Abebe and Mamo were inseparable friends
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – When the tombstones of Ethiopian Olympic heroes Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde were desecrated almost four years ago, sports fans in Ethiopia and elsewhere were all saddened and angry by the cruel acts.
A number of Ethiopia’s star athletes, including world marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie, visited the site and expressed their utter dismay at what they saw. But nothing was done. There was no real effort by the Ethiopian government, the Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF), the country’s elite athletes, the media and wealthy individuals to raise funds and rebuild the tombstones.
What ensued was an unnecessary discourse between Abebe Bikila’s family and Abeselom Yihdego as to who should restore them. Abeselom Yihdego is the longtime athletics supporter, philanthropist and owner of Keste Damena Foam Factory, who financed the construction of Abebe Bikila tombstone some 35 years ago. Mamo Wolde’s tombstone was built 8 years ago.
Amazingly, the only effort to start a fundraising campaign to repair the tombstone came from Ito Takashi, Director of Agence Shot in Tokyo, a Japanese track and field photography service agency.
Abeba Bikile and Mamo Wolde are still regarded by many Japanese as heroes and as two of the greatest marathon runners of the world. Abebe won the Tokyo Olympic marathon in a stunning solo run and Mamo Wolde won in Mexico City four years later after a fierce battle with Japanese silver medalist Kenji Kimihara.
Finally, after 3 years, 8 months and 14 days since the desecration of the tombstones and on the 37th memorial anniversary of the passing of Abebe Bikila (October 25, 1973), a newly restored tombstone of Abebe Bikila, which was built by his family, was officially unveiled in the presence of family members, friends and other dignitaries.
The desecrated tombstones of Abebe (left) and Mamo
According to Yetnayet Abebe Bikila, the son of the late Olympic hero, the newly restored tombstone, was built at a cost of 350,000 Birr and is the creative work of Ethiopia’s famous sculptor Tadesse Maru. It rests on a 75-square meter spot, and is adorned with 17 Olympic rings to symbolize the 17th Rome Olympiad where Abebe Bikila won Ethiopia’s gold medal in 1960.
While we rejoice the good news about Abebe Bikila, there was no mention as to when Mamo Wolde’s tombstone will be rebuilt. Mamo Wolde is simply an Ethiopian tragedy and a forgotten hero, who deserves as much respect and adulation as the great Abebe Bikila.
Mamo Wolde was one of Ethiopia’s pioneer athletes who took part in the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games in the 400m and 800m.
He won Ethiopia’s 3rd consecutive Olympic marathon gold medals in Mexico in 1968, after defending champion Abebe Bikila was forced to withdraw midway through injury. He also won a silver medal in the 10,000m race.
At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, Mamo won a bronze medal in the marathon at the age of 40.
Mamo Wolde was one of Ethiopia’s greatest athletes, whose life was cut short by illness on May 26, 2002.
Abebe Bikila (right) & Mamo's tombstones before vandals desecrated them
Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde were very close friends. As members of the Imperial Body Guards, they trained and competed together, and despite their fame, there was no animosity and both showed great admiration and respect for each other. Even in death, they were inseparable. Their tombstones were erected next to each other. Poems and songs have been written about them and a book was also published some two or three decades ago detailing their athletics accomplishments.
Now that Abebe Bikila’s tombstone has been restored, efforts should be made by all sports fans to do likewise to honor the great service that Mamo rendered for his country. It will be a tragedy to leave his tombstone in shambles like that.
To this day, no suspect has been brought to justice.
Its a shame to leave Mamo’s statue in shambles and reconstructy Abebe Bikila’s. This is unfair. The both run for this country and contributed to the building of the image and confidence of the nation. The are our heros. We should honour them both.And I would like the owners of this magazine to take the first stem by promoting the idea in more effective mediums like Radio and TV.In my part I am ready to contribute my share.
We are all responsible, not just the olympic committee or the federation.
Endalkachew Hailu
Arba Minch University
i command your story about mamo wolde
and your support for meseret
keep up the good work!
about MAMO
i Just quote
“the history of a hero is the statue by it self”
[...] Mamo Wolde: a forgotten Ethiopian hero | EthioSports [...]
unforgettable heroes
We shall never forget the sons of Ethiopia;they were girthed in Ethiopia and shall live forever in the heart of all Ethiopians.Yes,millions respect these heroes of the motherland.Only in the time of lawlessness the sons and daughters of Ethiopia have been disrespected;even after death.In our loving hearts,they are the living heroes of Ehtiopia and shall live so perpeutually.We love Abebe Bikila and Mamo Woldai as they have always been deeply and heartfully.May our dear lord,God rest their soul in everlasting peace.
To you,Abebe and Mamo,we love you to death.Amen.
Mamo Wolde: a forgotten Ethiopian hero | EthioSports…
Here at World Spinner we are debating the same thing……
Mamo Wolde is one of Ethiopia’s Olympic Hero.He was one Ethiopia’s pioneer athletes who took part in the 1956 Mellbourne olympic Games in the 400m and 800m. In 1956 Olympic in the Marathon race Mamo wolde won Gold Medals and 10,000m Bronze medals in Mexico. This great athlet at the 1972 Munich Olympic at the age of 40 he won a Bronze medal in Marathon.
So it is the Responsibility of the Ethiopian Olympic Comettie and the Ethiopian Athletic Federation, to rebuilt the tombstone of one of the greatest Ethiopian Olympic hero Mamo Wolde. Because of his greatness in the Olympic it is very important to make some thing of his rememberance at public place in the capital Addis Ababa with the help of the Ethiopian Goverment & all Ethiopians around the world.
Thank You
Nadew Ambaye From North America(U.S.A)
Gedamu uses my name and pass his openion to this news. I support his idea wholeheartedly. What should I add to his point is that Abebe and Mamo were once the hero of Olympics in marathon. Abebe astonished the whole world on his barefoot puting a new record in Rome. Consequently, on Tokyo after his short periond of abdominal operation where his doctor not adviced him to participate on the game, he did and registerd once again a new record. Mamo who started Olympic games before Abebe in Melborne, Australia and participated in medium and long distances earned many prices. His participation in Mexico city put Ethiopia uninteruptedly for the third time Olympic champion. Then after he still participated in Munich Germany. He is participated Olympic games for 5 times. Mamo should, therefore, not forgoten hero for Ethiopian people.
The world knew Ethiopia and its flag on Olympic thorough these hero for the first time. Till recently I remembered when Olympic game started the image of Abebe specially the start of the game message. But these heros they are not alive and their tombstones disgraced within their people for more than 5 years.
I wonder whether our people give respect for our present heros in athlets in the future in comparing what happened to our legends. I believe our love for our heros should last for ever. Thanks Ethio sport publishing this information for our people and the whole world, in deed.
Wubeshet
Dear Ethio sports.
I would appreciate your site in bringing this news to the public. Three years ago I noticed this issue to many Ethiopian sites to give attention after I saw the fall of tombstones our legend athletes on the ground. Today it draw attention of many perhaps and done at least half of the job. In the middle of million people of Ethiopian capital happening such kind of disgraced act has not been solved yet. It is a shameful for the federation and sport lovers.
This two legend athletes are the one who brought our name and flag on the world stages and our present famous athletes also follow their steps. We should never forget their records for our country.
May God bless our country and give peace.
bye,
Gedamu Tefera
Nazereth, Ethiopia
Yes he deserves respect for what he accomplished for Ethiopia. I am wondering if the Ethiopian government is really Ethiopian they should rebuild right away after the destruction of Abebe’s & Mamo’s tombstones, but do they really care about Ethiopia?
That is the question. In my opinion they don’t have love for Ethiopia at all that is why they didn’t attempt to restore these tombstones. The Mafia group of TPLF don’t represent Tigray and by that Ethiopia. They used Tigreans and the Name Tigray to destroy Ethiopia, shame Meles and Co.
I think we should take matters to our hands and do something about it. We should start organizing to fund raise to rebuild Mamo’s tombstone.
On Response to Mamo Wolde A Forgotten Ethiopian Hero on my reply on the second line last paragraph In 1956 olympic in the maraton race Mamo Wolde won Gold Medals the year is 1968 not 1956.
Thank You
Nadew Ambaye
Mamo Wolde is one of Ethiopia’s Olympic Hero.He was one Ethiopia’s pioneer athletes who took part in the 1956 Mellbourne olympic Games in the 400m and 800m. In 1956 Olympic in the Marathon race Mamo wolde won Gold Medals and 10,000m Bronze medals in Mexico. This great athlet at the 1972 Munich Olympic at the age of 40 he won a Bronze medal in Marathon.
So it is the Responsibility of the Ethiopian Olympic Comettie and the Ethiopian Athletic Federation, to rebuilt the tombstone of one of the greatest Ethiopian Olympic hero Mamo Wolde. Because of his greatness in the Olympic it is very important to make some thing of his rememberance at public place in the capital Addis Ababa with the help of the Ethiopian Goverment & all Ethiopians around the world.
Thank You
Nadew Ambaye From North America(U.S.A)