Prof. Bahru Zewde, Emeritus Professor of History at Addis Ababa University, is a pioneering scholar and a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s academic community. He is a Founding Fellow and former Principal Vice President of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences, and currently serves as President of the Association of Ethiopian Historians. His academic leadership includes roles as Chair of the History Department and Director of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies.

His influence spans the continent through leadership in pan-African scholarly bodies such as the Association of African Historians and OSSREA, where he served as Resident Vice President and editor of its journal. He also directed the Forum for Social Studies in Addis Ababa and served on boards of institutions including TrustAfrica, the Ethiopian Heritage Trust, Good Governance Africa–Horn of Africa, and Addis Ababa University. Prof. Bahru has edited major journals like the Journal of Ethiopian Studies and Africa Review of Books, while earning fellowships and recognition from global institutions including the British Academy and Humboldt University.

Internationally, Prof. Bahru has held visiting professorships in Europe and the U.S. and consulted for organizations such as the Carnegie Corporation, African Union, and Ethiopian Airlines. A prolific historian of Ethiopia and Africa, his work continues to shape scholarly discourse and policy, making him a prominent voice in African historical and intellectual circles.