Veteran Ethiopian Artist Debebe Eshetu Passes Away











Ethiopia is mourning the passing of Debebe Eshetu, affectionately known as Gash Debe, one of the country’s most respected and influential cultural icons. He died after undergoing treatment in various hospitals, leaving behind a rich legacy that spans theater, film, radio, television, literature, and political life.

A Life in the Arts

Debebe Eshetu’s artistic career began with his stage debut in Mengistu Lemma’s “Yalacha Gabicha” (ያላቻ ጋብቻ / Marriage of Unequals), followed by appearances in English-language plays such as “The Game of Chess” (ዘ ጌም ኦፍ ቼዝ) and “Waiting for Godot” (ዌቲንግ ፎር ጎዶት). From the outset, he demonstrated both versatility and depth, seamlessly moving between Ethiopian classics and Western works.

Stage Contributions

At the National Theatre, Haile Selassie I Theatre, and Beherawi Theatre, Debebe acted in and directed dozens of productions, including:

“Romeo and Juliet” (ሮሚዮ እና ጁሊዬት)

“Othello” (ኦቴሎ) – as both actor and director

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (የበጋ ሌሊት ራዕይ)

“King Lear” (ኪንግ ሊር)

“Nathan the Wise” (ናትናኤል ጠቢቡ)

“The Questioner” (ጠያቂ) – as producer

“The Circle of Kings” (የአዘውንቶች ክበብ) – as producer

Beyond performance, he taught generations of young actors, translating Stanislavsky’s Actor’s Tale into Amharic for training purposes, and shaping the country’s theatre curriculum.

International Film and Media Work

Debebe gained international recognition through films such as:

“The Sailor from Gibraltar” (ዘ ሴይለር ፍሮም ጂብራልታር)

“Shaft in Africa” (ሻፍት ኢን አፍሪካ)

“Guma” (ጉማ)

“The African Spy” (ዚ አፍሪካን ስፓይ)

“Zelda” (ዜልዳ)

“Afrika” (አፍሪካ)

“The Grave Digger” (ዘ ግሬቭ ዲገር)

“The Great Rebellion” (ዘ ግሬት ሪቤሊየን)

He was among the few Ethiopian actors of his generation to bridge both local cinema and global productions, making him a household name far beyond Ethiopia.

Translator, Writer, and Teacher

As a translator, Debebe brought important works into Amharic, including:

The Unsick Patient (ያልታመመ ታካሚ)

The Flood (ጥቁር አፈር)

David Woldegiorgis’s Tears of Blood (የደም እንባ)

As an author, he penned The Test of My Faith (የእምነቴ ፈተና), reflecting his personal journey and worldview.

He was also instrumental in developing “Theatre for Development and Growth”, a method that combined performance with social education. Debebe conducted workshops across Africa, Europe, and the Americas, and was recognized as one of only five African pioneers of this approach.

Continental & Global Leadership

Debebe’s influence went beyond Ethiopia:

UNESCO & ITI (International Theatre Institute): Represented Africa in the 1985 Berlin Conference.

Founding President: African Theatre Professionals Association (served 12 years).

Editorial Board Member: World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre.

Workshop Leader: Taught in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Congo-Brazzaville, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nigeria, Brazil, Ireland, Cuba, Canada, the U.S., and Europe.

His advocacy emphasized Africa’s cultural resilience, arguing that despite colonial exploitation, African traditions remained undefeated.

Political Engagement and Imprisonment

In the 1990s and 2000s, Debebe took his leadership beyond the stage into national politics.

He joined the Kestedemena Party in 1995 and later played a key role in the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD).

Serving as a council member and public relations officer, his radio and TV programs became instrumental in mobilizing voters.

For this, he was imprisoned twice, spending nearly three years behind bars alongside other opposition leaders.

His resilience made him not only an artist but also a symbol of democratic struggle.

Honors and Recognition

Atlanta, Georgia (USA): November 24 was officially declared Debebe Day in recognition of his international contributions.

Despite never receiving a national award in Ethiopia, his global honors affirm his stature as one of Africa’s most distinguished theatre figures.

Personal Life

Debebe is survived by his wife Almaz Dejene, four children, and six grandchildren. Known for his humor, humility, and humanity, he was as beloved in private life as he was on stage.

Legacy

Debebe Eshetu’s name—“Gash Debe”—has become synonymous with Ethiopian theatre itself. His works, translations, teaching, and activism carved out a path that generations of actors and audiences continue to follow.

For more than 40 years, he embodied the power of art to entertain, educate, and inspire, leaving Ethiopia and the world a profound cultural inheritance.