Dr. Sefefe describes his family tree, his village, and the local history. He discusses his names and explains their meanings. When he was only four years old, his father taught him to swim in the river that crossed through the village. When he was seven, his father built a bridge over the river to prevent people and animals from being swept away and drowning in the winter. On market days, Dr. Sefefe was responsible for collecting a toll tax on the bridge. He describes the games he played as a child such as javelin throwing and ball games.

Dr. Sefefe describes the Ethiopian tradition of acts of revenge. He relates that, after his father returned from the war against the Italians, their house was set on fire twice. He describes the assistance they received from the Jewish community.  

The Jewish community in his village included people later referred to as Falashmura.  They were craftsmen, such as blacksmiths, potters, or weavers, who observed Judaism in their homes but tried to imitate their Christian neighbors when outside their homes. Dr. Sefefe discusses this split in his life and that of his family.

At the age of seven, Dr. Sefefe was sent to study in a religious school under an elderly Kes. However, he did not fit in there, and after a short time his father transferred him to a state school called Askula, where he studied until fifth grade. Dr. Sefefe describes his studies and the discipline, his role as class monitor, and the social life in the school.

He began sixth grade at the age of 14 in the new school in the village of Debre Markos. Dr. Sefefe advanced in his studies. When he was in ninth grade, an American “Peace Team” came to his school. Dr. Sefefe and two other students were selected to take part in a project for teaching excellence. He lived with the American teachers for a year and a half.

At the end of the project, Dr. Sefefe returned to his studies at the school. He was sent to be screened for a pilot training course. He passed all the tests, aside from the eyesight test. Later, a course for health inspection was opened in the Gondar College of Medical Sciences. The 18-year old Dr. Sefefe moved to live and study in Gondar.

Dr. Sefefe was accepted to a special track that enabled him to complete his twelve years of basic education while studying in the College of Medical Sciences. He studied in this manner for three years. When he completed these studies, he worked in a medical center in the village of Dejen in the province of Gojjam. After a year in this position, Dr. Sefefe requested to be transferred to a clinic in Kafa, in the distant province of Kulo Konta, where he worked for two years.

Dr. Sefefe continued to study for five years toward a degree as a medical officer at the Addis Ababa University. He married and started a family. When he completed his studies, he worked for six years as a doctor and regional manager of the health institutions. During the great drought and famine, he was sent in a professional capacity to the province of Wollo. For six months, he was responsible for the camp and treated 6000 hunger stricken and sick people around the clock.

When he finished this job, he was appointed to the area of Tenta, where he managed seven clinics. Dr. Sefefe describes his administrative position at length, as well as his role as a doctor. He describes the prevalent types of illnesses and treatments. He then relates that temporary clinics were often set up in distant villages, where the doctors would sleep and treat the local residents.

During this period, Emperor Haile Selassie’s regime fell and the Derg party rose to power. 15,000 members of the feudal camp fought the supporters of the Derg party revolution in the city of Tenta. Dr. Sefefe and his family managed to escape the fierce fighting and were smuggled to a safe city, where they were hidden. Two weeks later, they ran away to the forests near the city of Dessa. When the situation calmed down, Dr. Sefefe began to work in the city’s hospital. He notes that during the two months he worked there, global aid for the victims of the drought in the area began to arrive and the residents’ condition improved.

For almost three years, Dr. Sefefe managed the medical center in Dangila in the province of Gojjam. During this period, he was selected by the Ethiopian ministry of health to be sent for further training in Nigeria on behalf of the World Health Organization. When he returned, he joined the rebel group against the Derg regime – the EHAPA. Dr. Sefefe presents an overview of the political situation, recalls various activities of the rebel group, and describes living in fear of being caught and executed.

He moved to manage clinics in the village of Erussi in the province of Gamu Gofa in southern Ethiopia. There he continued his rebellious political activity. After three years, the minister of health personally referred him to manage the medical center in the city of Harar, and he moved there for a year.

During this year, his wife and children managed to leave Ethiopia and immigrate to Israel. Dr. Sefefe waited for his opportunity. He moved to Addis Ababa, and was appointed as general work manager of the medical centers in the city. As part of this role, he was sent to study in Antwerp, Belgium. At the end of the two years of studies, Dr. Sefefe decided not to return to Ethiopia. Instead, he was reunited with his family in Israel.