11 May Prof. Yaqob Beyene
(January 8th 1936 – May 8th 2025)
Associazione Internazionale di Studi sul Mediterraneo e l’Oriente
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 244, 00186 Roma
www.ismeo.eu ismeo@ismeo.eu
On May 8th, Prof. Yaqob Beyene, honorary member of ISMEO, passed away.
Yaqob Beyene was born in Maiberazio, near Adigrat, in Tigrai, on January 8, 1936. His family had both Tigrinya and Saho roots and was of the Catholic Christian faith. Due to his uncommon abilities, he was sent to study in the seminary and eventually landed at the Ethiopian College at Santo Stefano dei Mori in the Vatican, which he later on decided to abandon, renouncing an ecclesiastical career. During his years at the seminary, he had the opportunity to deepen his studies in particular in philosophy and psychology.
Yaqob Beyene arrived as a librarian at the then Istituto Universitario Orientale of Naples on January 8, 1963 at the behest of Lanfranco Ricci. In parallel with his work in the library of the Section of Ethiopian Studies, he decided to continue his studies, obtaining two degrees. He then moved into the ranks of the university teaching staff, climbing all the steps. He was a professor of Amharic, Tigrinya and ancient Ethiopian language and literature, contributing greatly to the development of Ethiopian studies at the Università “L’Orientale”. Yaqob also contributed to the life of the University by repeatedly holding the role of director of the Department of Studies and Research on Africa and Arab Countries and member of the Academic Senate. He was also chair of the Program of Studies in Oriental Languages and Civilizations. A member of the Istituto per l’Oriente Carlo Alfonso Nallino, since its foundation he has been an honorary member of ISMEO—Associazione Internazionale di Studi sul Mediterraneo e l’Oriente.
In addition to his scientific merits, Yaqob Beyene will be remembered for his kindness and availability towards students and colleagues and for the gentlemanliness and humanity, that were his distinctive traits.
