Notes from the Hyenas Belly

Posted on 01 August 2018 by Nega Mezlekia

Winner of the Governor General s AwardA Library Journal Best Book of 2001Part autobiography and part social history, Notes from the Hyena s Belly offers an unforgettable portrait of Ethiopia, and of Africa, during the 1970s and 80s, an era of civil war, widespread famine, and mass execution We children lived like the donkey, Mezlekia remembers, careful not to wander off the beaten trail and end up in the hyena s belly His memoir sheds light not only on the violence and disorder that beset his native country, but on the rich spiritual and cultural life of Ethiopia itself Throughout, he portrays the careful divisions in dress, language, and culture between the Muslims and Christians of the Ethiopian landscape Mezlekia also explores the struggle between western European interests and communist influences that caused the collapse of Ethiopia s social and political structure and that forced him, at age 18, to join a guerrilla army Through droughts, floods, imprisonment, and killing sprees at the hands of military juntas, Mezlekia survived, eventually emigrating to Canada In Notes from the Hyena s Belly he bears witness to a time and place that few Westerners have understood. New Read [ Notes from the Hyenas Belly ] by [ Nega Mezlekia ] For Kindle ePUB or eBook – kino-fada.fr The book is aptly titled because it is a series of notes The first are notes are from Nega Mezlekia s childhood which is heavily influenced by folklore and superstition The culture accepts child abuse at school and at home and if corporal punishment fails, healers are called on to expel demons in the most unscientific ways The writing style of this memoir evokes novels of magical realism.The content and dearth of material on Ethiopia make this an important book We see how the fall murder of The book is aptly titled because it is a series of notes The first are notes are from Nega Mezlekia s childhood which is heavily influenced by folklore and superstition The culture accepts child abuse at school and at home and if corporal punishment fails, healers are called on to expel demons in the most unscientific ways The writing style of this memoir evokes novels of magical realism.The content and dearth of material on Ethiopia make this an important book We see how the fall murder of Haile Selassie unleashed years of instability on a population Not joining one side or another could bedangerous than choosing up Mezlekia experiences the chaos as a fighter, a refugee, prisoner, and family head While the country aches in misery he finds a niche.The book is not only part memoir, history and literature, it is also one part travelogue Every trip be it a march, a water seeking mission, a refugee exodus, a visit to home or relatives or g...Since my wife and I are pursuing adopting a child from Ethiopia, we have begun reading books about the land and its people.This book tells the story of a boy growing up in the late 60s and early 70s during a time of political turmoil and upheaval following the fall of Emperor Halie Selassie.The language, phrasing, and story telling of this book is quite beautiful, helping you to enter into the mindset and culture of the land The meaning of many events told in the book are related through the Since my wife and I are pursuing adopting a child from Ethiopia, we have begun reading books about the land and its p...As I sit here having my monthly dose of injeera, I wonder at the boundlessness of my ignorance Nega introduces the reader to a part of Ethiopia s history that is perhaps less known, the South East of the country and the war with Somalia for the territories of Jijiga, Harar etc It is an important historical document and one that certainly opened my eyes to how much warfare this country has witnessed in the past century I wasknowledgeable about Ethiopia s war with Eritrea and of course t As I sit here having my monthly dose of injeera, I wonder at the boundlessness of my ignorance Nega introduces the reader to a part of Ethiopia s history that is perhaps less known, ...This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers To view it, click here The pros a very, very fast read the author s experience with the Ogaden war and Menghistu s purges of the late 70s an eye into life in the Ogaden, both the world of those struggling with modern society and those following the ancient and well worn path of the nomad His description of the nomad s planting harvesting cycle is simple but enlightening his occasional cheeky, somewhat sardonic sense of humorThe cons it s not particularly well written certainly not award winning materia The pros a very, very fast read the author s experience with the Ogaden war and Menghistu s purges of the late 70s an eye into life in the Ogaden, both the world of those struggling with modern society and those following the ancient and well worn path of the nomad Hi...Very insightful Author has a very interesting way of conveying information This book hasaddressed some very serious issues but the format is such that you are not hit over the head with the information Author grew up in Ethopia He discusses his childhood, the community around him,the beliefs of his family and other groups in the community, his schooling, his friends, the trouble that they find Then as his life changes, we see the changes that take place in both him and his homeland Not onl Very insightful Author has a very interesting way of conveying information This book hasaddressed some very serious issues but the format is such that you are not hit over the head with the informat...A fascinating story I knew of Selassie and the kingdom before him, but not of the junta and war with Somalis The author does a great job of writing in the voice he had at that time When he describes a slave owning man as a kid, it is in the voice of a kid, awed by his social standing When he describes the sharecropper system and its cruelty, it is...This memoir of Nega Mezlekia s early life is a revelation He tells us much about his family, himself and his country, Ethiopia, in clear language During his childhood Haile Selassie mismanages the country, is deposed and a military junta takes over There is civil war, war with neighbors and internal corruption and repression Mezlekia comes close to death a number of times This book will give you an understanding of Ethiopia and, in general, many African countries The book is wonderfully sp This memoir of Nega Mezlekia s early life is a revelation He tells us much about his family, himself and his country, Ethiopia, in clear language During his childhood Haile Selassie mismanages the country, is deposed and a military junta takes over ...One of the most humorous and touching stories that I have ever read in my life Nega manages to successfully describe the horrors of his childhood in Ethiopia and his stint as a child soldier in a funny and touching manner At times I felt as if the author was not even aware of how funny he is I recommend this read for anyone who wants to knowabout Ethiopia and Somalia s history through the eyes of an actual Ethiopian There are moments in this book that will make you both laugh and cry One of the most humorous and touching stories that I have ever read in my life Nega manages to successfully describe the horrors of his childhood in Ethiopia and his stint as a child soldier in a funny and touching manner At ti...I only gave this two stars because it was consistently patchy There were stretches that I really enjoyed and then stretches that I really didn t By the end of this book, I found myself regularly thinking, How the hel...How blessed we are, by accident of birth, to be Americans.How little we understand about the rest of the world.

English
01 August 2018

Nega Mezlekia