When the Abyssinian settlers arrived in the region After Ras Mokennen’s conquest of the Hararghe region in the 1870s, many indigneous names were altered to fit the settler’s launguage and culture… hence Haramayaa…. became “Alem..Maya..( the English equivalent of …heavenly-world..

The settlers did not care about the native culture and names of localities… Chirroo became Asebe-Teferi, etc…

Ato Tedla would have been better informed had he explored the history of the Oromo people/farmers among whom he spent… I presume four years, to attain his “agricultural Engineering”

I am a graduate of Alemaya College from the Dept of Agricultural Engineering in 1980. On your Dec 16 article about the rare photos that is included on the coming documentary about “Haramaya University” I witness rewriting the past according to the demand of ethnic politics. Was it called then “Haramaya” or Alemaya ? When was it changed to Haramaya ? Even if the name change is forced on the institution due to political correctness of ethnic politics it should not be Incorporated in the documentary. I am a graduate of Alemaya not Haramaya. My diploma is my proof. I want you to pass this documentary to those who are in charge of the project.

Thanks,

Tedla Asfaw

Thank you for your service and sharing your fond memories of Ethiopia. For those of us who are not of that generation when we look at this type of amazing progress from the past, we wonder when did Ethiopia take the wrong turn and why? Thank you also Mel for your service, sir.

Ethiopian

“To remain ignorant of things that happened before you were born is to remain a child.” – Cicero.

I personally knew Mel Tewahade’s father, Fitawara Tewahade Woldeyasus. He was Governor of the district in which the University is located. He was very supportive of the development of the institution.

I highly commend Mel for his developing the documentary on the Point IV Program. As far as I know, there is not one like it, especially one that expresses the appreciation of those who benefited from the programs that Point IV provided.

All of us who served in the Point IV program through the Oklahoma State University benefited from getting to work with such wonderful people as the Ethiopians. Several of us have children who were born in Ethiopia and we all retain fond memories of our close relationships we established with the Ethiopian people.

Good Luck Mel.