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Writing from Ethiopia and Italy

October 2012

In this collection, originally featured in the October 2012 issue of Words Without Borders, Maaza Mengiste, author of Beneath the Lion’s Gaze, introduces three pieces connecting Ethiopia and Italy. Italo-Ethiopian novelist Gabriella Ghermandi returns to her homeland to honor her father, graphic novelist Paolo Castaldi tracks a tragic emigration, and poet Surafel Wondimu curses the gods.

The World Between: Writing from Ethiopia and Italy

By Maaza Mengiste

I come from a country with close to ninety languages.

I Remember

By Gabriella Ghermandi

You always talked about Crevalcore when it rained.

Translated from Italian by Victoria Offredi Poletto & Giovanna Bellesia-Contuzzi

Multilingual

from “Etenesh”

By Paolo Castaldi

“When we get to Tripoli, you’re on your own.”

Translated from Italian by Maaza Mengiste

Demokratia

By Surafel Wondimu

Shame on your charade, Athena.

Translated from Amharic by Fasil Yitbarek

Multilingual