The Forgotten Pioneer: Akalework Habte-Wold’s Vision for Ethiopia

A Special Report by the Ethiopian Tribune
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

In the shadow of the Entoto Hills, where morning mist still clings to eucalyptus groves, few remember the man who once dreamt of an Ethiopia where every citizen could read, where wildlife roamed protected lands, and where education knew no boundaries of faith or ethnicity. Yet fifty years after his tragic execution, the legacy of Akalework Habte-Wold continues to shape our nation in ways both profound and largely unrecognised.

The Literacy Revolutionary

Walk through any Ethiopian village today, observe a grandmother teaching her grandchild to read, and you witness the distant echo of Akalework’s most ambitious project. In 1962, when much of rural Ethiopia remained shrouded in illiteracy, this visionary minister launched what would become known as the “National Literacy Army Association” – a campaign so audacious it sought to bring reading and writing to every corner of our vast nation.

The numbers tell an extraordinary story. Across all fourteen provinces and Addis Ababa, hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians learnt to read and write through this initiative. The international community took notice – UNESCO awarded the programme its prestigious international prize, recognising an achievement that many thought impossible in a predominantly rural, traditional society.

“One who has learnt but not taught is considered to have sown but not reaped,” Akalework declared when accepting the Emperor Haile Selassie I Award for Charity on behalf of the National Literacy Army in 1967. These words, drawn from ancient Ethiopian wisdom, encapsulated his philosophy: education was not a privilege to be hoarded but a responsibility to be shared.

What made this campaign revolutionary was not just its scale, but its inclusivity. In an era when education was often the domain of the urban elite, Akalework insisted on opening “the doors of knowledge to everyone, without discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, gender, or age.” This vision of universal education would not be fully realised until decades later, yet he planted seeds that continue to grow in today’s Ethiopia.

Pioneer of Conservation

Long before environmental protection became a global priority, Akalework Habte-Wold was safeguarding Ethiopia’s natural heritage. As Minister of Agriculture from 1962 to 1966, he invited UNESCO experts to help establish the nation’s first national parks, including the now-famous Awash National Park.

His conservation foresight was remarkable. Today, Ethiopia’s protected areas cover 6.7% of the country – a legacy that traces directly to his pioneering efforts. At a time when most African nations were focussed solely on post-independence development, Akalework understood that preserving wildlife and natural ecosystems was essential for long-term prosperity.

A Voice for Africa on the World Stage

Perhaps most remarkably, Akalework became the first African to lead a major United Nations body when he served as President of the UNESCO General Assembly from 1960 to 1962. In this role, he championed resolutions linking conservation to economic development and advocated for international support of African nations’ natural resources – ideas that were ahead of their time but now form the backbone of sustainable development thinking.

The Arbegnoch Spirit

Akalework’s dedication to Ethiopia was forged in the crucible of resistance. During Italy’s occupation from 1936 to 1941, he joined the Arbegnoch – the patriotic resistance fighters who refused to accept foreign domination. This experience of fighting for Ethiopian sovereignty would shape his later commitment to national development and self-reliance.

A Man of Contradictions

Like many figures of his era, Akalework was not without controversy. His recall of Eritrean scholar Bereket Habte Selassie from overseas studies as Vice Minister of Education in the 1950s – a decision later reversed by imperial intervention – reflected the complex political tensions of the time. These contradictions make him a more human figure, one whose progressive vision existed within the constraints of an autocratic system.

Those who knew him described a man of remarkable modesty despite his high status. Like his brother Makonnen, who famously drove an old car despite controlling state finances, Akalework emphasised discipline, punctuality, and respect for labour. He was a devoted family man with five children, each of whom would continue his legacy of service to Ethiopia and Africa in their own distinguished ways.

His son Amde Akalework made his mark in the leather industry, whilst Nigussey Akalework followed his father’s agricultural interests, serving both his country and Africa in agriculture and veterinary sciences. Perhaps most creatively, Araya Akalework would revolutionise Ethiopia’s tourism industry, serving the nation in tourism, marketing, and meat export business. It was Araya who, whilst partnering with the Ethiopian Tourism Commission, coined the now-famous slogan “thirteen months of sunshine” – a phrase that has become synonymous with Ethiopian tourism and captures the country’s unique calendar and year-round appeal. Meanwhile, his daughter Tirsite Akalework carried forward the family’s tradition of international service, working as a diplomat for the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union), representing Ethiopia’s interests across the continent.

Tragic End, Enduring Impact

The revolution of 1974 swept away the imperial system that Akalework had served, and with it, his life. On 23 November 1974, at Akaki Prison, he was executed alongside his brother Aklilu and over 60 other imperial officials. The Derg era that followed sought to erase his contributions, viewing them as remnants of a discredited past.

Yet history has a way of reclaiming its forgotten pioneers. In post-1991 Ethiopia, there has been a gradual recognition of Akalework’s contributions, particularly his conservation work and educational initiatives. His vision of inclusive education resonates strongly with Ethiopia’s current emphasis on expanding access to learning. His conservation efforts laid groundwork that environmental advocates still build upon today

A Family Legacy of Service

The Habte-Wold family’s commitment to Ethiopia extended far beyond Akalework’s own achievements. The fact that all his children chose careers in service to their country and continent speaks to the values he instilled. From Nigussey’s agricultural expertise to Araya’s creative marketing genius that gave the world “thirteen months of sunshine,” and Tirsite’s diplomatic service at the heart of African unity, the family embodied the pan-African ideals their father championed.

This multi-generational dedication to public service reflects a deeper truth about Ethiopia’s development: progress often comes through families who see service not as a burden but as a calling, passing down not wealth but wisdom, not privilege but purpose.

Lessons for Modern Ethiopia

As Ethiopia grapples with contemporary challenges – from educational access to environmental protection – Akalework Habte-Wold’s legacy offers valuable insights. His National Literacy Army demonstrated that ambitious social programmes could succeed when they embraced inclusion and mobilised communities. His conservation work showed the importance of long-term thinking about natural resources. His international leadership proved that Ethiopian voices could shape global conversations.

Perhaps most importantly, his life reminds us that progress often comes from those willing to work within imperfect systems whilst maintaining a vision of something better. Akalework was a Western-educated reformer who understood that meaningful change required both international perspective and deep roots in Ethiopian values.

Standing today in Awash National Park, watching wildlife that might not exist without his conservation foresight, or hearing tourists speak of Ethiopia’s “thirteen months of sunshine” – a phrase coined by his son – we encounter the living legacy of a family whose commitment to Ethiopia transcended generations and political upheavals.

The Unfinished Vision

Akalework Habte-Wold’s story is ultimately one of possibility – proof that even in the most challenging circumstances, visionary leadership can plant seeds that bloom long after the planter is gone. His children’s diverse contributions to agriculture, tourism, and diplomacy show how his values of service and innovation continued to bear fruit across different sectors and decades.

In remembering him and celebrating his family’s ongoing contributions, we honour not just the past, but the enduring Ethiopian capacity to dream big and work tirelessly towards a better future. The man who once mobilised a “literacy army” and pioneered conservation would surely be proud to see his legacy living on through institutions he helped create and children who chose service over self-interest.

This report is part of the Ethiopian Tribune’s ongoing series examining influential but under-recognised figures in Ethiopian history.