Alebachew Teka
Encyclopedia
Alebachew Teka was born in North-Wello, in a small town called Wourgessa. He completed his elementary education at Wourgessa junior high school and moved to Addis for his high school education. Alebcahew loved comedy even from his elementary days. He was one of Ethiopia
's best known contemporary and renowned comedians. He also hosted a talk show, “The Alebeh Show”, carried by state owned Ethiopian Television (ETV). The weekly program, which was modeled similar to the American "The Tonight Show
", was a hit and brought him widespread fame across the country.
His career took off for his satirical
TV shows, in which he often appeared along with his comedy partner Lemenih during the repressive regime
of Mengistu Haile Mariam
. Before starting his show, Alebachew Teka had lived in Israel
.
Alebachew died on Sunday January 16, 2005 in car accident while traveling from Addis Ababa
to Jimma
, a city some 124 miles west of the capital, to film a documentary
for a new show. His car reportedly plunged into a ravine
about 30km from Jimma town. He was 44 years old at the time of death.
News of his death was met shock and more than 60,000 mourners attended Alebachew's funeral at St. Joseph's church on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. He left a wife, two daughters and a son.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
's best known contemporary and renowned comedians. He also hosted a talk show, “The Alebeh Show”, carried by state owned Ethiopian Television (ETV). The weekly program, which was modeled similar to the American "The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
", was a hit and brought him widespread fame across the country.
His career took off for his satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
TV shows, in which he often appeared along with his comedy partner Lemenih during the repressive regime
Regime
The word regime refers to a set of conditions, most often of a political nature.-Politics:...
of Mengistu Haile Mariam
Mengistu Haile Mariam
Mengistu Haile Mariam is a politician who was formerly the most prominent officer of the Derg, the Communist military junta that governed Ethiopia from 1974 to 1987, and the President of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia from 1987 to 1991...
. Before starting his show, Alebachew Teka had lived in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Alebachew died on Sunday January 16, 2005 in car accident while traveling from Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
to Jimma
Jimma
Jimma, also Jima, is the largest city in southwestern Ethiopia. Located in the Jimma Zone of the Oromia Region, it has a latitude and longitude of . The town was the capital of Kaffa Province until the province was dissolved. Prior to the 2007 census, Jimma was reorganized administratively as a...
, a city some 124 miles west of the capital, to film a documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
for a new show. His car reportedly plunged into a ravine
Ravine
A ravine is a landform narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a fluvial slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order of twenty to...
about 30km from Jimma town. He was 44 years old at the time of death.
News of his death was met shock and more than 60,000 mourners attended Alebachew's funeral at St. Joseph's church on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. He left a wife, two daughters and a son.