Lemma Guya Gemeda was an Ethiopian painter, airplane pilot, and author.
17 Facts About Lemma Guya
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Lemma Guya created some ten-thousand of his original artworks, and used goat skin for painting portraits.
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Lemma Guya said that his mother's craft works inspired him in childhood to become a painter.
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Lemma Guya had a great ambition to change the socio economic status of his poor family.
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In 1950, Lemma Guya went to Adama Teachers Training College, but did not stay long there.
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Lemma Guya was not idle, as he was fighting to change his parents' socio economic status.
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Lemma Guya got a chance to show his work, and his Majesty became surprised by Lemma's work and sent him to Ethiopian Air Force for training.
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Lemma Guya was trained as Airplane Technician and graduated with great distinction in 1954.
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Lemma Guya continued to learn painting in Italian Painting School which was in Asmara, Ethiopia from his own wage.
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Lemma Guya began to translate books gifted to him by many foreigners after his return from Asmara, among them "Sil yale astemari" which was the first one.
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On this portrait, Lemma Guya tried to glimpse Africa's natural resource corruption.
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In 1983 Lemma Guya opened an art gallery that was called Lemma Guya art gallery that was located in the Oromia region of Bishoftu.
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Lemma Guya's paintings have been exhibited and sold successfully in America, Sweden, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal and let him win numerous prizes and awards.
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Lemma Guya was awarded as "a man who is an author of notable work which glimpse three generations" by Native American Heritage Association.
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Lemma Guya had become sick since 2018, and was supported by national and international doctors.
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Ethiopian News Agency on his official website noted that "Famous Ethiopian Painter Lemma Guya Dies at 92".
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Lemma Guya had married Aster Bekele in 1960s, and together they had three sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren.