Book Review

Birhanu Abadi & Haile Ayalineh
Agazi 1st edition Mekelle Ethiopia:
Agazi Art productions 1998 E.C. Mekelle

This new book AGAZI by Berhan Abadi and Haile Ayalneh contains a great amount of information on the people of Tigrai struggle against the Derg regime. The authors seem to have done much painstaking research to bring details to life.

This is a well-researched account in which the authors draw upon a comprehensive range of archival material and complement it with the substantive testimony of those who were either directly involved or who had close associations with those who were.

The book covers a very sad testimony was by and about Taddesse Gebre-egzabiher whom the only Tigrai ethnic civilian member of Central Committee of COPWE (Commission to Organize the Party of the Workers of Ethiopia). The book records every minute detail of the agony Taddesse and other Tigraians suffered because of their ethnicity.

Although carefully researched, I am hoping that the Authors will publish the full hand-written story by Taddesse Gebre-egzabiher.

Another comprehensive coverage of this book is the inside story of AGAZI OPERATION by TPLF commandos. 15 minutes AGAZI OPERATION at Mekelle city is a factual, and one of the most heroic rescues of modern times. This military operation was a rescue mission to free thousands of innocent and political prisoners held at Mekelle central prison.

Over all, this book commands an important place in the country’s history. I recommend this book is a must read book.

Alem T. Areki

Selam Aite Birhanu /Haile

I read Agazi and I have no words to express how I felt happy. It was my always dream. General Hayelom is the second greatest General I admire after General Alula Aba Nega. May be the best.

We have a lot of works ahead of us for these heroic people. Writing books, making movie...etc.

In the mean time I would like to suggest something if you could add:

- The bombardment of Hawzien and other towns.
- The cruelty of the monsters of Legesse Asfaw, Mengistu, Melaku Tefera and Ali Mussa.
- The drought and famine of our people of 1977 E.C.
- Some great tactics that Hayelom played, like camouflaging to meet the senior commanders of Dergue in Axum and Woldia, unless you are planning to write a book about him.
- The change, that TPLF brought to the Ethiopian people, like large farms, electrical (Tekeze ) power, road construction, and other economic infrastructures being built in the country, either by vision or practical out come to be added in the book or in the movie Scripts.

You have done a great job and it is the starting to indroduce who we are.

Congatualations !!

Abyssinian Film Production Colorado, U S A

Teklu Abraha

Peasant Revolution in Ethiopia: The Tigray People's Liberation Front, 1975-1991 (African Studies)

Almost unnoticed, in the wake of the overthrow of Emperor Haile-Selassie, the coming to power of the military, and the ongoing independence struggle in Eritrea, a band of students launched an insurrection from the northern Ethiopian province of Tigray. Calling themselves the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), they built close relations with Tigray's poverty-stricken peasants and on this basis liberated the province in 1989, and formed an ethnic-based coalition of opposition forces that assumed state power in 1991. This book chronicles that history and focuses in particular on the relationship of the revolutionaries with Ethiopia's peasants.

Cultures that We Must Preserve and Reject - By Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia
Cultures that we must preserve and Reject is a new book authored by Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia. The Institute of development and Education for Africa (IDEA) encourages readers to get hold of this important book.
To Place an Order click here...

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