Ethiopian author and poet Solomon Sahele Tizazu has publicly voiced frustration after government licensing authorities banned the official launch of his latest publication, "Fikir Eko New!!!" ("It Is Love, After All!"), just one day before the scheduled event.
The author shared the details via a Facebook post, expressing his disappointment over the last-minute intervention.
The newly compiled volume brings together three of Solomon’s previously published and sold-out poetry collections: "Yamal", "Yelib Mahtem", and "Yafkari Sew Tinfash".
According to the author, the governing permit office informed him on Wednesday, August 12, that the launch event set for the following day was cancelled due to the book’s content, despite the individual titles having been in public circulation for years.
Solomon, who serves as a Lifetime Literary Ambassador for Debre Tabor University, described the decision as a severe blow to freedom of expression and financial security for local writers already struggling with soaring publishing costs and harsh economic realities.
"In a country that claims to honor its history and human rights, preventing the celebration of works published years ago should be unthinkable," Solomon stated in his post.
Broader Context of Cultural Censorship
The cancellation of Solomon’s launch reflects a broader climate of heightened security scrutiny facing artists and writers in the region.
In a similar recent incident, the launch event for a Tigrinya-language music album titled "Nigus" ("King") was halted by security authorities.
Officials subjected the project to intense interrogation, demanding line-by-line Amharic translations of every track and pressing the artist to clarify their political stance and loyalties.
The title "Nigus" drew heightened political sensitivity, as it invoked public comparisons to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s well-known references to his mother’s prophecy that he would become the "7th King" of Ethiopia.
Unlike Solomon’s book launch, however, the "Nigus" album was eventually allowed to proceed with its official release after higher authorities intervened and granted final approval following the exhaustive review process.
Despite the ban on his own physical launch event, Solomon announced that copies of "Fikir Eko New!!!" remain available for direct purchase from him for 600 ETB, as he continues to push for answers regarding the censorship decision.
Originally published on UMD Media Facebook on 2026-08-17T09:00:00-06:00. Source: https://www.facebook.com/getachew.UMDMedia
