Early Work & Vision
Haleka Tewolde-Medhin Gebru is remembered as one of Tigray’s most visionary educators — the pioneer who established the first “modern” school in Adwa long before such an idea was accepted. At a time when all education was under the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, he dared to introduce structured learning in reading, writing, mathematics, and biblical study.
Teaching During the Italian Occupation
When Italian forces occupied Adwa, Haleka refused to stop teaching. Instead, he relocated his school to Mai-Misham — a mountain refuge unreachable by the Italian military. There, for five years, he taught children under extreme conditions and founded the school that still carries his name today.
Persecution and Survival
After the Italians left, Haleka returned to Adwa with twelve devoted students. But modern education threatened the Orthodox Church’s monopoly, and he was accused of heresy. He was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death — taken twice to a notorious hanging tree.
He survived only because Emperor Haile Selassie’s decree required imperial approval for any execution. Eventually, the charges were dropped, and he was encouraged to continue teaching.
Scholarship & Bible Translation
Earlier in life, during a medical stay in Asmara, Haleka connected with Swedish missionaries who recognized his intellectual brilliance. They sent him to Sweden, where he mastered Hebrew and Swedish.
Upon returning, he led the first translation of the Tigrinya Bible, comparing texts in Ge’ez, Hebrew, Amharic, and Swedish — a monumental achievement in Tigray’s literary history.
Legacy at Queen Sheba School
When Queen Sheba Elementary School opened in 1942, Haleka and seventeen of his students marched into the new building, marking the birth of modern education in Adwa. His spirit and teaching philosophy shaped Queen Sheba’s identity for decades.
Enduring Influence
Haleka Tewolde-Medhin lived into his nineties, remembered by his descendants and students as a brilliant mind, a spiritual leader, and a fearless educator who risked his life for the future of Tigray’s children.
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