Lucy's People: An Ethiopian Memoir

by Mesfin Tadesse, ianet Bastyan

Overview

"This is a gripping story, well-told." ___SHEGER FM RADIO 102.1

"Lucy's People skilfully documents an intimate perspective on an ethically complex time and place."___Ben Claessens

Lucy's People: An Ethiopian Memoir is the inspiring true story of a country and a life. Young Mesfin is a UN scholarship recipient, breadwinner to a dozen, and an engineer. He is wired to defend the helpless. Under the communist Derg 1974 to 1991, he holds his head high throughout random arrest, torture and forcible military conscription.

Related to Emperor Haile Selassie I, Mesfin's parents are models of initiative. His mother and grandmother are patriots that resisted Mussolini's 1935 invasion, and his father is a colonel. As a youthful Airborne lieutenant, Mesfin saves the innocent from military madness. Then, as project engineer for water development and construction, he protects local environments and traditions.

Mesfin is steeped in Ethiopian culture, attending the emperor's Jubilee in Palace School. Ethiopia's sun and moon are female, and women walk tall; he defers to them. His Jewish heritage inspires him, as does Abyssinian Engineer Queen Saba (Sheba). Then there is Lucy, the early hominid fossil. Her skeleton has survived intact for 3.2 million years. 'To Ethiopians, she was a symboic mother. Hers was a story of miraculous survival. So was ours.'

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780648828716
Publisher:	Yerada Lij, Australia
Publication date:	08/15/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	255
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Mesfin is an Ethiopian construction and civil engineer; nicknamed Solution Bringer, he directs water uphill. Descended from proud patriots, he is related to Emperor Haile Selassie I and warrior Belay Zelek. He will defend your rights in Ge'ez, Hebrew, Amharic, Arabic and English. After graduating from Building College in Addis Ababa, he was conscripted. Ranked lieutenant with Airborne, he visited 121 countries as Air Marshall or anti-hijacker. He then won a UNDP scholarship to study water development in Cairo. He constructed UNHCR water supplies in Kenya, the birthday-cake stadium in Wellington, New Zealand earthquake zone, and Sydney 2000 Olympic stadium.Mesfin built in 20 countries, respecting locals. In Fiji he refused to clear iTaukei makuti to make way for an airport. Volunteering as a bushfire fighter in Victoria, Australia, he saved wallabies. In Western Australia, he is a registered master builder. He is inspired by Abyssinian Engineer Queen Saba (Sheba).
Sixth-generation Australian ianet fell in love with Ethiopia 10 minutes after arriving there in 2016. The granddaughter of soldier-farmers appreciated people's honesty and resilience. A trained dancer, ianet identified steps that had crossed the Mediterranean, contributing to European stage dance. One complete dance from Northern Shewa was replicated in Spain with castanets, its source unacknowledged.She had lived in Papua New Guinea where her father taught agriculture. Aussies called local adults 'boys', and segregated children. Parents were furious when all kids-local and ex-pat-rode to school in the tray of the same utility truck, tumbling over each other in delight. ianet became a teacher and librarian, preferring settings with a fair go for all cultures. Back in Ethiopia in 2020, she and Mesfin attended school assemblies and a workshop at three secondary campuses. One had been a prince's residence. Ethiopia's writing system Fidal is now her second script.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Preface

Chapter 1 Gouder to Addis Ababa

Chapter 2 Harer

Chapter 3 Big Men

Chapter 4 Patriot

Chapter 5 Mama Teliqwa

Chapter 6 Arat Kilo

Chapter 7 Revolution

Chapter 8 Advisor

Chapter 9 Red Terror

Chapter 10 Books

Chapter 11 The Bean

Chapter 12 Heritage

Chapter 13 Calculator

Chapter 14 Forgive Me

Chapter 15 Enough

Chapter 16 Khalid

Chapter 17 Western Influenced

Chapter 18 Second Home

Chapter 19 Hagere Mariyam

Chapter 20 Market Day

Chapter 21 Departure

Postscript

Addendum

The Gold Chain

Glossary

Events

People

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

These reviews were for the 1st edition.

In 13 years, I have not read an Ethiopian book like this one. It is genuine and tells the truth fearlessly. Amazingly, this story has come to us from Australia.

For more than 4 centuries, Arabic nations and Europe have frequently been hostile towards Ethiopia. They have proven to be a unique enemy to Lucy's people. This is because they are unforgiving. Today, Europeans, Americans and Middle Easterners attack in many ways.

Recently, they have been a huge headache. For example, we have not been left in peace to build a dam on our own Blue Nile River. It starts in the middle of Ethiopia, crosses Sudan and flows to Egypt, yet they oppose our own hydroelectricity and irrigation project for agriculture.

The authors of Lucy's People: An Ethiopian Memoir reside in Australia. Because of this, they have a refreshing perspective on the treatment of Ethiopia by outsiders. Wake up world. Read this book.

___"Around the World." Review of Lucy's People: An Ethiopian Memoir, by Mesfin Tadesse & Ianet Bastyan. Justice Magazine, May 1-2, 2020. Translated by Mesfin Tadesse.

This is a gripping story, well told. ___ Sheger FM Radio 102.1, April 28, 2020. Translated by Mesfin Tadesse.

From the Publisher