Happy Birthday to Princess Lissan Selassie of Ethiopia, who turns 23 today! The accomplished great-granddaughter of the last Ethiopian Crown Prince is a unique descendant of four ancient Ethiopian Dynasties!

The daughter of distinguished artist Prince Yisehak Fikre Selassie and technology expert and human rights activist Asqual Teferi, Princess Lissie Selassie is the younger sister of Princess Edgigayheu (Gigi) F. Selassie. Despite growing up in the United States, the Princess reads, writes, and speaks Amharic fluently, maintaining strong links to Ethiopian culture and society five decades on from the end of the Ethiopian Monarchy and the violent military junta that took the lives of many family members, among them her paternal grandmother, Princess EdjigAyehu Asfaw Wossen, who was the senior granddaughter of Emperor Haile Selassie.

Princess Lissie has recently earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology from University of California. in Santa Cruz and resides with her family in California. Her hobbies include fashion, art, photography, modelling, traveling, social media, health and fitness.

In 2023, Princess Lissie led the Royal and Noble Debutantes at Le Bal des Débutantes at the Shangri La Hotel in Paris, organised by Ophélie Renouard to celebrate honourable young women from Europe, Asia, Africa and the US, while raising funds for charity.  Princess Lissie herself is engaged in philanthropy supporting the education and self empowerment of young girls.

I found interest in Le Bal because I want to do philanthropic work. I was delighted to receive Ophélie’s invitation. I guess I just couldn’t say no. I was humbled to be the first Ethiopian debutante at Le Bal.

I definitely want to be an inspiration for young girls. I want to be known for giving back to people, whether it be in my career path or philanthropic work.

Prince Yisehak is the youngest son of Princess EdjigAyehu Asfaw Wossen, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen, who was the heir of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and later Emperor in Exile as the Head of the ancient Solomonic Dynasty, tracing direct descendant from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

Ethiopia is home to a rich tapestry of ethnic groups, with the Amhara, Tigrayan, and Oromo among the most prominent. Before Emperor Menelik II unified the nation, these regions were governed by powerful kingdoms. Princess Lissie’s ancestry uniquely reflects this diversity, encompassing royal ties to four major Ethiopian Dynasties.

From the north, Princess Lissie’sgreat-grandmother Princess WelteIsrael Seyoum was the granddaughter of Emperor Yohannes IV of Tigray. He was a revered leader who twice defeated Egyptian forces and protected Egyptian Christians from jihadist attacks.

Another northern ancestor, King Mikael Ali of the Wello Kingdom (born Mohammed Ali), converted to Orthodox Christianity under Emperor Yohannes’s directive. Princess Lissie’s great-grandmother, Empress Menen Asfaw, the wife of Emperor Haile Selassie, was King Mikael Ali’s granddaughter.

From the south, Princess Lissie descends from King Kumsa Moreda of the Oromo region, who was baptized to the Orthodox faith as Dejazmach Gebregziabher Kumsa. Her grandfather, King Fikre Selassie, continued this legacy of leadership in the Oromo community, deemed the last King of the Oromo Kingdom.

We wish Her Imperial Highness a very Happy Birthday and Many Happy Returns!