Stained glass measuring 150 square meters at the Africa Hall in Addis Ababa serves as a definitive testament to the career of Afewerk Tekle. This piece, titled Total Liberation of Africa, captures the evolution of his artistic focus from European academic training to a dedicated exploration of themes concerning African emancipation and Christian iconography throughout the late twentieth century.
Academic Formation and Early Intent
Born in Ankober in 1932, Afewerk initially aimed to contribute to the reconstruction of Ethiopia through engineering. Upon arriving in England, he attended Leighton Park School before transitioning to formal arts education. He refined his skills at the Central School of Arts and Crafts and the Slade School of Fine Art. Rather than accepting a ministerial role upon his return to Ethiopia, he traveled extensively across the country to observe native culture, which provided the foundation for his later compositions.
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By 1954, Afewerk held his first solo exhibition at Municipality Hall in Addis Ababa. This success facilitated two years of European travel, during which he mastered stained glass construction and researched illustrated manuscripts in the British Library and the Vatican Library. His portfolio grew to include significant murals and mosaics for religious institutions, notably St George's Cathedral and the Adigrat Cathedral. He also produced various postage stamp designs and the monumental statue of Ras Makonnen located in Harrar.
International Recognition and Later Career
The international standing of his work solidified when his painting Self-portrait entered the Uffizi Gallery collection in 1981, marking the first time an African artist achieved this distinction. He maintained active memberships in the Russian Academy of Arts and the French International Academy of Arts. Throughout his final decades, he lived between Addis Ababa and his residence in Hawassa. He passed away in 2012 following complications from a stomach ulcer and received a state-arranged funeral.
Fast facts
- Born: 1932, Ankober, Ethiopia
- Died: 10 April 2012, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Primary Occupations: Painter, postage stamp designer
- Education: Slade School of Fine Art, Central School of Art and Design
- Notable Work: Total Liberation of Africa (1961)
- Uffizi Gallery entry: 1981
- Burial site: Holy Trinity Cathedral, Addis Ababa
Questions readers ask
What were the primary artistic themes of Afewerk Tekle?
His work centered largely on Christian iconography, African history, and themes of black emancipation and independence.
Was he the first African member of the Russian Academy of Arts?
Yes, he was admitted as the first African member of the organization in 1983.
