Bedilu Wakjira
Bedilu Wakjira (PhD) is a prominent Ethiopian poet, writer, and linguist whose work has shaped modern Amharic literature. He has authored six influential books across poetry, fiction, history, and political commentary, including Yeras Mesl, Terz Lay, Yetefa Kitbat, Yeweyra Sir Selot, Cheqal Ena Ermja, and Yemaytsaf Gedel. His famous poem “Hager Malet Yene Lij” is revered for its deep national sentiment and is considered one of the most iconic literary expressions of Ethiopian identity.
His poetry has been translated into English and featured in international literary journals such as Modern Poetry in Translation and PN Review. Bedilu is also included in Songs We Learn from Trees, the first anthology that showcases Amharic poetry to the global audience. Alongside his creative writing, he is widely known for his socio-political essays and cultural analyses published in various Ethiopian newspapers and magazines, earning him recognition as both a literary and intellectual voice.
Bedilu Wakjira holds a BA and MA from Addis Ababa University and completed his M.Phil. and PhD in General Linguistics in Norway, specializing in Semitic morpho-syntax. His academic research—especially on Kistaninya—has contributed significantly to the field, with widely cited works published in 2000 and 2010. A lecturer at Addis Ababa University since 1991 (1983 E.C.), he continues to teach, research, and publish, including contributing to the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Ethiopian Languages, expected to become a milestone reference for Ethiopian linguistic studies.
