Agitu Gudeta: The Role Model for Immigrants In Italy Died

An Ethiopian migrant who became a symbol of integration in Italy, her adopted home, has been killed on her farm where she raised goats for her cheese business.

Agitu moved to Rome to attend university, graduating with a degree in Sociology, but this pathway came to an abrupt end. Back in Ethiopia, her family livelihood was under threat. Agitu would not sit idly by, and determined to take a stance. She returned to her Ethiopia, and publicly condemned the unfair practices and abuses commited by those trying to steal lands. Her activism came at a cost however, and she and her family were forced to flee Addis Ababa, returning to Italy.

In Italy, she reclaimed 11 hectares of abandoned land in the San Felice Valley, in northeastern Italy, and started rearing laying hens and goats, an endangered, indigenous breed of goat. She started a farm business called The Happy Goat and Agitu had a chance to live a happy and peaceful life. Starting off with 15 goats, she had 180 by 2018 when she became a well-known figure but the numbers continued to increase and her business continued to take off.

“I created my space and made myself known, there was no resistance to me,” she told Reuters in a story two years ago.

Even if she initially gained recognition for the quality of her products, the more people learned about her, they liked her deeply. She was admired all over the country and went on TV several times as she was considered the symbol and role model for immigrants. She also took in many refugee workers under her wing. There is no doubting the courage and strength of Agitu Ideo. Here is a woman who is just as prepared to roll up her sleeves and work, as to stare down even the greatest of challenges. Her story sets a universal example of fortitude, a model to look up to.

However, some in San Felice Valley could not stand Agitu’s presence and her thriving business, a racially motivated and shameful animosity that eventually turned into violence. In August, Agitu’s said “I was alone, my assistant was out in the pastures, I was cleaning the milking machine when I felt someone grabbing my shoulder, telling me that I had to leave the valley.”

“You gotta leave, n*****!” the man in question is a neighbor who has been tormenting Agitu for some time now, “the harassment has been going on for months, this person phoned the mayor to complain about the fact that we had been allowed to own some land and even demanded that the road leading to our farm be closed. The reason behind all this is racism. I have offered several apprenticeships for refugees and employed a refugee from Mali. This neighbor does not like the color of our skin and does whatever he can to cause trouble.”

The attacks have not been restricted to Agitu and her family. The animals are targeted frequently, as neighbors take bike rides and set dogs loose against the herd in an effort to torment and cause stress to the animals. Agitu is afraid that things may get worse: “I have filed charges against him, with photographic and video evidence. The problem is that for him to be arrested he has to be caught in the act. But this is impossible, I live in a secluded mountain shelter, in the woods, it is hard to reach. When you call the police, it takes an hour and a half for them to arrive.”

Months later, a Ghanaian employee on her farm in the northern Italian region of Trentino has admitted to killing Agitu Ideo Gudeta, 42, with a hammer and raping her, Italian news agency Ansa reported. She was found dead by her neighbor in her bedroom.

The African community in Italy has been shaken by this news. Another Ethiopian refuge said this about her death “She did not deserve this, but she does deserve justice. She was one of the sweetest, hard working and most intelligent person”