The Evil Eye and Power

December 30, 2025

The Evil Eye and Power is a searching exploration of one of Ethiopia’s most unspoken truths: the destructive force of jealousy and how it shapes leadership, society, and national destiny. Drawing from history, culture, social psychology, and spiritual tradition, Alene Yenew Kassa examines the ancient belief in the evil eye (buda) not as superstition alone, but as a powerful metaphor for envy, suspicion, and collective resentment that devours talent, unity, and hope. From imperial courts to modern political power, the book traces how admired leaders and gifted individuals are first elevated, then consumed by envy—often by their own people. Through historical case studies, cultural analysis, and moral reflection, the author reveals how jealousy operates as an invisible social force, turning ambition into tragedy and reform into ruin. The narrative moves beyond politics to expose a deeper spiritual and psychological crisis buried within Ethiopian social life. Yet this is not a book of despair. The Evil Eye and Power calls for healing through truth-telling, humility, faith, and collective repentance. It challenges readers to confront uncomfortable cultural patterns and to imagine a future where success is celebrated rather than punished, and power is guided by moral responsibility rather than fear. Provocative, reflective, and deeply rooted in Ethiopian experience, this book is a call to awaken a nation—before envy finishes what history has begun.