was re-arrested and sentenced to life in prison. Amnesty International categorized her imprisonment as "unjust and politically motivated" and launched an international campaign demanding her release, challenging the Ethiopian government's claim that her incarceration was a legal matter. On 6 October 2010, Birtukan was released from prison, after submitting a pardon plea that expressed her regret for denying her 2007 pardon. In 2011, she resigned from politics and went to the US to study at Harvard. She was awarded the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship of the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy and was a fellow at Harvard University's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. Birtukan returned to Ethiopia in November 2018, encouraged by the political reforms initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in April 2018. She was elected and sworn in as chairwoman of Ethiopia's National Election Board (NEBE) on November 23, 2018.
Birthday – March 21, 1972 Birthplace – The village of Bekoji, in the highlands of Arsi Province Oromia
Derartu is the first Ethiopian woman and the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal, which she won in the 10,000m event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. She sat out 1993 and 1994 with a knee injury and returned to competition in the 1995 IAAF World Cross Country Championships where she won gold. In 1996, she lost her shoe in the race and had to fight back to get fourth place. In 1997, Derartu won the world cross-country title for the second time but did not factor in the 10,000 m World Championships. In 1998, Derartu gave birth to a daughter named Tsion, yet came back in 2000 in the best shape of her life. She won the 10,000m Olympic gold for the second time and the IAAF World Cross Country Championships title for the third time. In 2001, she won her world 10,000 track title in Edmonton. Her transition to the marathon was rewarded with victories in London and Tokyo Marathons in 2001. In 2004, she declined to enter the New York Marathon and focused instead on the Olympic Games, where she won the bronze medal in the 10,000m behind Xing Huina and her cousin Ejegayehu Dibaba. She continued to run competitively in her late thirties, while most of her old rivals retired. She is remembered for her speed and her 60.3 second-last lap at the end of the 10,000m at the Sydney Olympics was a sprint of note. She has been the president of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) since 14 November 2018.
Birthday – March 25, 1889 Birthplace – Ambassel, (in Wollo Province)
When Tafari Makonnen became Emperor of Ethiopia as Haile Selassie I, Menen Asfaw was crowned as Empress at his side. Empress Menen was active in promoting women's issues in Ethiopia and was Patroness of the Ethiopian Red Cross, and the Ethiopian Women's Charitable Organization. She founded the Empress Menen School for Girls in Addis Ababa, the first all-girls school with both boarding and day students. She gave generously and sponsored programs for the poor, ill, and disabled. She was also a devoutly religious woman who did much to support the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Empress Menen built, renovated, and endowed numerous churches in Ethiopia and the Holy Land, including the St. Raguel Church in Addis Ababa's Merkato district, the Kidane Mehret Church on Mount Entoto, and the Holy Trinity Monastery on the banks of the River Jordan. She gave generously from her personal funds towards the building of the new Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion at Axum, but did not live to see it completed and dedicated. Empress Menen was the consort of Emperor Haile Selassie I and was highly venerated by members of the Rastafari movement. She combined religious piety, concern for social causes, and support for development schemes with the majesty of her Imperial status. Empress Menen was buried in the crypt of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa in 1962, and Prime Minister Aklilu Habte-Wold delivered her eulogy. After her death, the Emperor built a pair of grand sarcophagi in the north transept of Holy Trinity Cathedral's nave. During the ceremonial burial of her husband's remains in November 2000, the remains of Empress Menen were also disinterred from the crypt tomb and placed in the sarcophagus next to her husband in the nave of the cathedral.
Birthday – 1851 Birthplace – North Gondar, Ethiopia
Taytu Betul, was the Empress of Ethiopia from 1889 to 1913 and Emperor Menelik II's third wife. During the late-nineteenth-century Scramble for Africa, she was a key figure in anti-colonial resistance, and she and her husband founded the modern Ethiopian capital, Addis Abeba. Taytu Betul married King Menelik of Shewa, who would later become Emperor of Ethiopia, in her fourth and final marriage. Empress Taytu is acknowledged to have wielded considerable political power both before and after she and Menelik were crowned Emperor and Empress in 1889. She led the conservative faction at court that resisted the modernists and progressives who wanted to develop Ethiopia along western lines and bring modernity to the country. She was the first to motivate the hesitant Emperor and other men to stand up against the Italians. She held a hard line against the Italians, and when talks eventually broke down, she marched north with the Emperor and the Imperial Army, commanding a force of cannoneers at the historic Battle of Adwa that resulted in a humiliating defeat for Italy in March 1896. Menelik II and Taytu Betul were temporarily in possession of 70,000 prisoners of war. When Menelik's health began to decline around 1906, Taytu began to make decisions on his behalf, angering her rivals for power. As a means to curb her family's political influence, Menelik selected Sabla Wangel Hailu as the heir-presumptive Lij Iyasu's wife. Taytu was widely resented for her alleged Gonderine xenophobia and nepotism, and the nobility of Shoa and Tigray, along with the Wollo relatives of Lij Iyasu conspired to remove her from state responsibility. In 1910, she was forced from power and a regency under Ras Tessema Nadew took over. Taytu and Menelik did not have any children. Menelik died in 1913 and was succeeded by his grandson from a daughter of a previous liaison, Lij Iyasu. Taytu was banished to the old Palace. Taytu lived out her days in Addis Ababa but was refused permission to go to Gondar in November 1917. She died in 1917 and is buried next to her husband at the Taeka Negest Ba'eta Le Mariam Monastery.
Birthday – Birthplace – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Frehiwot Tamiru is the CEO of Ethio Telecom, Africa’s second-largest telecom company, and Ethiopia's state-owned telecom operator with more than 60.8 million subscribers. Frehiwot graduated from Addis Ababa University in 2004 and directly joined Ethio-Telecom to serve as a programmer and later grow to managerial positions. She served for seven years before leaving to start her own private business, which she worked on for seven years before returning to Ethio-telecom. Frehiwot returned to Ethio Telecom as a board member and served in the position until she was appointed as the CEO of the company by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018. She brought profound changes and a track record of success to the company after being appointed CEO for five years in a row. Under her capable and experienced leadership, Ethio Telecom increased its subscriber base by 28.69 million and revenue by 27.4 billion Birrs in five years, while lowering tariffs by 40%- 50%. Her leadership not only reduced tariffs to ensure affordability but also expanded 4G/LTE & 4G/LTE Advanced services in the capital city and over 136 cities outside of the capital to address network coverage gaps and ensure telecom service accessibility. Through Frehiwot’s influence in challenging the status quo and policies, she was able to realize the country's first telecom-led mobile money service, "telebirr," which has 29 million subscribers and has transacted over 312 billion Birr since its launch in May 2021. Business Insider Africa has included Frehiwot Tamiru in its list of the top 100 most influential women in Africa.
Birthday – 1976 Birthplace – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Lia was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and graduated from Jimma University with a medical degree and specialty training in obstetrics and gynecology. She had a strong interest in becoming a Doctor of Medicine. She is now a politician and physician serving as the Minister of Health since March 2020. Prior to her appointment, Lia served as State Minister of Health in November 2018. She also served as • An Executive Director at the University of Michigan's Center for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, • A CEO and Vice Provost in St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) in Addis Ababa, and • A Project Director of USAID's Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) at Jhpiego-Ethiopia. Lia Tadess received the Harvard School's “Next Generation Award for her significant contribution to the improvement of the health sector in Ethiopia and in other local and international organizations."
Birthday – March, 1 1978 Birthplace – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Liya Kebede is an Ethiopian supermodel, advocate for maternal health, clothing designer, and actress. She has appeared three times on the cover of Vogue. Since 2005, Liya Kebede has served as the WHO's Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health. Liya Kebede has been featured in ad campaigns for Estée Lauder cosmetics, Shiatzy Chen, Gap, Yves Saint-Laurent, Victoria's Secret, Emanuel Ungaro, Tommy Hilfiger, Revlon, Dolce & Gabbana, Escada, and Louis Vuitton. She was named the "new face" of Estée Lauder cosmetics in 2003 and earned $2.5 million over the previous 12 months. In 2009, she starred in the film adaptation of Desert Flower by former supermodel Waris Dirie and had minor roles in The Good Shepherd (2006) and Lord of War (2005). She is currently on the list of "New Supers" by models.com. In 2007, Liya Kebede launched the clothing line Lemlem, Lemlem, which means "to bloom" in Amharic. It sells hand-spun, woven, and embroidered clothing for women and children. She founded the line to help preserve traditional clothing and weaving in Ethiopia and to provide employment opportunities for local artisans. In 2005, Liya was appointed as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health and founded the Liya Kebede Foundation to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality in Ethiopia and around the world. The foundation funds advocacy and awareness-raising projects as well as provides direct support for low-cost technologies, community-based education, and training and medical programs. In 2009, she worked with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and served as a High-Level adviser for the Center for Global Development's 2009 report "Start with a Girl: A New Agenda for Global Health". She is also part of the Champions for an HIV-Free Generation, an organization of African leaders led by the former President of Botswana Festus Mogae. Liya Kebede was named one of Glamour's Women of the Year in 2013 for her charitable work through her Liya Kebede Foundation.
Birthday – July 25, 1964 Birthplace – Asosa, Ethiopia
Meaza was a Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia Judge from 1989 to 1992. In 1993, she was appointed as a legal adviser by the Ethiopian Constitution Commission. Meaza founded the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) in 1995 and later became its executive director. She has been instrumental in campaigning for women's rights in Ethiopia through her legal contacts; her “Fighting for Women's Rights In Ethiopia” group had approximately 45 graduate lawyers working for it in 2002. Meaza was named a Hunger Project Award laureate in 2003 after receiving the Grassroots Ethiopian Women of Substance Africa Prize. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize two years later. Her most famous case was adapted into the 2014 Ethiopian film Difret, which was promoted as an executive producer by Angelina Jolie and went on to win the World Cinematic Dramatic Audience Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.
Birthday – February 21, 1950 Birthplace – Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
Sahle-Work Zewde is an Ethiopian politician and diplomat who has served as Ethiopia's president since 2018, making her the country's first female president. On October 25, 2018, she was unanimously elected president of the Federal Parliamentary Assembly. Sahle-Work was only the second woman in Ethiopian history to be appointed as an ambassador; the first was Ambassador Yodit Emiru. She was an ambassador for both the communist People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Ethiopia's post-civil war Transitional Government. From 1989 to 1993, Sahle-Work served as Ethiopia's Ambassador to Senegal, with accreditation to Mali, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, and Guinea. She served as Ambassador to Djibouti and Permanent Representative to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), from 1993 to 2002. From 2002 to 2006, she was Ambassador to France, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and accredited to Tunisia and Morocco. Sahle-Work later served as Ethiopia's Permanent Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), as well as Director-General for African Affairs in Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sahle-Work was the Special Representative of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peace-building Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA). In 2011, she was appointed as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). Under her leadership, the Nairobi office became a more important UN hub for East and Central Africa. In June 2018, Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Sahle-Work as his Special Representative to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU). She was the first woman to hold the post. Sahle-Work was appointed as Ethiopia's first female head of state in 2018 and is expected to serve two six-year terms. She has pardoned more than 4,000 prisoners and commuted the death sentences of former Derg officials Berhanu Bayeh and Adis Tedla to life imprisonment. She is one of two serving female heads of state in Africa. In its annual edition of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women, American business magazine Forbes ranked Sahle-Work as the 96th most powerful woman in the world, and the highest-ranking African woman on the list.
Birthday – 1986 Birthplace – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Sayat Demissie is a singer, actress, model, and fashion designer. She made her modeling debut at the age of 17, finishing in the top 20 of the 2004 Ethiopian Beauty Queens. She made her acting debut in the film Sara (2006). Sayat debuted with her debut album in 2011 and has since appeared in a number of films and television shows. In 2019, she made a comeback with a critically acclaimed music video for her song Eskesher. Sayat is a strong advocate for women's rights. She has spoken openly about women's safety and the importance of women supporting other women.
Birthday – January 24, 1982 Birthplace – Rural Amhara
Yetnebersh Nigussie is an Ethiopian lawyer and disability rights activist. Yetnebersh Nigussie lost her eyesight at the age of 5, allowing her to escape from early marriage. She attended Shashemane Catholic School for the Blind and Menelik II Senior Secondary School, where she chaired more than 6 student clubs. She graduated from Addis Ababa University with an undergraduate degree in law and a masters in social work. She chaired the AAU Anti-AIDS movement and founded the Addis Ababa University Female Students Association in 2006. Yetnebersh Nigussie has received a number of national and international awards for her advocacy work for girls' education. She served in more than 20 organizations, including the Ethiopian National Association of the Blind Women's Wing, and founded the Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD). In 2017, Yetnebersh Nigussie was named a joint winner of the Right Livelihood Award and the Spirit of Helen Keller Award and initiated the ‘Her Abilities Award’ together with Light for the World to honor women with disabilities who achieved greatness in their life and field of work. Awards she won include • AMANITARE award for sexual and reproductive health advocates, 2003, Johannesburg, South Africa. • Individual award for excellent HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities coordination, awarded by the Addis Ababa City Administration in collaboration with the Addis Abeba HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO). October 7, 2005 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. • Best HIV/AIDS National Activist, awarded by General Medical Practitioners Association, 2005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. • World of Difference 100 Award, awarded by International Alliance for Women (TIAW), 2011. • Right Livelihood Award 2017 • Spirit of Helen Keller Award 2018
Birthday – 1961 Birthplace – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Zemi Yenus founded the Joy Center, Ethiopia’s first school for children with autism, in 2002. She was a pioneer in speaking openly about her son’s autism and educating others about the condition. She appeared several times in the local media with Jojo, her son, to increase autism acceptance and awareness, and liberated many children whose hands were literally tied and locked behind closed doors for their own safety. Zemi was also a champion for autism research in Ethiopia, and her imprint on the work cannot be overstated. Zemi enriched the lives of many in the autism community. Zemi Yenus, a pioneering teacher and advocate for autistic children in Ethiopia, died on May 11, 2021, at the age of 60, from COVID-19.
Related articles; - Important Facts You Need to Know Before Dating Ethiopian Women - 28 Best Romantic Gifts for Ethiopian Women - 15 Famous Ethiopian artists that sadly died too young - Best Ethiopian Musicians That Got 0 Haters: New Generation
