1. Mahmoud Ahmed (1941)

Singer

Popular performer in the 1970s and 1980s, especially among Ethiopian refugees driven out by the military coups of the 1970s.

2. Yohannes IV (1837)

King

Yohannes IV is a famous King, who was born on July 11, 1837 in Ethiopia. Ethiopian royalty who served as the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1871 until his death in...

3. Ydnekatchew Tessema (1921)

Footballer

One of Ethiopia's greatest athletes; helped establish the country's sports organizations and founded the Ethiopian Sports office.

4. Abune Paulos (1935)

Patriarch Of Ethiopia

Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church from 1992 to 2012.

5. Zeresenay Alemseged (1969)

Ethiopian Paleoanthropologist

Paleoanthropologist and Chair of the Anthropology Department at the California Academy of Sciences who is known for discovering "Lucy's child", which is the almost-complete fossilized remains of a 3.3 million...

6. Ephraim Isaac (1936)

American Scholar

Renowned scholar of ancient Semitic Languages & Civilization and African/Ethiopian Languages and Religion and peace activist.

7. Mengistu Haile Mariam (1937)

Politician

Mengistu Haile Mariam is a famous Politician, who was born on May 27, 1937 in Ethiopia. Ethiopian political figure who led the Derg, the communist military government that controlled Ethiopia...

8. Tesfaye Tola (1974)

Athletics (sport) Competitor

Long-distance runner who won bronze in the marathon at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia; finished fourth in the marathon at the 2001 World Championships.

9. Teddy Afro (1976)

Musician

Ethiopian singer who released the 2001 album Abugida and 2005's Yasteseryal. In 2017, his fifth studio album Ethiopia reached the top of the Billboard World Albums Chart. 

10. Tilahun Gessesse (1940)

Ethiopian Musician

Influential tenor pop vocalist known as The Voice during Ethiopia's Golden Age of the 1960s.

11. Miruts Yifter (1944)

Ethiopian Long Distance Runner

Long-distance runner remembered for winning two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and a bronze at the 1972 Munich games.

12. Selam Tesfaye (1993)

Movie Actress

Ethiopian actress who has played the role of Sayat in the 2015 movie Crumbs. 

13. Gelila Bekele (1986)

Model

Ethiopian model and civil rights activist who has appeared on the covers of magazines like Marie Claire, Essence, and Allure.

14. Hanan Tarq (1994)

Movie Actress

Ethopian actress who is known for her appearances in both films and television dramas. She is best recognized for her role as Sara in the 2015 film YeFikir Kal. 

15. Ismail Omar Guelleh (1947)

Politician

Ismail Omar Guelleh is a famous Politician, who was born on November 27, 1947 in Ethiopia. People’s Rally for Progress party member and President of the African Republic of Djibouti....

16. Meles Zenawi (1955)

World Leader

Ethiopian prime minister from 1995 until 2012 and head of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, the ruling political coalition. He served as chairman of the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front...

17. Baruch Dego (1981)

Israeli Footballer

Famed right winger who came to prominence as a member of the Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C., winning three national trophies and a championship.

18. Werknesh Kidane (1981)

Ethiopian Long-distance Runner

Long-distance 5,000 and 10,000-meters runner who competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics; she won the gold at the 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

19. Eyasu Berhe (1956)

Ethiopian Musicians

Famed performer, writer, and activist who became known for his time with the Tigray People's Liberation Front.

20. Tirunesh Dibaba (1985)

Ethiopian Long-distance Runner

Ethiopian runner and three-time Olympic gold medalist. She also won two bronze medals, one in 2004 and one in 2012.

21. Derartu Tulu (1972)

Athletics (sport) Competitor

Long-distance track, road, and marathon athlete who became the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal.

22. Berhane Adere (1973)

Ethiopian Long-distance Runner

Long-distance runner who competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics in the 10,000 meters and ran the marathon at the 2012 Olympics.

23. Liya Kebede (1978)

Ethiopian Model Actress Philanth

Model and maternal health advocate who was appeared on the cover of American Vogue on three separate occasions. She's also served as the WHO's Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child...

24. Elfenesh Alemu (1975)

Ethiopian Marathon Runner And Ol

Long-distance runner who represented Ethiopia in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics in the marathon and won the 2003 Tokyo International Marathon.

25. Gezahegne Abera (1978)

Athletics (sport) Competitor

Gold medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney for the marathon race, he was the first person to achieve an Olympics-World Championships marathon double.

26. Meseret Defar (1983)

Ethiopian Long-distance Runner

Long-distance runner whose specialty was the 3000 meters and 5000 meters events; she broke several records during her time on the track.

27. Kenenisa Bekele (1982)

Ethiopian Long-distance Runner

Ethiopian record-holding long-distance runner who is a two-time 10,000 m gold medalist. He also won the 5,000 m race in Beijing in 2012.

28. Million Wolde (1979)

Ethiopian Runner

Ethiopian runner who took home the gold for the 5000 meters competition at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics when he was 22.

29. Genzebe Dibaba (1991)

Ethiopian Distance Runner

Middle and long-distance runner who competed at the 2012 London Summer Olympics and won the 1500 meters at the 2012 World Indoor Championships.

30. Ejegayehu Dibaba (1982)

Ethiopian Long-distance Runner

Long-distance runner who won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and two bronze medals at the 2005 Helsinki World Championships.

31. Aselefech Mergia (1985)

Ethiopian Marathon Runner

Aselefech Mergia Medessa is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes in the marathon. She was a bronze medallist in the event at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. She is...

32. Atsedu Tsegay (1991)

Ethiopian Long-distance Runner

Atsedu Tsegay Tesfay is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. In 2012 he won Prague Half Marathon in a time of 58:47 — the best half marathon performance of the year and...

33. Robel Teklemariam (1974)

Ethiopian Corss-country Skier

Robel Zeimichael Teklemariam is an Ethiopian cross country skier who has competed since 2006.

34. Yeshi Esayias (1985)

Ethiopian Long-distance Runner

Yeshi Esayias Tessema is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes in marathon races. Her personal best for the distance is 2:24:06 hours. She has won races in Ottawa and Montreal...

35. Merima Denboba (1974)

Athletics (sport) Competitor

Merima Denboba is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and cross-country running. Denboba won the 2003 Oeiras International Cross Country beating two time champion Leah Malot...

36. Etenesh Diro (1991)

Olympic Steeplechaser

Etenesh Diro is an Ethiopian athlete. She competed in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2012 Summer Olympics; she qualified for the final by placing second in her heat with...

37. Minyahil Teshome (1985)

Ethiopian Footballer

Minyahil Teshome is an Ethiopian footballer. He currently plays for Saint George.

38. Fatuma Sado (1991)

Ethiopian Marathon Runner

uma Sado Dergo is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes in marathon races. She has a personal best of 2:26:09 hours and has won marathons in Hamburg Los Angeles and...

39. Aheza Kiros (1985)

Ethiopian Long-distance Runner

Aheza Kiros is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in the 10000 metres. She finished fourth at the 2006 African Championships and seventeenth at the 2007 World Championships. Running at...

40. Birhan Getahun (1991)

Runner

Birhan Getahun is an Ethiopian runner. He competed in the 3000 m steeplechase event at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

41. Fuad Ibrahim (1991)

Ethiopian Footballer

Abdusalam Abas IbrahimAmharic: ፉአድ ኢብራሒም? known as Fuad Ibrahim and Ibee Ibrahim is an Ethiopian footballer.

42. Meskerem Assefa (1985)

Ethiopian Distance Runner

Meskerem Assefa Legesse Wondimagegn is an Ethiopian middle- and long-distance runner. She represented Ethiopia at the 2012 London Olympics. She has personal bests including 4:02. 12 minutes for the 1500...

43. Mestawat Tadesse (1985)

Athletics (sport) Competitor

Mestawat Tadesse is an Ethiopian middle distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres. Tadesse finished fifth at the 2006 African Championships and tenth at the 2006 World Athletics Final.

44. Gete Wami (1974)

Ethiopian Long-distance Runner

Getenesh Wami Degife is an Ethiopian former long-distance runner who competed in cross country track and road events. Her brother Mulugeta Wami is also a professional marathon runner.

45. Dawit Wolde (1991)

Ethiopian Middle Distance Runner

Dawit Wolde is an Ethiopian middle distance runner who specialises in the 1500 metres. A medallist at the World Youth Championships and the African Junior Athletics Championships he has represented...

46. Dire Tune (1985)

Ethiopian Long-distance Runner

Dire Tune Arissi is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. Tune competed in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships. At the 2006 World Road Running Championships she finished fourth in the...

47. Andualem Negusse (1985)

Footballer

Andualem Nigussie is an Ethiopian footballer currently playing for Saint-George SA.

48. Kalkidan Gezahegne (1991)

Ethiopian Distance Runner

Kalkidan Gezahegne is an Ethiopian middle distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres. She was born in Addis Ababa. She won the silver medal in the 1500 metres at...

49. Michael Tsegaye (1975)

Photographer

Michael Tsegaye is an Ethiopian artist and photographer. Much of his work presents a glimpse of life in contemporary Ethiopia although an extended catalogue of his images come from his...

50. Yemane Tsegay (1985)

Ethiopian Marathon Runner

Yemane Adhane Tsegay is an Ethiopian long distance runner who specialises in the marathon. He won the 2012 Rotterdam Marathon with a personal best time of 2:04:48 hours. He has...