GABRA HEYWAT BAYKADAGN
- 2 Min Read
Nagadras Gabra Heywat Baykadagn (1888-1919), an Ethiopian civil servant, was a distinguished writer in the field of political economy.
He was born in the province of Tegré. As a young man he went to Europe for higher education, and returned home during the first decade of the 20th century. For some time he helped the German doctors who were attending to Emperor Menilek [reigned 1889-1913] during his serious illness, after which he spent some time travelling in southern Ethiopia and the Sudan. On his return he was appointed Director of Customs (Nagadras) at Dire Dawa, Harar.
He wrote a most enlightening article entitled “Menilek and Ethiopia,” which was published as a book by the Swedish Mission at Asmara. In this work he offered constructive suggestions, and eloquently advocated the need for basic fiscal and administrative reforms; reorganisation of the armed forces; establishment of modern schools and training centers for handicrafts and technological skills; and adoption of an up-to-date legal code. In addition to his writing, he promoted the provision of adequate amounts of currency, the adoption of the principle of religious toleration, and the taking of a population census.
He died prematurely at the age of 31, while helping others who had fallen victim to the widespread influenza epidemic which occurred in 1919. He left behind unpublished manuscripts which were collected by his friend Ato Pawlos Mannamno, and published posthumously in 1925 under the title of Mangestena Yahezb Astadadar (“Government and Public Administration”). In this work he elaborated his views on banking and the national wealth.
ZEWDE GABRE-SELLASSIE
