Dessalew Adane

Curves in Life - A Memoir Originally written in Amharic as የሕይወት እጥፋት
Born in the shadow of Makdala, where Emperor Tewodros made his final stand, Dessalew’s life begins amid echoes of history and ancestral pride. But when Ethiopia’s forced resettlement campaigns tear him from his family, he is thrust into a solitary journey through famine, displacement, and survival. Sheltered in an orphanage during the catastrophic 1984-85 famine, his path bends through sorrow and resilience, each curve revealing a deeper truth. Originally penned in Amharic and thoughtfully translated into English, Curves in Life is a lyrical excavation of memory and endurance. From the storied highlands of Makdala to the hushed corridors of exile, Dessalew’s memoir offers an intimate lens into Ethiopia’s modern history-illuminating the quiet courage of those who endure and the indelible footprints left by suffering, reflection, and hope. This book is not only my story-it is a tribute to those whose lives bent but did not break.