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This page is dedicated to my mother Emahoy Gete-nesh Wolde Meskel

Emahoy Gete-nesh Wolde Meskel

1902-1980

Emahoy Gete-nesh Wold Meskel was born in 1902 from my Grandmother Emahoy Minilshewa Manaye and Ato Wolde Meskel Chekol. She was their third child to my Grand parents. Their children were Gete-nesh Tesema, Askale Beshah, Desta Wolde Meskel, Fitawrari Asamenew Wolde Meskel and Balamberas Mamo Wolde Meskel. Her name was changed from Desta to Gete-nesh after the death of her sister Gete-nesh Tesema. Her Grandfather Kentiba Manaye was the Lord Mayor of Ankober during the reign of Emperor Teodros and later served as government official during the reign of Menelik II. Her father Ato Wolde Meskel Chekol Left for Rome, Italy when he was a young boy of 18 with  Ato Nekere. At about the age of 30 they both returned to Ethiopia and Married the daughters of Kentiba Manaye. Ato Wolde Meskel was married to Minilshewa while Nekere was married to Tewabech Manaye. Tewabech Manaye was the Grandmother of Professor Ashenafi Kebede the famous ethnomusicologist who died in 1998 in Tallahassee Florida.

Gete-nesh Wolde Meskel had no child of her own. She asked her brother Fitawrari Asamenew Wolde Meskel to give her one of his son to adopt him as her own son. Her brother Asamenew Wolde Meskel was married to W/ro Ayelech Habte Mariam and they had eight children. Their first son was Colonel Asefa Asamenew, followed by Atrshe Asamenew, Zewde Asamenew, Girma Asamenew. It was after the birth of Girma Asamenew that Gete-nesh asked her brother  saying that if the next child is a boy that he will be her son. Unfortunately the next child was a female Tsedale Asamenew and she could not take her. Within the next two years his wife was pregnant and delivered a son on Saturday February 26, 1938. That child was me. Gete-nesh Wolde Meskel my aunt  took me as her adopted son on the day of my baptism which is 40 days after my birth and became my mother. After that Getachew and Tasew Asamenew were born to my biological parents.

I was brought up by her as  true loving mother. In fact my father died when I was only four year old and I have no memory of him at all as I was not living with him. Thus, she was not only a mother to me but also a father, in educating me and caring for my well being. She was the most kind women that I know. She was a true Orthodox Tewahdo Christian believer. When she was about 65 years of age she decided to be a nun as her mother. My wife and I made the necessary arrangements at Debre Libanos Tekle Haimanot Monastery where she was made a nun and became Emahoy Gete-nesh Wolde Meskel.  My wife and I had her blessings until her last days and she died on May 10, 1980 and buried at Sebeta Gebriel Church.

My God rest her soul in peace.