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 cannot help but think that if Professor Anbessa were from other major Ethiopian ethnic groups—such as Amhara, Oromo, or Tigray—there might have been louder voices, more publicity, and more collective celebration. Sadly, because he is not from those communities, this monumental achievement has not received the attention it deserves.

This is not a minor accomplishment. Professor Anbessa’s work goes far beyond personal success—it is an intellectual “Adwa” in the field of education, especially in Israel. In the Department of Hebrew Language and Semitic Linguistics at Tel Aviv University, he leads courses in Ge’ez and Amharic, the only such courses available in Israeli academia. Through these, he preserves and promotes the languages of the Ethiopian heritage. He also teaches about Ethiopia’s linguistic, cultural, and social fabric, as well as the interactions between Hebrew and Amharic.

Moreover, he plays a central role in the “Orit Guardians” program, which aims to study, preserve, and continue the biblical heritage of Ethiopian Jewry. Recently, this program discovered 15th-century Ethiopian Jewish holy manuscripts—the oldest found to date. Such work is invaluable not only for Ethiopian history but also for global cultural heritage.

Professor Anbessa’s appointment has been celebrated in Israel as both a personal and communal triumph. Professor Gali Cinamon, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, praised his excellence as a scholar and his commitment to social responsibility, saying his work strengthens both science and knowledge about Ethiopian culture. Professor Anbessa himself has expressed deep pride in his appointment and emphasized the importance of integrating the Ethiopian community into academia.

And yet, in Ethiopia, this achievement has passed largely unnoticed. This silence is troubling. When one of our own reaches a groundbreaking milestone—especially in preserving and advancing Ethiopian languages, culture, and heritage—it should unite us in pride, regardless of ethnic background. Failing to celebrate such accomplishments diminishes our collective identity and undermines the very values we claim to uphold.

For me, Professor Anbessa’s success is a victory for all Ethiopians and for Black people worldwide, at least from an Israeli academic perspective. It is living proof that excellence knows no tribal boundaries. If Ethiopia truly wishes to honor its intellectual heroes, it must celebrate them equally, not selectively. Ignoring such moments is not only sad—it is a missed opportunity to inspire future generations.

To Professor Anbessa Tefera: you have made history once again. Your achievement belongs not only to Sidama, not only to Ethiopia, but to the entire Black community. For that, I am deeply proud of you.