Photographs — ተዝታ

Amha's father Wolde with young Amha, circa 1960

Axum, circa 1960 Wolde with his son Amha. Wolde was a tax collector, judge, and community mediator in Axum — a man whose authority came not from government but from the trust people placed in him.

Wolde — Amha's Father A formal portrait of Wolde in suit and tie. The man who stopped the emperor's motorcade to demand a hospital for Axum, who refused to fight over land so he could remain a fair mediator, and who wrote coded letters telling his son not to come home.

Young Amha leaning on a car in Addis Ababa, 1970s

Addis Ababa, 1970s Young Amha leaning on a car in Addis Ababa. A color photograph from the era when he was working at the Ministry of Interior, navigating the factional politics that would eventually tear the country apart.

Netherlands Fellowship Programme acceptance letter, 1975

The Fellowship Letter, 1975 The letter from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs approving Amha's scholarship to the Institute for Social Studies in The Hague. Dated July 18, 1975 — signed by Amha on August 5, weeks before his departure. This document allowed him to leave Ethiopia at a moment when it was extremely dangerous to stay. It is not a little exaggeration to say this letter saved his life.

Class group photo at the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague

Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, 1975–76 The fellowship class at the Institute of Social Studies. Students from sixty-six countries — "the personal encounters were more educational than any class." Amha arrived knowing almost nothing of the world outside Ethiopia.

Friends gathered in a living room with Ethiopian art on the wall

Among Friends, The Hague, 1975–76 An intimate gathering in a living room with Ethiopian art on the wall. "There were parties — endless parties given by one group or another. We could not make it to all of them, but it was a lot of fun and a lot of education at the same time."

With Colleagues Abroad, mid-1970s Amha with fellow students during the Netherlands fellowship program. At the Institute for Social Studies, there were students from sixty-six countries — the personal encounters, he says, were more educational than any class.

Group of international friends at a pub, 1970s

Fellow Students, 1975–76 A group of international friends from the fellowship program. "There were parties — endless parties given by one group or another. We could not make it to all of them, but it was a lot of fun and a lot of education at the same time."

Amha in traditional Ethiopian white dress at a gathering

In Traditional Dress, Europe, mid-1970s Amha wearing traditional Ethiopian clothing at a social gathering abroad. Even far from home, the cultural thread held — a man carrying his identity lightly but never letting it go.

Amha in traditional Ethiopian dress in a grand marble interior

Grand Interior, Europe, mid-1970s Amha in traditional white dress beneath an ornate candelabra in a marble hall. A young Ethiopian from Axum, standing in the halls of European grandeur — the contrast tells its own story.

Amha smiling in a plaid winter coat with city skyline behind

Winter in Europe, mid-1970s Amha in a striking plaid coat against a snowy city skyline. After his professors extended his stay, he spent a year traveling the continent — experiencing winter, cities, and a freedom he had never known.

Amha standing on a snowy Berlin boulevard with the Victory Column in the background

Berlin, mid-1970s A snowy boulevard in Berlin with the Victory Column in the distance. "I went everywhere — London, Rome, Munich, Geneva, Edinburgh. These were new worlds." For a young man from Axum, Europe was education by immersion.

Amha standing in St. Mark's Square, Venice, surrounded by pigeons

Venice, mid-1970s Amha in front of St. Mark's Basilica, surrounded by the famous pigeons of the piazza. One stop among many on a year of discovery across Europe.

Amha standing before the Axum Obelisk in Rome, mid-1970s

Rome, mid-1970s Amha standing on the Via Triumphalis before the Obelisk of Axum — his city's ancient stele, looted by Mussolini's forces in 1937 and erected in Rome as a trophy of conquest. Here is a young man from Axum, in exile from his country, face to face with a piece of home that had also been taken away. The obelisk was not returned to Ethiopia until 2008.

Amha reading at the Trocadéro with the Eiffel Tower behind him

Paris, mid-1970s Reading at the Trocadéro with the Eiffel Tower behind him. After his scholarship ended, his professors arranged an extension, and he spent a year traveling the continent — learning the world for the first time.

Amha standing confidently in front of the Eiffel Tower on the Champ de Mars

Champ de Mars, Paris Amha on the Champ de Mars, the Eiffel Tower rising behind him. Denim jacket, easy confidence — a young man at home in the world, far from the country he could not yet return to.

Amha leaning casually at the Arc de Triomphe, Paris

Arc de Triomphe, Paris A casual lean near the Arc de Triomphe. These European photographs capture a rare window — the year between the fellowship and America, when Amha was free but not yet settled.

Washington, DC, 1990s Amha and his sons.

Amha holding a grandchild on a bench, London, 2025

London, 2025 A grandfather holds his grandchild. "May your children go to Shewa and Gondar, and your grandchildren disperse everywhere." His grandmother's old curse — now understood as a blessing.

Georgetown University letter confirming Master of Science in Foreign Service, 1981

Georgetown University, 1981 The letter from Georgetown's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service confirming that Amha had "successfully completed your oral examination with distinction for the Master of Science in Foreign Service Degree." A new chapter in America, built from scratch.