Hagos Seyum

 “የሰጠ እጅ ከሚቀበል እጅ ይበልጣል።”

“The hand that gives is better than the hand that receives.”

Some lives shine brightly, not in grand speeches or global headlines, but in quiet acts of generosity, in doorways kept open for others, and in hearts that carry nations within them. Ato Hagos Seyum is one such man—a quiet force of kindness whose story spans continents, crises, and communities.

Born on December 12, 1940, in the serene highlands of Mengeda village in the Adafrom area of Adwa district, Hagos was the son of Grazmach Seyum Gebru, a man of discipline and dignity, and W/ro Kidan Arya, a woman of profound faith and resilience. From his earliest days, the winds of history and duty seemed to call him beyond his village. That call led him to Khartoum, Sudan, where, as a young man, he began his life in the diplomatic world—working at the Ethiopian Embassy for almost a decade. He often says those years lit a fire in him, a sense of purpose that never dimmed. Even decades later, he still speaks of that chapter with the wide-eyed wonder of a boy who got a glimpse of the world. But diplomacy was only the beginning.

In 1975, amidst political turmoil in Ethiopia, Hagos, with the help of an American organization, arrived in the United States, like many immigrants, with uncertain hope tucked under his arm and dreams for a better tomorrow. While many struggled to find footing, Hagos adapted with remarkable grace, embracing the rhythm of a new life while never abandoning the heartbeat of his homeland.

In 1979, just four years after arriving, he opened Axum Restaurant on 18th Street—a cultural haven and gathering place that served more than just food; it served as a repository of memory, identity, and belonging. Later, on 11th Street, he opened a grocery store, living just above it, serving his neighborhood below. In Seven Corners, he joined hands with Mr. Dawit Kassa to open yet another restaurant—each venture not just a business but a beacon for fellow Ethiopians navigating life in exile.

Yet, what defines Hagos is not what he built for himself, but what he gave to others. Through hardship and hustle, he never stopped giving. He became a silent benefactor, guiding countless countrymen and women—some new to the country, some lost in its bureaucracy—toward self-reliance. His address in DC became a lifeline; so many people used it to access medical assistance that the city once questioned him about it. But for Hagos, the answer was simple: &”If I don’t help, who will?” His generosity reached across oceans. He sent money back home so students could go to school, sponsored many quietly, and gave without asking for recognition. He was a rock for many, a compass for newcomers, and a lifeline for the vulnerable.

In 1983, the city of Washington, D.C. honored him with an award on Ethiopian Day, presented by Mayor Marion Barry—a recognition of his unparalleled service to the Ethiopian diaspora. He didn’t stop there. Hagos played an instrumental role in founding community-based organizations, including the UTNA, serving as a critical bridge between the organization and the TPLF. He also helped establish the Tigray Community Association, giving his people a place to gather, organize, and belong.

He served as a mobile public notary for seven years, traveling across the city to serve people who couldn’t come to him—never asking for more than a kind word in return. And while life in America offered new opportunities, his heart never left Ethiopia. At one point, he had amassed 7 million birr in an Ethiopian bank, saving to one day build a home. But watching his country in crisis—its people suffering, its soul in turmoil—he chose a higher path.

With quiet dignity, he donated 1 million birr to an ancient church, another 1 million to wounded veterans to purchase wheelchairs, and 1 million to rebuild a school established by the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, destroyed in war. He didn’t wait for peace to give. He gave to make peace possible. Hagos Seyum is a father of two—a son and a daughter—whose lives carry the legacy of their father’s strength and humility.

When asked what he wants most in life, he doesn’t hesitate.

“Peace. That’s all. For everyone. For Ethiopia. For the world.”

It is a simple wish, but coming from a man who has lived to give, guided to uplift, and worked to connect hearts across borders, it is a powerful prayer.

Ato Hagos Seyum—philanthropist, community builder, patriot, and gentle soul—remains one of the pillars of the Ethiopian-American story. A life like his doesn’t need monuments; it lives in every person he helped, every community he uplifted, and every dream he made possible.