Azeb Worku – The Best Ethiopian Female Author All The Time !
Early Life and Education
Azeb Worku was born in the French Legation district of Addis Ababa in 1973 and attended Miyazia Haya-Sost and Atse Naod Schools. She graduated from Kefitegna Asra Hulet Atekalay Secondary School. Later, She enrolled in the evening program at Addis Ababa University’s Amharic Literature sility department. ward women She is a producer, playwright, translator, director, actor, journalist, teacher, CEO of Arts TV, wife, and mother of two children, ages 16 and 12.
Her interest in literature dates back to my childhood. she’d always wanted to be a journalist or an artist, and everyone assumed she’d be one or the other. She like performing and was quite good at impersonating others. One of her favorite pastimes was reading newspapers aloud.
As a bookworm, She would approach everyone holding one and urge them to give it to her. She recall borrowing a large volume fiction book from a neighbor who instructed her to return it the same day. She fainted from reading it without a break, even without eating. When She came to, the first thing She questioned was if the book had been wet and destroyed.
Her parents became enraged as a result of my book fixation. She even read on the bus and in the cab, which was unusual at the time. Nobody had ever bought to her books at home. As a 12th student, She submitted a letter to an Ethiopian radio station asking for guidance on how to pursue her vocation, but She received no answer.
Her sister informed her one day that she spotted a poster put at a bus stop in Amist Kilo, adjacent to AAU’s technology faculty. The Culture and Tourism Bureau provided a brief acting training. She took the exam without her parents’ permission.
when she was supposed to go to church, Three hundred people applied for just 70 available slots. What surprised her the most was that She passed the exam despite having little to no exposure to the arts. Her involvement in theater took up so much of my time that she had to discontinue attending university.
When her parents found out what she had done, they were furious. Her father was so depressed that he did not talk to her for several years. He felt ashamed of her since being an artist was frowned upon at the time.
Aside from imparting information, the program assisted her in establishing a network. She was able to perform on large stages, radio and television plays, and movies in a relatively short period of time. She joined Aflegnawing, a theatrical group that tours the countryside and schools of Addis Ababa. It was an educational theater about HIV and youth concerns, among other things, but it kept her away from more major venues, such as the National Theater.
Some Challenges With Her Carrier Path
The theatrical business was controlled by men at the time. There were no female role models in the fields of playwriting and directing. The authors and directors, as well as the primary characters, were all men. We only knew one woman, Alemtsehay Wedajo.
They submitted the script to a senior artist for comments after writing it with many ups and downs. They became concerned when he took so long to react. His remark was so discouraging, callous, and heartbreaking that none of us considered it for years. Later, she learned that all it required to be a writer was ideas and a grasp of the craft.
The Aflegnaw theatrical group disbanded, and members were forced to work in other theaters. Some quit performing, and her career was in jeopardy. Meanwhile, She married a Frenchman who worked as a teacher at the Lycée Guebre-Mariam School. In 2006, with her husband’s support, She translated a French drama called “Eight Women” into Amharic. Because of her previous heartbreaking experience, She kept her work private save to a few supportive friends. Alliance Ethio-Française and Lycée Gebre Mariam School provided them with a rehearsal space, and it was performed in the Ethiopian National Theater to acclaim.
In the history of the national theater, “Eight Women” was the first play with an all-female cast. she produced and directed it. It was such a national success that no one believed it was feasible without the involvement of males.
she was determined to refute the idea that women can’t work together. The playwww. became so successful that it lasted for two years. It was also on tour throughout the provinces, colleges, and military bases. The success of her initial play boosted her confidence
People began to believe that she could perform translating, directing, acting, and casting. Having confidence and letting go of the fear of making errors were crucial to progressing and advancing in her work, which opened numerous doors, including prestigious training opportunities throughout the world.
Her Own Work's Makings
In 2009, She co-wrote and co-directed a successful play with Tewodros Legesse that was shown in Ethiopia and the United States of America, with performers from both countries. “Yemistyaleh,” a French stage drama (piège pour un homme seul) that she translated into Amharic in 2011, was released as a book in 2012. It was available for purchase on DVD and online.
This was Ethiopia’s first DVD release of a theatre production. The next step was to write TV drama scripts, rejecting the conventional wisdom that doing so was dangerous. She created the final 20 episodes of the popular TV series “Gemena 2” in 2013.
Dana Drama
Gemena Drama
Gemena Drama
In 2014, She authored the TV drama screenplay for “Dana,” which aired for three years. In 2015, She was the creative director of the Crossing Boundaries Performing Arts Festival and developed and produced a feature script called “Condominiyemu.” Being aware of the hurdles that women face in any field, particularly the arts, She co-hosted a popular radio show, “Yederaw Chewata,” with Dereje Haile from 2016 to 2018, challenging the assumption that a woman must remain in the shadows. she I also utilized the opportunity to show her strength.
women to the general public, create awareness about gender issues such as violence against women, and so forth. She is a theater teacher at Lycée Guebre-Mariam School. her most recent works include: translating “Le Berger devenue chirurgien” as “Eregnaw Hakim,” directing Cyrano de Bergerac in 2018, portraying a darker complexion as the main character; receiving a grant from the US embassy for the script “Bitihones,” which also won a short-movie award; winning best female actress at the 7th Ethiopian Film Festival; and receiving the France order of arts and letters.
women to the general public, create awareness about gender issues such as violence against women, and so forth. She is a theater teacher at Lycée Guebre-Mariam School. her most recent works include: translating “Le Berger devenue chirurgien” as “Eregnaw Hakim,” directing Cyrano de Bergerac in 2018, portraying a darker complexion as the main character; receiving a grant from the US embassy for the script “Bitihones,” which also won a short-movie award; winning best female actress at the 7th Ethiopian Film Festival; and receiving the France order of arts and letters.
“I WANT TO SEE CHANGE IN MY COUNTRY AND I LONG TO SEE ETHIOPIA A PLACE WHERE THERE IS JUSTICE AND SENSITIVITY TO WOMEN JUST AS THERE IS TO ETHNICITY”.
Azeb Worku
producer, director, actor and journalist
“Eregnaye” a TV series drama developed last year with two other female professionals, will premiere on ARTS TV in November 2019. she welcome young ladies into her network because she understand the obstacles that women and novices encounter that males do not. When pursuing possibilities to enhance their careers in the sector, they are approached for sexual favors. she encourage young women to have a desire and a purpose in life, and to follow their dreams. It necessitates ambition and hard effort. If we want to make a difference in life, we cannot afford to postpone.
What will they have to say about Azeb?
Azeb is acknowledged by colleagues and friends as a one-of-a-kind individual who masterfully combines business and personal life. She is a lady with a strong work ethic and devotion that many people admire. Azeb is open, inclusive, and approachable, as well as pleasant and dependable. As a collaborator, she is unusually modest, in contrast to many other artists with large egos. She has the ability to put you at ease.
Azeb is a feminist and activist who fights for women’s equality in society. With humor and elegance, she advocates true female leadership. Nobody in the media has worked as hard as she has to effect systemic change in difficult situations. women’s stereotypes Azeb is a stand-alone institution.
" THE AUDACIOUS PLAYWRIGHT WISH TO SEE CHANGE IN MY COUNTRY AND I LONG TO HAVE A COUNTRY WHERE THERE IS JUSTICE AND SENSITIVITY TOWARD WOMEN JUST AS WE NEED TOLERANCE WITH ETHNICITY. "
Azeb Worku
producer, director, actor and journalist
Achievements
- Semintu Setoch (The Nine Women) was staged at The National Theatre (2007). This show created Ethiopian theatrical history by casting all women in a male-dominated sector.
- Piège Pour un Homme Seul, a French theatrical drama, was translated into Amharic and published as a book (2011). The play was later offered online and on DVD, becoming Ethiopia’s first stage production to be released on DVD.
- “Condominiyemu” is a film script that I wrote and produced (2015).
- Crossing Boundaries Performing Arts Festival’s artistic director (2015).
- AWIB Women of Excellence Award nominee (2019)
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