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Tewodros Tsegaye
ቴዎድሮስ ጸጋዬ
Tewodros Tsegaye at Reyot Media Appreciation Event, 2024
Born	Mekelle, Ethiopia
Alma mater	Addis Ababa University School of Law
Occupation	Journalism
Years active	2008 –
Known for	Hard Talk, Investigative Journalism
Title	Founder at Reyot Media

Tewodros Tsegaye (Amharic: ቴዎድሮስ ጸጋዬ) is an influential figure in Ethiopian media, politics, and culture. His work spans a variety of disciplines, including law, journalism, history, poetry, music criticism, and political commentary, making him a multi-dimensional personality in Ethiopian intellectual and cultural circles. He has made a name for himself through his insightful reporting and analysis on various social, political, and cultural issues in Ethiopia. His work often highlights significant topics affecting Ethiopian society.

Mr. Tsegaye resides in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. He is married and has one child.

Tewodros was born in Mekelle, Ethiopia, and studied primary school in Shashemane city at Shashamane School for the Blind.^[1] Finishing his primary school, he returned to Mekelle and attended high school at Atse Yohannes comprehensive secondary school. He graduated with a Law degree in 2006 from Addis Ababa University.

Tewodros Tsegaye began his work in Ethiopian media as a co-host of the radio program Yeta’em Liket (የጣዕም ልኬት) on Sheger FM 102.1. The show, produced with co-hosts Abraham Tesfaye and Sertse Fresebhat, focused on Ethiopian music and featured discussions of song lyrics, melody, album composition, and production quality. Through this program, Tewodros participated in analytical reviews of contemporary musical works, contributing to public conversations on trends and developments within the Ethiopian music industry. His involvement in the show marked his early engagement with media and cultural commentary, preceding his later work in journalism and social-political analysis.

Tsegaye is noted for his use of the Amharic language in his commentary on political and social issues. His style often incorporates poetic elements, which appears in his interviews, debates, and analyses. This approach has contributed to his recognition within Ethiopian media and public discourse.

Tewodros is the founder of Reyot Media, which he established in 2013 as a radio show on Ethio FM 107.8 and later broadcast on EBS Television. The program became known for its focus on analysis, discussion of socio-political issues, cultural affairs, and media critique. Tewodros’ background in law, history, and journalism informed the program’s engagement with contemporary topics in Ethiopian society. Reyot developed a substantial audience in Ethiopia and within the diaspora, in part due to its coverage of subjects that were less commonly addressed in mainstream Ethiopian media. The show included interviews with a range of public figures, including politicians, activists, scholars, and artists. Notable guests have appeared on the show such as Bereket Habte Selassie, Getachew Reda, Jawar Mohammed, Lidetu Ayalew, Kumsa Diriba (Jaal Maaro), Eskinder Nega, Getachew Haile, and Haile Gerima to name a few.

Alongside the television show that lasted for three years, the show has been available on online platforms utilizing traditional and digital media outlets to reach a wider audience. His contributions have fostered discussions and brought attention to underrepresented voices and stories.^[2] His reporting during the Tigray conflict has been particularly significant, as he shed light on the alliance between Abiy Ahmed’s administration and Eritrean forces, as well as the internal fractures within the country. His analysis of these events has resonated with the diaspora and those advocating for human rights.^[3]

His work often exposes the Ethiopian government's actions regarding freedom of the press, human rights abuses, and the conflicts in Tigray and Oromia. He is a contributor to platforms such as ″Reyot Media″ and ″Ethiopia Insight″, where he has written articles that critically examine Ethiopia’s political dynamics, including the role of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Eritrean involvement in Ethiopia’s internal conflicts.

• Eskinder Nega
• Lidetu Ayalew
• Kumsa Diriba
• Getatchew Haile
• Getachew Reda
• Bereket Habte Selassie

Tewodros has not been immune to controversy, largely because of the sensitive nature of the topics he covers. His discussions on ethnic federalism, political corruption, and human rights abuses have often led to friction with the Ethiopian government and other political factions. Despite this, he remains a vocal advocate for freedom of speech and journalistic integrity, even in the face of censorship or threats. others accuse him of being Tigrayan ethno-centric^[4].

He gained public attention and sparked controversy by posing a series of strategic questions to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed regarding the government’s position on Ethiopia’s access to the sea, the administrative status of Addis Ababa under the current constitution; specifically, whether the city belongs to all Ethiopian citizens or exclusively to the Oromia Region; and the government’s stance on potential constitutional amendments.