Once Upon a Time in Ethiopia: A Memoir of My Family & the Armenians of Ethiopia

A compelling blend of history and memoir, this book traces the extraordinary journey of the Armenian community in Ethiopia - from the rise of Christianity to the fall of the Derg regime. Garbis Korajian draws on personal family stories and historical events to explore how Armenians helped shape Ethiopia through its defining historical moments. From their early connection through the sister Orthodox churches of Armenia and Ethiopia, Armenians played a unique role in the country's development. Whether seeking military alliances during the reign of Empress Eleni, or securing arms during Menelik's rule to help win the Battle of Adwa, their contributions were vital. He recounts the remarkable story of forty Armenian orphans adopted by Emperor Haile Selassie, a powerful symbol of the deep, and at times conflicted, bond between two ancient peoples. These boys would go on to form Ethiopia's first official orchestra and compose the country's national anthem, an enduring legacy of cultural fusion. Korajian's own grandfather served as a long-time advisor to Emperor Haile Selassie and was later exiled as a prisoner of war to Longo Bucco, Calabria with his wife and six children.