Nega Mezlekia facts for kids
Nega Mezlekia (Amharic: ነጋ መዝለቂያ; born 1958) is a writer from Ethiopia who writes in English. His first language is Amharic. However, since the 1980s, he has lived in Canada. This is why he speaks and writes in English.
Early Life and Moving to Canada
Nega Mezlekia was born in Jijiga, Ethiopia, in 1958. He was the oldest son in his family. His father worked for the government at that time.
When Nega was young, there was a big change in Ethiopia. The old government was replaced by a new one. Nega first supported this change. But he soon became unhappy with the new government led by Mengistu Haile Mariam.
As a teenager, Nega decided to join groups that were against the government. He wanted to help bring about a different future for his country.
In 1983, Nega received a scholarship to study engineering. He left his job at Haramaya University in Ethiopia. He went to Wageningen University in the Netherlands. After two years, it was still not safe for him to go back home. So, he moved to Canada instead. Nega Mezlekia has not returned to Ethiopia since then.
His Books
Nega Mezlekia has written several books. His first book is called Notes from the Hyena's Belly. It was published in 2000. This book tells the story of his own life. It won a special prize called the Governor General's Award for English language non-fiction in the same year. This award is one of Canada's most important literary prizes.
After that, he wrote a novel titled The God Who Begat a Jackal. This book is based on an old Ethiopian myth.
In 2006, his third book came out. It is called The Unfortunate Marriage of Azeb Yitades. This story takes place in a small village in eastern Ethiopia. It describes how the village tries to keep its old ways and culture. This happens as the modern world starts to change things around them. The book was also recognized as a top book for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize in 2007.
See also
In Spanish: Nega Mezlekia para niños
