Face to Face with EWF History

Today (May 14, 2012) I attended an event at the African Union in Manhattan honoring the memory of the Honorable Baba Dudley Thompson, the former Jamaican government Minister and Chair of World African Diaspora Union (WADU).

Emissary,Personal Physician and cousin of His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I who incorporated The Ethiopian World Federation, Inc. along with citizens of Harlem, New York City in 1937.

The highlight for me as International President of the EWF, Inc. – I met a young 92 year old man who personally knew Dr. Malaku E. Bayen, the incorporator of the Ethiopian World Federation in 1937.  The gentleman, whose family hails from St. Lucia, was employed in the printing shop that oproduced The Voice of Ethiopia.  He did not see Dr. Bayen very often but he did at times and he was always impressed by his oratory and his passion for his work. He recalls that he had a son.

He said over the years he had been yearning to hear something about the organization and his words, not mine “It was divine intervention” that caused him to meet me at the event today.

I don’t know who was more in awe; me in awe of meeting him, or him, in awe of meeting me and the other members of the EWF that I introduced him to.  He lives in Virginia and is ready to come to New York for a membership meeting!  At 92! What say we…

We will definitely be inviting him to be a guest speaker at Annual Convention 2012 in New York City beginning July 16.  Tomorrow we will be sending out official notice of convention. You don’t have to be a delegate to attend. If you are coming from outside of New York, let us know so that all attending can be included in all activities.  If you are thinking of coming, please give us a call at 347-462-9039.

By Sis Gem Askale Mariam
G. Eveta Morrison
International President
The Ethiopian World Federation, Inc.