Menelik II
Getachew Abate was the son of "Lique Mekwas" Abate Ba-Yalew. He had a church education followed by language training at the Menelik School ("Ecole Imperiale Menelik II"). Getachew Abate grew up in the palace of Emperor Menelik II along with Menelik's grandson, "Lij" Iyasu.