Getahun Benti

Getahun Benti is a Professor of History at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), where he has been since 2000. He holds a Ph.D. in African History and Urban Studies from Michigan State University. His research focuses on urbanization, migration, and the intersection of language and nationalism in Ethiopia. He authored two major books: Urban Growth in Ethiopia (2017) and Addis Ababa: Migration and the Making of a Multiethnic Metropolis (2007), alongside articles in journals like Northest African Studies and Journal of Oromo Studies.

Prof. Benti teaches courses on African and world history, including comparative slavery. He is an active member of the African Studies Association and the Oromo Studies Association, serving as chair of the latter’s board of governors twice. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary urban challenges in Ethiopia.