Welayta People - Famous People

Famous People

• Kawo Motolomi - The famous king of Kingdom of Damot
• Kawo Damote Amado, one of the powerful kings of Wolayta (Great great Grand father of Kawo Tona)
• Kawo Tona Gaga, the last king of Wolayta kingdom. Believed to be one of the greatest warrior and the most powerful king of Wolayta. His army defeated King Menelik's forces six times before lossing to combined forces of Menelik and Abajefar in 1896.
• Dejazmach Girma Sanato - Commander of a southern Ethiopian militia during the Battle of Adwa
• Fitaworari Desta Feseha, Grandson of Tona and Governor of Wolayta under Haile Silassie rule. Dejazmach Desta was arrested with several other leaders in 1962 for attempting to organize rebellion against Haile Silassie rule and senstenced to life in prison. Some members of the group died in jail. Kegnazmach Wada Dele was among those. The rest including Fitwarari Desta were released by Derg regime.
• Warrant Officer Manjura - one of the top officers in the Ethiopian Air Force during Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I
• Bogale Walelu - Minister of Education during the reign of Haile Selassie.
• R. Admiral Tesfaye Birhanu - Commander of Ethiopian Navy(Derg)
• Hon. Leuleselassie Temamo - Minister of Culture and Sports during the TGE in 1991-1994.
• Hon. Ambassador Teshome Toga Chanaka - Speaker of the House of Peoples' Representatives
• Doctor Petros Olango - Deputy Speaker of The Ethiopian House of Representatives
• Hailemariam Desalegn - Prime Minister of Ethiopia
• Amanuel Ottoro - EPRDF-SEPDF Politics/Propaganda Chief and 2nd President of Woalita Zone
• Firew Altaye - Member of Parliament and chief Adm. of Wolayta Zone
• Mengistu Haile Mariam - The first President of Ethiopia (Derg)
• Tekilewold Atenafu - Governor of National Bank of Ethiopia