Dr Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes – is a Senior Lecturer, multidisciplinary researcher and writer based at Curtin University’s Centre for Human Rights Education, Australia. Drawing from the history, philosophy and experiences of marginalised people and diverse communities, Yirga contributes critical insights for re imagining the future and addressing epistemic and racial injustices. He researches African experience and Ethiopian traditions and writes creatively on belonging and diasporic lives. He has won university and industry awards for his teaching, research, and creative writing. His publications include the sole authored book Native Colonialism: Education and the Economy of Violence Against Traditions in Ethiopia. (New Jersey: The Red Sea Press, 2017) and the forthcoming book (with Offord, Fleay, Hartley and Chan) Activating Cultural and Social Change: The Pedagogues of Human Rights (London: Routledge, 2022).

Summary of the Public Lecture

Ethiopia is experiencing complex challenges that have global and local dimensions. Climate change, civil war, and economic crisis contribute to significant losses of lives and livelihoods. Western social, economic, and political theories are incapable of healing Ethiopian tragedies. Based on critical research, I reflect on how global and local factors intersect and reproduce the crisis. I also draw from Ethiopian indigenous wisdom that can contribute to addressing the country’s major challenges.