There is not much I can say about myself except that I am very grateful to God and to many individuals. I am grateful to members of my family, to my friends and mentors, and to a number of people from whose wisdom I learn priceless lessons each day. I especially would like to single out and thank three individuals who played significant roles in the preparation of my book: Professor Getatchew Haile, the prominent Ethiopian scholar; Artist Alemtsehay Wodajo, the outstanding stage actress and poet; and the brilliant Amha Asfaw, “the hidden Ethiopian gem at Missouri State University”.

The highly-revered Professor Getatchew Haile edited and wrote the Foreword for Fetena while Amha Asfaw, the multi-talented scholar and poet, prepared it for publication.