Tekle Hawariat Tekle Mariyam
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Tekle Hawariat Tekle Mariyam (born 1881) was an Ethiopian politician and intellectual of the Japanizer school of thought. He was the primary author of Ethiopia's July 16, 1931 constitution, which was influenced by the Meiji Constitution.
Tekle Hawariat was one of the early generation of Ethiopians sent abroad for his education; he studied artillery at the Saint Petersburg military school, achieving the rank of colonel. He was befriended by a number of prominent Russian liberals of the day, including Princess Volkonsky, daughter of the famous Decembrist revolutionary Sergei Volkonsky, and spent altogether 17 years in Russia.[1] Once he returned to Ethiopia, however, Tekle Hawariat became famous as provincial governor, agronomist, and for his part in writing Ethiopia's first constitution.[2] Tekle Hawariat was an important government official during the reign of Iyasu V, although he played a part in Iyasu's depostion of 27 September 1916. Despite his support for the new ruler, Empress Zauditu, during her reign he wrote and produced a play, "Fabula: Yawreoch Commedia", which used animal characters to criticize the corruption and backwardness of the Ethiopian court. As a result the Empress banned all further theatre in Ethiopia, an order that was later lifted by Emperor Haile Selassie in 1930.[3]
Under the patronage of Haile Selassie, Tekle Hawariat performed a number of diplomatic duties. He was part of the group who accompanied Haile Selasie to Europe in 1924, and afterwards served as his country's Minister to France. He also represented Ethiopia at the League of Nations for many years, most notably at the session where the exiled monarch presented his speech following the Italian Conquest.
During the Italian occupation, Tekle Hawariat resided in Aden, although in September 1937 he sought to resettle in Kenya. The colonial government refused his request, concerned that if he resided there, he could encourage unrest against the Italians.[4]
Paul Henze credits Tekle Hawariat with introducing to Haile Selassie to the three Habtewold brothers -- Mekonnen Habte-Wold, Aklilu Habte-Wold, and Akalework Habte-Wold -- who became prominent in Ethiopian political life.[5]
Name: Tekle Hawariat's play, "Fabula," creates ban on dramatic performances in Ethiopia
Date: 1900 - 1925
Location: Africa
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Theatre
| Artist: Tekle Hawariat Confronting Bodies: Zauditu, the empress of Ethiopia Date of Action: 1916 Specific Location: Ethiopia Description of Artwork: "Fabula: Yawreoch Commedia" is a play that uses animal characters to express Hawariat's criticisms of the corruption and backwardness of the court. Having lived in Europe, Hawarait expresses his distaste for Ethiopian culture and the ruling class in comparison to what he had seen. However, these criticisms are not very deeply buried within the performance.
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