Body of Renowned Ethiopian Historian Professor Lapiso Gedelebo Laid to Rest

Addis Ababa, November 11, 2025 (FMC) – The funeral of renowned Ethiopian historian and scholar Professor Lapiso Gedelebo was held today at the Holy Peter and Paul Church in Addis Ababa.

Senior government officials, academics, colleagues, and family members attended the ceremony to pay their final respects to the distinguished historian, who passed away on November 9 at the age of 87 after a long illness.

Born on May 19, 1938, in Kufala Habele, in the former Kembata–Hadiya area, Professor Lapiso completed his early education at Bicho Hosanna Mission School before continuing to Emperor Gelawdewos Secondary School and the Bible Academy in Adama. He later pursued undergraduate and doctoral studies in philosophy and history in the United States, where he also served as a lecturer at Virginia Union University for two years.

Following the 1974 Ethiopian Revolution, Professor Lapiso returned home and dedicated his career to teaching and historical research, becoming one of the country’s most influential scholars in the field.

Over his lifetime, he authored numerous books that deepened understanding of Ethiopia’s past and strengthened national identity, including The Long History of the People and Government of Ethiopia, The Historical Foundations and Instruments of Ethiopianism, The Role of the Red Sea and the Abbay Valley, and A Brief History of the Gedeo People.

Professor Lapiso’s academic work and research played a vital role in promoting unity, cultural awareness, and a deeper appreciation of Ethiopia’s historical heritage.

He is survived by his wife and three daughters.