Asfaw Meshesha (Amharic: አስፋው መሸሻ; 1967 – January 2024) was an Ethiopian journalist, talk show host and producer best known for working in EBS TV.

Asfaw Meshesha
አስፋው መሸሻ
Born1967 (1967)
DiedJanuary 2024(2024-01-00) (aged 56–57)
Resting placeHoly Trinity Cathedral
Alma materUniversity of Missouri (BA)
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • talk show host
  • producer
Years active2000–2024
Known forNuro Be America
EBS Sunday Show
SpouseSelamawit Assefa (died 2010)
Children1

Life and career

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Asfaw Meshesha was born in 1967,[1] and grew up in a privileged and influential family during the Ethiopian Civil War.[citation needed] He attended a school in Addis Ababa and became a member of the school debate team.[citation needed] In 1996, he graduated from high school and received a scholarship to study journalism at the University of Missouri. He completed his bachelor's degree in 2000 and returned to Ethiopia to pursue his career.[2][3]

Meshesha began his career as a reporter for the Ethiopian Herald, where he covered various topics. Later, he joined FM Radio 97.1 Irie Music at 2:00 PM, and became the most famous radio host and personality. Asfaw then moved to EBS TV, a first private television network in Ethiopia. He created and hosted Nuro Be America ("Life in America"). Upon returning to Ethiopia, he created the EBS Sunday Show, a weekly talk show that features celebrities and politicians. [2][3][4]

Personal life and death

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Meshesha was married to Selamawit Assefa, a popular Ethiopian actress, and they have a son named Samson (Japi) Asfaw (born 2004). Selamawit died in 2010 in a car accident. As a memorial, Asfaw founded the Selamawit Assefa Foundation, a charitable organization that supports orphans, widows, and victims.[2][3]

In October 2023, Asfaw suffered from a stroke and was diagnosed with brain cancer. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but his condition became aggravated soon. With $200,000 medical help of EBS TV colleagues, he moved to George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. for specialised care.[5][6]

Asfaw died from the complication and the matter of death was resurfaced on 13 January 2024 via social media.[5] He was survived by his friends and family members.[3] On 22 January, Asfaw's funeral service was held at Holy Trinity Cathedral before his body transported to Addis Ababa and a farewell program held at Millennium Hall.[7]

References

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  1. ^ አስፋው መሸሻ 1959–2016 🕯🕯🕯🕯, retrieved 15 January 2024
  2. ^ a b c Dandessa, Chala (15 January 2024). "Asfaw Meshesha, Esteemed Talk Show Host, Passed Away". ETHIOPIANS TODAY. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "ታዋቂው የቴሌቪዥን ፕሮግራም አቅራቢ አስፋው መሸሻ ከዚህ ዓለም በሞት ተለየ". BBC News አማርኛ (in Amharic). 14 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Ethiopia Grieves the Loss of Asfaw Meshesha's Radiant Presence". Addis Insight. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Asfaw Meshesha, Esteemed Talk Show Host, Passed Away". Borkena Ethiopian News. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  6. ^ "EBS TV Journalist Asfaw Meshesha Death Linked To Brain Cancer: Obituary". 14 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  7. ^ Bishaw, Feven (22 January 2024). "የአንጋፋው ጋዜጠኛ አስፋው መሸሻ የቀብር ስነ-ስርዓት ተፈፀመ". Welcome to Fana Broadcasting Corporate S.C. Retrieved 23 January 2024.