Sebhat-Leab Gebre-Egziabher (; 5 May 1936 – 20 February 2012) was an Ethiopian writer from Tigray Region. He is famous for pioneering the naturalist writing style in Amharic. His writing style was not constrained by the traditional Ethiopian writing style nor orthodox syntax. Despite using simple words and seemingly light prose, Sebhat's concepts are highly sophisticated and philosophical.
Biography
Sebhat was born on 6 May 1936 near the historical town of Adwa, Tigray in a village called Erba Gered. He is the brother of the scientist Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher.
Sebhat originally intended to be a librarian. He visited Washington in 1960 and stayed there a year. At that time he was intending to write in English. He decided however that Amharic is better suited for his subject matter. He later visited France and received an award from UNESCO.
Sebhat published works of fiction and non fiction in French and Amharic. Some of his works have been translated into English. He also worked as a journalist and columnist for the Ethiopian Herald, Addis Zemen, Menen, and other magazines and newspapers.
During the years 1971-73 Sebhat was a principal in the Ethiopian firm, Alem, headed by Dereje Deressa, that managed and operated the U.S. Peace Corps in-country Volunteer training program.
Works Amharic ሌቱም አይነጋልኝ Dawn Yet Not ትኩሳት Tekusat (Fever), 1997 (romance) ሰባተኛው መላክ Säbatägnaw Mälak (The 7th Angel), 1999 (romance) እግረ፡ መንገድ ፩ እና ፪ Egrä Mängäd 1 enna 2 (Along the way 1 and 2), 2003 ማስታወሻ Mastawäsha (Notes), 2001 አምስት ስድስት ሰባት እና ሌሎችም ታሪኮች (Five, Six, Seven and Other Stories), 1988. Addis Ababa: Bolé Matemia Bet. የፍቅር ሻማዎች (Love Candles) ቦርጨቅ Borchek ስምንተኛው ጋጋታ Semntegnaw Gagata(The Eighth Din) ዛዚ Zazi እነሆ ጀግና Eneho Jegna(Behold The Hero) የትረካ ጥበብ Yetireka Tibeb(The Art Of Narration)
English Seeds and other stories, retold in English by Wendy Kindred. African Sun Publishing. Aventures, 2004 -
French Les Nuits d'Addis-Abeba, Paris, Actes Sud coll. Aventures, 2004 - , Translated by the author and Francis Falceto; Original title: ሌቱም፡ አይነጋልኝ, I will not see the end of the night, 2004. "Letum Aynegalign
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Further reading