Tekle Hawariat Tekle Mariyam

Tekle Hawariat Tekle Mariyam (born 1881) was an Ethiopian politician and intellectual of the Japanizer school of thought. He was the primary author of Ethiopia's July 16, 1931 constitution, which was influenced by the Meiji Constitution.

Tekle Hawariat was one of the early generation of Ethiopians sent abroad for his education; he studied artillery at the Saint Petersburg military school, and achieved the rank of colonel. Once he returned to Ethiopia, however, Tekle became famous as provincial governor, agronomist, and for his part in writing Ethiopia's first constitution. [Bahru Zewde, "A History of Modern Ethiopia", second edition (Oxford: James Currey, 2001), p. 106] Tekle Hawariat was an important government official during the reign of Iyasu V, although he played a part in Iyasu's depostion of 27 September 1916. Despite his support for the new ruler, Empress Zauditu, during her reign he wrote and produced a play, "Fabula: Yawreoch Commedia", which used animal characters to criticize the corruption and backwardness of the Ethiopian court. As a result the Empress banned all further theatre in Ethiopia, an order that was later lifted by Emperor Haile Selassie in 1930. [ [http://www.thefileroom.org/documents/dyn/DisplayCase.cfm/id/1208 Tekle Hawariat's play, "Fabula," creates ban on dramatic performances in Ethiopia] FileRoom.org]

Under the patronage of Haile Selassie, Tekle Hawariat performed a number of diplomatic duties. He was part of the group who accompanied Haile Selasie to Europe in 1924. He also represented Ethiopia at the League of Nations for many years, most notably at the session where the exiled monarch presented his speech following the Italian Conquest.

During the Italian occupation, Tekle Hawariat resided in Aden, although in September 1937 he sought to resettle in Kenya. The colonial government refused his request, concerned that if he resided there, he could encourage unrest against the Italians. [ [http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1937/dec/01/mr-tecle-hawariate Question in Commons concerning Mr Tecle Hawariat] Hansards Online (accessed 23 August 2008)]

Paul Henze credits Tekle with introducing to Haile Selassie to the three Habtewold brothers -- Mekonnen Habte-Wold, Aklilu Habte-Wold, and Akalework Habte-Wold -- who became prominent in Ethiopian political life. [Henze, "Layers of Time" (New York: Palgrave, 2000), p. 204]

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