Lina Ayenew was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She received dual degrees from Yale University, a B.A. in Political Science and an M.P.H in 2010 and 2011 respectively. She is a social entrepreneur and writer.
Ayenew’s interest in China was piqued as an undergraduate student when she received a fellowship from Yale-China Association to teach English in China. Her trip led her to learn the Chinese language and explore the native Chinese culture as well as its presence in Ethiopia.
This rich experience resulted in her book, a first of its kind to teach Mandarin to native Amharic speakers, which is the official language of Ethiopia. Ayenew has also recently published The Complete Beginner’s Guide to China-Africa Relations. This five book series covers the period between 2014-2018 and explores Ethiopian-Chinese bi-lateral collaborations, China’s influence on Africa’s economic and technological development and political influence in the 21st century.