Documenting, Celebrating & Passing it Forward
Oral History
Explore the rich tapestry of Ethiopian heritage through stories that connect generations and cultures.
Cultural Narratives
Delve into the stories that define Ethiopian identity and legacy.
Heritage Preservation
Learn how oral traditions are safeguarded for future generations.
The Ethiopian Oral History Project: Amplifying Untold Stories
The Ethiopian Oral History Project (EOHP) is a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to documenting, preserving, and celebrating the diverse histories and cultural heritage of Ethiopian Americans and Ethiopian Canadians. While traditional archives provide essential historical records, oral history unlocks something even more profound: the human stories behind the diaspora. Through intimate firsthand narratives, the EOHP captures the resilience, adaptation, and triumphs of Ethiopian immigrants—revealing personal struggles, cultural evolution, and generational legacies often overlooked in conventional histories.
More than just an archival effort, the EOHP is a living testament to the Ethiopian diaspora’s contributions to North America. By weaving together individual voices into a collective tapestry, this project ensures that these vital stories are not only preserved but also shared, learned from, and cherished for generations to come.
Stories
Dr. Mengistu Lemma
Dr. Mengistu Lemma was born in Fitche, Ethiopia. After completing his elementary and high school education in Ethiopia, he moved to the United States for higher education in the late 1970s. He earned his undergraduate degree in East Texas and later received his...
Dr. Erku Yimer
Dr. Erku Yimer brings extensive community organizing experience that began in Ethiopia and has continued throughout his career in the United States. He has provided effective leadership in numerous initiatives that raised significant public awareness about the plight...
Ato Kebede Gebray
Kebede Gebray served as Senior Director of the YMCA Refugee Resettlement Program, where he oversaw the resettlement of more than 25,000 refugees from over 30 countries in the Greater Houston area. He was a founding board member of the Ethiopian Community Mutual...
Ato Sheriff Mohamed
Sheriff Mohamed was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the eldest son of Fatuma Rahmeto and Mohammed Hassen Worqicho. From an early age, he was shaped by his father’s example of hard work and entrepreneurship and his mother’s generosity and compassion. He began his...
W/ro Menkeli Kanna
W/ro Menkeli was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 1972, she traveled to the United States to pursue her college education, fully intending to return home after graduation. However, the outbreak of the Ethiopian Revolution in 1974 dramatically altered her...
Ato Haile Teferra
Ato Haile Teferra was born in Tita, near Dessie in Wello, Ethiopia, into a family with strong cultural and spiritual roots. His father was a priest from Ambasel, Wello, and his mother was from Borumeda near Dessie. He grew up with four sisters and five brothers;...
Dr. Tsehaye Teferra
About Dr. TsehayeDr. Tsehaye Teferra is a native of Ethiopia who received his undergraduate degree from Haile Selassie I University in Addis Ababa. Early in his career, he served as a cross-cultural instructor in the Peace Corps’ in-country training program and taught...
Ato Shimelis Amare
About ShimelisShimelis Amare came to the United States in 1978 at the age of 21. He earned a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and holds a Professional Engineering License (PE) from the State of California. In 1988, he joined the California Department of...
Ato Abera Sisay
About Ato AberaAto Abera Sisay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Robert Morris University. He is a founding member of the Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago (ECAC) and has served the organization in numerous leadership capacities, including...
Ato Bellete Wolde-Yohannes
About BelleteBellete Wolde-Yohannes completed his early education at Catholic Nativity Boys School (Cathedral) and Teferi Mekonnen High School in Addis Ababa. In June 1969, he came to the United States on an American Field Service scholarship, spending his student...