Moments Unfolded
The Memoir of Aklilu Afework
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away!"
Historical view of Ethiopian Highlands, Gojjam Province (placeholder until family photo)
Life Journey
Ninth Grade Days and the Jima Encounter
Historical view of Debre Markos (placeholder until family photo)
Completed eighth grade with high results, assigned to Jima Agricultural School but left due to homesickness - a pivotal life decision
Harar Teacher's Training College
Traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony (placeholder until family photo)
Enrolled at Harar Teachers Training School after being selected by Canadian deputy director Mr. Bodwin
Teaching in Arsi Province
Kofele highlands landscape (placeholder until family photo)
Started teaching in Kofele and Huruta - discovered biological mother by pure chance in Kofele
Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa University campus, 1960s era (placeholder until family photo)
Studied Economics at Addis Ababa University, graduated with first degree
Government Service
Asmara street view, 1970s-80s era (placeholder until family photo)
Planning Commission to Minister - served in various high-level government positions including Minister of Foreign Economic Relations
African Development Bank
Abidjan skyline, 1990s era (placeholder until family photo)
Senior Expert at African Development Bank in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire - international career and eventual retirement
Retirement and Family Discovery
Ethiopian Highlands - full circle to Gojjam roots (placeholder until family photo)
Returned to Ethiopia, discovered and reunited with mother's relatives in Guguma and internationally
Places of Memory
Listen to the Memoir
Experience the full memoir through this carefully narrated audiobook, bringing Aklilu's journey to life through spoken word.
Read the Chapters
Dive deep into the written memoir, exploring each chapter with interactive elements and the ability to jump to corresponding audio sections.
Introduction
Traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony (placeholder until family photo)
I share these pages as a keepsake for generations of our family—a thread of memory woven through time. This memoir begins in the early chapter of my life, just after completing eighth grade, when a quiet encounter gently marked the start of my story.
I completed my primary education at King Tekle Haymanot School in Gojjam Province (as it was called then), and I grew up in the town of Debre Markos in a neighborhood called "Wuseta." I continued my studies in ninth grade in Debre Markos, where the first unforgettable encounter of my youth gently unfolded—a moment etched in memory, marking the true beginning of my story.