Once Upon a Time in Ethiopia

“A compelling blend of history and memoir, this book traces the extraordinary journey of the Armenian community in Ethiopia – from the rise of Christianity to the fall of the Derg regime.

Garbis Korajian draws on personal family stories and historical events to explore how Armenians helped shape Ethiopia through its defining historical moments. From their early connection through the sister Orthodox churches of Armenia and Ethiopia, Armenians played a unique role in the country’s development. Whether seeking military alliances during the reign of Empress Eleni or securing arms during Menelik’s rule to help win the Battle of Adwa, their contributions were vital.

He recounts the remarkable story of forty Armenian orphans adopted by Emperor Haile Selassie, a powerful symbol of the deep, and at times conflicted, bond between two ancient peoples. These boys would go on to form Ethiopia’s first official orchestra and compose the country’s national anthem, an enduring legacy of cultural fusion.

Korajian’s own grandfather served as a long-time advisor to Emperor Haile Selassie and was

later exiled as a prisoner of war to Longo Bucco, Calabria with his wife and six children. As survivors of the Armenian Genocide fled to Ethiopia, many arrived as artisans, shoemakers, printers, mechanics, and traders, who not only rebuilt their lives but also provided training that helped modernize the Ethiopian workforce. 

The book chronicles the golden age of the Armenian community and the tragedies that followed: the Italian occupation, mass emigration, and the violent upheaval of the Derg regime, which led to the nationalization of Armenian homes and businesses. Despite their loyalty and contributions to the country, Armenians faced incredible difficulty acquiring Ethiopian citizenship, a painful reminder of what it means to belong in a place that never fully claimed you. A once-vibrant population of 1,200 has now dwindled to fewer than 100.

Korajian does not shy away from the complexities of identity, exile, and memory. With vivid storytelling, from swimming in crocodile-infested rivers to fleeing a national revolution, he captures the resilience of a community that, even in exile, continued to call Ethiopia home.”

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The book may be obtained from Amazon.ca for Can $ 42.95
GK Publishing, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Printed in Canada, Manufactured by Amazon.ca, Bolton, ON, Canada
Paperback, Print Length: 507 pages
ISBN 978-1-0697242

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Biography

Garbis Korajian was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and he is a fourth-generation Ethiopian Armenian. His grandfather served as treasurer of the Ethiopian palace and as an adviser to

Emperor Haile Selassie for 42 years. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, with a specialization in Ethical Leadership. 

Throughout his career, Korajian has worked extensively as a consultant in developing countries, focusing on good governance, ethical leadership, anti-corruption education, conflict resolution, and social accountability. He developed an ethics course for the World Bank Institute and has designed and delivered training on good governance for the parliaments of Ethiopia and Zambia, as well as for international organizations, including the World Bank, the Canadian International Development Agency, and the Government of China.

Korajian is an active advocate for the Ethiopian and Armenian communities in Canada. He lives in Vancouver with his wife, Daisy, and their daughters, Sara and Annie.

APPRECIATION

Asbed Pogarian, Ethio-Armenian, Armenia

Garbis Korajian has written a remarkably important book about my Armenian community in Ethiopia, tracing its history from the arrival of Christianity to the final years of the Dergue military junta. He provides a detailed and vivid account of what it was like to live as Armenians in Ethiopia while preserving our traditions. He reflects on the subtle ways our teachers at Kevorkoff School instilled in us a profound sense of Armenianness while fostering loyalty to Ethiopia. The book is filled with fascinating information, much of which I had never known, and Garbis has ensured that these stories are preserved before they fade into oblivion. I highly recommend this book not only to Ethiopian-Armenians but to anyone interested in learning about this unique and now nearly vanished community.

Delelegn Wordofa, President of the Ethiopian Community, Association of British Columbia, Canada:

Garbis Korajian’s book is a brilliant and original work that provides a detailed history of his family and the Armenian Community of Ethiopia. Beyond a chronological account, this book examines how members of this small community served as envoys, representing Ethiopia to the outside world while also contributing to the development of their adopted country. Additionally, Emperor Menelik enlisted his Armenian advisers and merchants, who had prior knowledge of Europe, to procure armaments used in the Battle of Adwa.

Through their stay in Ethiopia, Armenians built strong institutions such as the church, school, community centre and two women’s charitable organizations. An elected council, the Kaghoutayinwas responsible for overseeing the functions of its institutions and general affairs of the community.

I highly recommend this book to all members of the Ethiopian diaspora, and other diaspora communities worldwide. Korajian’s work offers invaluable insight into how a community of fewer than a thousand people became one of the most successful self-sufficient diaspora groups in the world. Just as importantly, it can serve as a reminder and a model for how diasporas around the world can strengthen their own community institutions and thrive for decades to come.

Ian Campbell, Historian, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

This precious volume must be regarded as not only a commendable personal achievement but also as a national treasure. Told with panache and backed up by the personal experience of an insider, it documents for posterity the triumphs and the tragedies of a diaspora that played a crucial role in the long and tumultuous history of Ethiopia.

Yves-Marie Stranger, Writer, Marmande, France

Garbis Korajian’s writing is an incredible chronicle of the little-known Ethiopian-Armenian community, but it is also an unflinchingly honest portrait of Ethiopia and Ethiopians — hyphenated or otherwise.