Haile Fida’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Intro Ethiopian politician
Is Politician 
From Ethiopia 
Type Politics 
Gender male

Haile Fida (1939?-1979) was an Ethiopian politician and a leader of the All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement (popularly known as “MEISON”, after its Amharic abbreviation). His most significant accomplishment was drafting the Program for the National Democratic Revolution on behalf of the Derg.

Life

Haile Fida was born in Jimma Arjo, Wollega and grew up in Nekemte, Wollega. Haile Fida was an Oromo who had been studying in France since the early 1960s, and had acquired a Marxist ideology that was closer to the Soviet version than to the New Left; Rene LaFort states that he was a fellow-traveller of the French Communist Party. He returned to Ethiopia soon after the start of the Ethiopian Revolution, sometime in 1975, having answered the Derg’s appeal for all educated Ethiopians to return home to help modernize the country. With Negede Gobeze, who had also been studying abroad in France, he opened the “Progressive Book Store” near the campus of Haile Selassie University (now Addis Ababa University), which made the basic texts of Marxism-Leninism available to Ethiopians. “The store”, note the Ottaways, “a dilapidated old house, was swamped by students, and each new shipment of books was immediately sold out.”

He soon came to the notice of not only the Derg, who were in need of both civilian supporters and advisers in Marxist-Leninist theory, as well as to the notice of its leading member, Mengistu Haile Mariam. In December 1975, the Derg secretly created what became known as the Provisional Office for Mass Organizational Affairs (POMOA), and Haile Fida was made its chairman. The goal of POMOA was not only to build support amongst the general public, but to reach out to other leftist civilians. It was while chairman of POMOA that Haile Fida drafted the Program of National Democratic Revolution, a document which replaced the patriotic but vague motto Itiopiya Tikdem (“Ethiopia first”) the Derg had used as their guiding principles with a Maoist vision for Ethiopia. Relying on the revolutionary alliance of the proletariat, the peasantry and the progressive petit-bourgeoisie, the trinity of feudalism, imperialism and bureaucratic capitalism would be destroyed and eventually a People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia established. Mengistu announced the adoption of the National Democratic Revolution at a mass demonstration 20 April 1976.

However, the POMOA failed to connect with the civilian opposition. Along with disaffected zamecha members who had abandoned their assigned tasks in the countryside and found their way back home, the opposition had come to support the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP), greatly increasing its numbers and influence. While MEISON supported the Derg, the EPRP attacked the Derg, accusing them of having crushed the popular movement which had been ruthlessly crushed by military intervention; the only correct socialist line was to continue the struggle for a true people’s government against the repressive Derg.

Despite their bitter disagreement over what role the Derg should play in controlling the Ethiopia Revolution, both the MEISON and EPRP “published strikingly similar programs”. According to the Ottaways, who were witnesses to this debate, “most Ethiopians, even educated ones” were left confused. They explain:

The entire Ethiopia intelligentsia was forced to immerse itself in Marxism-Leninism, Whether individuals believed in it or not. The authors [i.e. the Ottaways] met Ethiopian university professors who were wholly confused by political arguments and had to ransack the classics in search of enlightenment. Third and fourth year university students would provide us with excellent literal translations of articles in Addis Zemen and of underground pamphlets and then confess that they had little idea what the arguments were really about. Even those in charge of translations at the Ethiopian News Agency admitted that they could not always grasp the meaning of the more theoretical government statements emanating from the Political Bureau.

Meanwhile, Haile Fida strengthened his ties with the Derg. August 1975, he joined Sisay Hapte, chairman of the Derg’s Political Affairs Committee, in negotiating with six Arab countries over the increasing problems with Eritrea.

Unable to defeat each other with words, the opposing groups resorted to violence. The first victim was Theodore Bekele, MEISON member and leader of the All-Ethiopia Trade Union, who was killed 25 February 1977. This was the start of the Red Terror, during which hundreds died and ended with the defeat of the EPRP; the few who survived fled Addis Ababa for Mount Asimba.

Despite the departure of the EPRP, conditions did not improve for either Haile Fida or MEISON. On 10 July 1976, a coup to remove Mengistu failed, and Sisay Hapte, who had been the Derg’s chief liaison with the civilian Left, was executed three days later along with over 17 accomplices. Then towards the end of 1976, a struggle broke out between Mengistu and MEISON, after which Mengistu began to systematically replace all of its members in the government.Tensions increased when 11 March 1977 in a ministerial reshuffle MEISON failed to acquire any positions. Then on 14 July management of POMOA was taken from the party. Haile Fida and the rest of MEISON knew that the next blow would be bloody, and acted first: on 19 August the leading figures of MEISON and some 500 cadres went underground. Mengistu denounced the party in a speech five days later, and on 26 August Haile Fida with several other leaders were captured outside of Addis Ababa, and detained in the Old Gebbi, where the Derg had made its headquarters; a number of the other MEISON leaders were killed either on the spot or in subsequent shoot-outs. Only Negede Gobeze managed to escape the Derg, and found sanctuary in Yemen.

Haile Fida languished in prison for some time, until at last he was executed; the circumstances of his death are unclear, but Andargachew Tiruneh states that he was killed two years after his arrest, in 1979.

Selected Works

    • Languages in Ethiopia: Latin or Geez for Writing Afan Oromo, Tatek, 1972
    • Hirmaata Dubbi Afaan Oromoo. Paris, 1973
    • Barra Birraan Barihe. Paris
You May Also Like

Taye Diggs’s net worth, biography, fact, career, awards and life story

Taye Diggs Net Worth and Salary: Taye Diggs is an American theatre, film, and television actor who has a net worth of $14 million. Diggs is famous for appearing in stage productions over the course of his career, and he’s also a singer. He has also found success in various television series. Over the course of his career, Diggs has won a number of awards, including a Screen Actors Guild Award. Early Life: Scott Leo Berry was born on January 2nd of  1971 in Newark, New Jersey. Raised in Rochester, New York City, Scott took the surname of Jeffries Diggs, whom his mother remarried after separating from his birth father. The name “Taye” is a stylized form of the name “Scotty,” as it resembles the last syllable. Taye grew up alongside five siblings, and his mother worked as both a teacher and an actress. Although he initially attended a regular high school in Rochester, he eventually transferred to a progressive alternative school called the School of the Arts. After graduating from high school, Taye Diggs attended Syracuse University and obtained a BFA in Musical Theater. Over this period, he established himself as a stage actor with performances at theaters across New Hampshire. Career: Diggs’ Broadway debut came in 1994 when he booked a role in the revival of a musical called “Carousel.” The play won five Tony Awards and helped put Taye on the map. During this period, he also paid the bills by booking work as a dancer at Tokyo Disneyland. Diggs truly arrived on the scene when he booked a major role as Benny in the award-winning musical “Rent.” While performing, he met his future wife Idina, who later starred with him again in the off-Broadway play “The Wild Party.” Now that Taye Diggs was established in the theater world, roles were not hard to come by. He started appearing in Broadway productions such as “Chicago” and “Wicked.” In addition, Diggs found it easy to transition to film and television roles by this point. He started by appearing on the long-running soap opera “Guiding Light.” Not long after, he made his official film debut after joining the cast of “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” in 1998. Next year was a busy one for Diggs, as he appeared in films like “Go,” “The Wood,” and “The Best Man.” He wrapped up 1999 with an appearance in the remake of “House on Haunted Hill.” Moving forward, Taye Diggs appeared in an episode of “America’s Next Top Model,” and was tasked with guiding contestants through a challenge that involved acting. He then booked a role as a lawyer in the show “Ally McBeal.” He also booked the role of bandleader in the film adaptation of “Chicago” in 2002. That year, he played a memorable role in the science fiction film “Equilibrium” alongside Christian Bale. During this period, Diggs appeared on the show “Punk’d” as an unwitting contestant and also made several appearances as the love interest of Will in the series “Will & Grace.” In 2004, Taye Diggs was given his own show called “Kevin Hill.” The legal drama received strong reviews throughout its first season, but it wasn’t renewed for a second. In 2005, he had the chance to play the character of Benny once again in the film adaptation of “Rent.” Although his acting career was transitioning towards film and television, Taye continued to appear in a range of Broadway productions throughout the rest of his career (most notably “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”). Diggs has subsequently recorded tracks on soundtracks for many of his Broadway plays. In 2007, he booked a starring role in the series “Private Practice,” which was a spin-off of the show “Grey’s Anatomy.” The series was quite successful and ran until 2013. Over the next little while, Diggs made guest appearances on the show “The West Wing” and in crossover episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy.” He also found the time to star in the live-action adaptation of the comic “Dylan Dog: Dead of Night.” In 2017, Taye made an appearance in the film “‘Til Death Do Us Part.” After joining the cast of “Between Us,” Diggs won the Grand Jury prize when the film was screened at the Bahamas International Film Festival. From 2014 to 2016, Diggs played a major role in the series “Murder in the First.” Outside of these roles, Diggs has appeared in reality TV shows such as “Lip Sync Battle” and “Hypnotize Me.” He also worked as a voice actor on animated films such as “My Little Pony: The Movie.” In addition, Taye Diggs has written three children’s books. Relationships: In 2003, Taye Diggs married Idina Menzel, an actress he met while working on “Rent.” For the next ten years, they stayed together and welcomed a son into the world. By 2013, they were living apart, and by 2015 they finalized their divorce. Inside sources stated the split was amicable, and amidst rumors suggesting otherwise, Idina claimed the split was the result of busy, incompatible schedules. In a rarity for Hollywood, their divorce procedures also went off without a hitch. Because both partners were working actors with a reliable source of income, neither received a divorce settlement, and they simply split all of their shared assets down the middle. Even custody of their child was split equally, and they both continue to co-parent their son. Real Estate: In 2011, Taye Diggs purchased a property in Studio City for $2 million. The property features almost 5,000 square feet of living space, 5 bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms. The home was perfect for his then-wife, Idina Menzel, and his one child, who was only 20 months old at the time. The property also boasts a lavish family room connected to a gorgeous terrace by French doors. There are plenty of amenities in the outdoor area as well, including a pool, spa, treehouse, 3-car garage, and manicured gardens. After Diggs and Menzel announced their plans to separate after ten years of marriage, they also decided to sell their family home in Studio City. Although they initially listed the property for $2.995 million, they were eventually forced to settle for a selling price of just $2.55 million. That’s still a notable profit margin on their initial investment of $2 million, even though it’s not quite as much as they were hoping for.
Read More

Lil Tecca’s net worth, biography, fact, career, awards and life story

Lil Tecca net worth: Lil Tecca is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter who has a net worth of $3 million. Lil Tecca was born in New York City, New York in August 2002. He released his debut mixtape We Love You Tecca in 2019 on Galactic and Republic records. The mixtape reached #4 on the Billboard 200 chart and #3 in Canada. It also reached #13 in Australia, #14 in New Zealand, and #15 in the UK. Lil Tecca’s single “Ransom” (solo or with Juice Wrld) reached #2 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop charts and #2 in Canada and Greece. The single also reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, #3 in Ireland, #7 in the UK, and #8 in Australia. Lil Tecca also had success with the singles “Did It Again”, “Shots”, and “Out of Luck”. Lil Tecca began rapping with his friends over his mic on Xbox at nine years old. His song “Ransom” has had more than 300 million plays on Spotify and more than 100 million views on YouTube.
Read More