The outspoken Ethiopian historian, storyteller, and political activist Gebrekdan Desta has died at the age of 85.

He was affectionately known as Memhir and Aboy – Tigrinya for teacher and father respectively.

Gebrekdan was part of the firebrand generation of students who rose against the feudal rule of Emperor Haile Selassie and later the Derg regime of Mangistu Haile Mariam.

He survived a shooting and was imprisoned for nine years by the Derg regime.

Gebrekdan authored three books in Tigrinya and Amharic, and caused controversy with his views on the famous 1896 Battle of Adwa, when Italy’s attempt to invade Ethiopia was thwarted. Gebrekdan argued that it led to the colonisation of Eritrea, and he was highly critical of this.

Some praised Gebrekdan for telling what they saw as the truth, while others sharply disagreed with him.

His last book was on Emperor Yohannes IV, who ruled Ethiopia from 1872-1889.

Gebrekdan celebrated 50 years of marriage this year and is survived by his wife and five children.

Gebrekdan died of an undisclosed illness in Mekelle – the capital of the northern Tigray region which has been hit by conflict over the past year.

The conflict between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has caused a massive humanitarian crisis, leaving millions of people homeless, at least 400,000 in famine-like conditions, the destruction of health facilities, and a severe shortage of medicine.