Bahir Dar University | Ethiopia
Mr. Tesfamichael Derso is a historian and researcher specializing in Ethiopian history, heritage management, and social integration, with more than nine years of experience in teaching, research, and community service. He holds a MA in History from the University of Gondar and a BA in History and Heritage Management from Wolita Sodo University. Since he has taught history at the secondary level, and since he has served as a university lecturer at Bahir Dar University, where he delivers lectures, designs and grades assessments, leads review sessions, supervises student learning, and carries out scholarly research. His publications include four articles in peer-reviewed and Scopus-indexed journals on topics such as ethnic interaction, Iddir institutions, forestry history, infrastructure development, and the impact of the Fascist Italian occupation in Gondar. His research interests include interethnic relations, heritage and indigenous institutions, environmental history, colonial and wartime impacts, and local community identity. He has also participated in seminars and training in research ethics, conservation, leadership, and manuscript restoration. Among his recognitions is the Young African Fellowships Award from CODESRIA and the Mastercard Foundation.
Featured Publications
Derso, T. F. (2025). Fascist Italian occupation and its impact on Ethiopia: The case of Gondar, 1936 to 1941. National Identities, 24(4), 1–24.
Derso, T. F. (2024). Ethnic interaction and integration in Gondär (Ethiopia): The case of the Amhara and Tigre, 1930–1970s. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 11(1), 2330177.
Derso, T. F. (2024). Forest and forestry in Gondar (Ethiopia) from 1938 to 1991: Utilization, opportunities, and constraints. Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution, 1–10.
Fentie, T. (2023). Iddir in Gondar: Historical development and its role in promoting social interaction among different ‘ethno-linguistic’ groups (1936–1994). Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences, 9(1), 45–63.
Fentie, T. (2023). An assessment of road and bridge construction in Simen and Begemider province, 1963–1991. Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences, 9(2), 75–90.