“The Lonely Man”, Abera Jembere’s biography of Tefera-Work Kidanewold presents an insightful narrative of a man whose life was interwoven with the political and diplomatic affairs of Ethiopia in the 20th century. The short book of 108 page and 20 chapters written in Amharic is the product of the author’s decades-long friendship with Tefera-Work. It also draws from detailed notes he took during extended conversations they had while both were imprisoned without charge by the military junta (Derg) in the mid-to-late 1970s. This close relationship adds depth and authenticity to the portrayal of Tefera-Work’s character and career.
As a trusted confidant of Emperor Haile Selassie, Tefera-Work Kidanewold served as his Tsehafi-Tizaz (“Minister of the Pen”). His duties included managing the Emperor’s correspondence, overseeing his public image, and handling official documentation. He also acted as chief of protocol, keeper of the Imperial seal, and custodian of the court’s official records. A role that demanded precision, diplomatic finesse, and strong dedication to national interests. And as part of these responsibilities, Tefera-Work often conducted sensitive back-channel negotiations with foreign representatives, especially the British. His meticulous nature, repeatedly emphasized in the biography, ensured that imperial directives were executed with precision and discretion.
This book not only chronicles the life, the career and tragic end of an individual but also offers a broader historical account of Ethiopia during a time of political turbulence, the 1936 Italian invasion, and shifting global alliances.
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Tefera-Work was born in 1906 (Gregorian Calendar) in Addis Ababa to merchant parents. He was the youngest child of Kidanewold Bisewer, and his mother, Dejitnu Garedew, who came from ‘Tera’ a subdistrict of Tegulet and Bulga in the Shoa region. He was especially fond of his older brother, Asfaw Kidane-Wold.
Tefera-Work was baptized at the Arada Giorgis Orthodox Church, where he also received a traditional Coptic orthodox education. He showed an early talent for languages, which was further nurtured through education in a Swedish missionary school. Under the guidance of Karl Cederqvist (Pastor), he developed a strong command of English, which led to his employment at the British embassy in Addis Ababa.
Tefera-work’s skill soon attracted the attention of Crown Prince Teferi Mekonnen (later Emperor Haile Selassie I), who was impressed by a British embassy communiqué he had written in clear English and elegantly translated into Amharic. The Crown Prince reportedly asked why such a talented Ethiopian was working for a foreign mission instead of serving his own country.
However, he was advised against pursuing the idea, as it would strain relations with the British mission at a politically sensitive time.
A Prisoner of Conscience: Tefera-Work’s Prison Ordeal and the British Lifeline
One of the most compelling sections of the book recounts Tefera-Work Kidanewold’s ordeal during the Italian occupation. He was arrested in Addis Ababa after the 1937 attempt on the colonial ruler General Graziani’s life by young Ethiopian patriots. He endured prolonged solitary confinement and harsh interrogations. Italian officials tried repeatedly to coerce him to sign a document blaming the British embassy for instigating the attack. His refusal, seen as an act of defiance, led to his deportation to prison at Italy’s Asinara island. At the time, Italy was gravitating toward an alliance with Nazi Germany under Hitler and appeared to be gathering justifications for its alignment with the Axis powers. After spending time in Asinara, he was transferred to the internment camp for Ethiopian deportees in Longobucco, a town in the Calabria region of southern Italy.
The British Foreign Office, which was still influential since Italy had not yet officially joined the German Axis, intervened on his behalf. Citing his previous affiliation with the British legation in Addis Ababa, they pressured the Italian authorities to release him. As a result, Tefera-Work was placed on a commercial ship bound for England, his destination of choice. In Britain, Tefera- Work met Emperor Haile Selassie, who was in exile there at the time and briefed him on the conditions of Ethiopian political prisoners in Italy and on the state of Ethiopia under occupation. He subsequently earned a living by working for an organization that supported Ethiopian political refugees in Great Britain.
The Weight of Responsibility
After Fascist Italy joined the Nazi Axis, the British acquiesced to the pleas of Ethiopian patriots and agreed to directly support their struggle. During the long months of military and logistical preparations in Sudan, Tefera-Work attended all the key meetings between Emperor Haile Selassie and British military leaders. These meetings preceded the campaign to liberate Ethiopia from Italian occupation. In these early stages, he also played a crucial role in countering British attempts to create a wedge between the returning monarch and Ethiopian resistance fighters active in Ethiopia proper. Later, he accompanied the Emperor during the military campaign and the arduous trek back to Addis Ababa.
After the liberation of Ethiopia in early 1941 and the Emperor’s restoration to the throne, Tefera- Work rose rapidly within the imperial government, eventually becoming Tsehafi-Tizaz. He was deeply involved in resisting British efforts to interfere in Ethiopia’s post-liberation governance. He engaged in delicate negotiations to push back against British ambitions to control internal affairs, act as a colonial power, and claim authority over so-called “reserved areas”, particularly the Ogaden area, which they believed held valuable mineral resources.
The book underscores the depth of Tefera-Work’s influence and the magnitude of his workload. His daily work far exceeded the regular work hours of other government employees, often including weekends and public holidays.
Tefera-Work’s decades-long career left a lasting imprint on Ethiopia’s domestic and international affairs. He oversaw several key institutions established through foreign collaboration, including the Ethiopian Air Force (with Swedish support), the Haile Selassie Bete- Saida Hospital (also with Swedish medical assistance), and the Harar Military Academy (with Indian military aid). He attended the 1946 Paris Peace Conference as part of the Ethiopian delegation, where war reparations from Italy to Ethiopia were among the key topics discussed. In the years following the Paris Peace Conference and once the war reparation funds were in Ethiopia’s hands, he played a key role in overseeing the contracting and construction of the Koka Hydroelectric Dam, as well as in the establishment of the Bahr Dar Textile Factory (both funded through Italy’s war reparations to Ethiopia).
A Life Cut Short
Despite decades of loyal service to his country, Tefera-Work’s life met a tragic end. After the 1974 revolution, he was imprisoned by the Derg, the military junta that overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie. In 1978, while still in prison, he was brutally strangled to death. It was a grim conclusion for a man who had quietly shaped the nation’s path. Abera does not shy away from condemning the injustice of this fate, highlighting the cruel irony of a life spent in unwavering service ending with such brutality.
Comments about the book
Perhaps a more fitting translation of the book’s title might be “The Silent Operator” to highlight Tefera-Work Kidanewold’s key role and quiet execution of duties that profoundly shaped Ethiopia’s future. He avoided seeking attention yet carried immense responsibility. The author’s close association with Tefera-Work lends an intimate perspective to his life. It offers however a limited account of Tefera-Work’s role in his later years in government, perhaps reflecting the challenges of documenting a period marked by his imprisonment and his discretion regarding sensitive matters. Additionally, there are a few very minor factual oversights. For example, Minassie Haile is mentioned as Ethiopia’s ambassador to the United States in 1961, whereas the post was held at the time by Lig Michael Imru, followed shortly thereafter by Berhanu Dinka.
Conclusion
Tefera-Work, “The Lonely Man”, held enormous responsibility and shaped key decisions in Ethiopia’s modern history. His role rarely brought him into the public eye. He stayed out of the palace power struggles and quietly carried out his duties with discipline and loyalty. He was one of those exceptional figures who served with integrity, avoiding the spotlight but leaving a legacy that lasts to this day. “The Lonely Man” is an essential reading for anyone seeking to understand Ethiopia’s diplomacy, resilience, and the personal sacrifices made by its unsung public servants. A man of his caliber deserved not an assassination, but a public recognition for his unwavering courage, including his refusal to sign a false testimony while imprisoned by the Italians, and for a lifetime of dedicated service to his country.
