Kawo Tona Gaga

Kawo Tona Gaga was the last and most powerful king of the Kingdom of Wolaita. Tona Gaga was the 17th Kawo, or king, of the Tigre dynasty, the last independent dynasty of the Wolayta people. Upon succeeding his grandfather in 1890 he quickly built ties with the Kingdom of Jimma, a tributary of the Ethiopian Empire, marrying the daughter of Abba Jifar II. However, he refused to pay tribute to Shewa He then tried to draw the smaller Omotic Kullo and Konta into his orbit as client states, however, Menelik's cousin Wolde Gyorgis successfully campaigned through both. Emperor Menelik II reached the border of Wolaita after a 2 weeks march from Addis Abeba, calling on the king to pay tribute and avoid the destruction of his kingdom. Tona prepared his fortifications and refused negotiation. Expertly dug defensive trenches and mounds crippled the initial assault, but Tona Gaga was eventually pushed out of his strongpoint and caught between the Ethiopians and Oromo auxiliaries sent by Abba Jifar II, who had betrayed Tona Gaga. After his capture in 1894, the ex-king was baptized as Tekle Haymanot and made the governor of his previous dominion. He would later assist Menelik II in multiple campaigns.

Hirut Woldemariam

Hirut Woldemariam is an Ethiopian writer, teacher, politician and former minister of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Ethiopia), Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. She was the first female Vice president of

Yonatan Aklilu

Yonatan Aklilu is an Ethiopian motivator, teacher, and Gospel preacher. Yonatan is known for his project called Melkam Wetat. On 6 September 2020, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner Prime minister Abiy Ahmed surprised Yonatan, for his contribution to the

Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (Ethiopia)

Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is a ministry of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia since 1957. Its name changed time to time following the systems of ruling government. Until the ministry got its current name in 1977, it has a name called

Mount Damota

Mount Damota or Mount Damot is the highest peak in Wolayita, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia with altitude of nearly 2,750 meters (9,020 ft) above the sea level. Mt. Damota area is found in Wolaita Zone between Damot Gale

Hailemariam and Roman Foundation

The Hailemariam and Roman Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The foundation was established in April 2018 by former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and former First Lady Roman Tesfaye. The foundation's

Hirut Kassaw

Hirut Kassaw is a teacher and Ethiopian politician who is leading the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia since October 2018. Before being Minister, Hirut served as assistant professor at Bahir Dar University. The ministry that she leads has

Ergoge Tesfaye

Ergoge Tesfaye is an Ethiopian politician who is the current Ministry of Women and Social Affairs. She previously severed as the Ministry of Labour and Skills Development from October 2018 -6 October 2021

Samuel Urkato

Samuel Urkato Kurke is an Ethiopian politician and Cabinet minister since October 2018. He was president of Wolaita Sodo University before becoming Minister of Mines and Petroleum and has been Minister of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) since August

Fitsum Assefa

Fitsum Assefa Adela is an Ethiopian teacher and politician who leads the FDRE Minister of Planning and Development since 16 October 2018. Fitsum also has been a member of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia's Board of directors since 24 December 2018. She earned

Margaret Leshikar-Denton

Margaret E. "Peggy" Leshikar-Denton is an archaeologist specialising in underwater archaeology, and director of the Cayman Islands National Museum