Day 24 of 28 – Black History Month – Nega Mezlekia

By: Jacqueline McKay

Nega Mezlekia (1958 -)

http://www.pw.org/content/out_ethiopia
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/481005.Notes_from_the_Hyena_s_Belly

Nega Mezlekia was born in Ethiopia, and grew up in the 70’s and 80’s during turbulent times in that country’s history. Notes From the Hyenas’s Belly is his memoir surrounding his childhood and coming of age during that time. Mezlekia writes with great humor and dignity while discussing topics many of us will never experience or even fathom, yet his childhood reminds us of the innocence of ours. The cultural, social and political issues that are woven into this book are shared with a friendly hand, and it is hard to stop reading until you get to the end.

Nega Mezlekia triumphs first as a boy and again as an author. Read up on him to find out the controversy of being a foreigner and author.

I recommend Notes from the Hyena’s Belly and The God who Begat a Jackal by Nega Mezlekia.

Photo: http://www.worldpress.org/images/0302nega.jpg