Celebrating Professor Anbessa Tefera: A Missed National Moment
First of all, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation for the hard work and historical achievement of Professor Anbessa Tefera, which makes him not only a Sidama or Ethiopian exemplar, but a symbol of pride for all people of African descent. As someone from Sidama, I am overjoyed to see such an outstanding success in the scientific and academic sectors emerging from our community. There are indeed many Black and African-rooted professors around the world who inspire us, yet knowing that one of these exemplary figures is from Sidama fills me with a unique and profound happiness. Recently, however, I have been reflecting on how Ethiopians, as a whole, have reacted to Professor Anbessa’s achievement. I expected a wave of recognition, national pride, and celebration for his appointment as an associate professor at Tel Aviv University, the first scholar from the Ethiopian community in Israel to reach this position. Surprisingly, the reaction from Ethiopians at large has been muted. I...