Tsehai_Lemma

Ethiopia's first female lawyer and political pioneer, advocating for women's rights and constitutional reforms.

Tsehai Lemma (1898–1933) was a trailblazing Ethiopian lawyer, educator, and feminist who shattered gender barriers in her country. Born into a noble family in Addis Ababa, she defied tradition by studying law in Europe, becoming Ethiopia’s first female lawyer in 1926. She later founded the first women’s college in Ethiopia, the Tsehai School, to educate girls in leadership and modern subjects.

Lemma’s legal expertise and activism made her a key advisor to Emperor Haile Selassie. She drafted provisions for Ethiopia’s 1931 constitution, advocating for women’s rights to vote and own property. Her 1932 book Women’s Rights in Ethiopia (Amazon) argued for gender equality in education and politics. Despite her progressive views, Lemma faced backlash from conservative elites and died young at age 35.

Today, Lemma is celebrated as a symbol of Ethiopian women’s empowerment. The Tsehai Lemma Foundation (Website) continues her mission to educate girls, while her legacy inspires feminists across Africa. Her story highlights the risks and rewards of challenging patriarchal norms in early 20th-century Africa (Wikipedia).