Early life Lemma was born on February 13, 1928, in one of
woredas in
Oromia Region called
Ada'a from his father
Guya Gemeda and his mother
Mare Gobena. At his early age he was obligated to become a
cattle herder for his parents were pastoral. In his leisure time he was painting on the wall of his family's house, and he became a mesmerizing icon for his family. He said that his mother's craft works inspired him in childhood to become a painter. As his painting career grew well, people from surrounding areas positively influenced his father Guya to send his son, Lemma, to school. By the age of 14, in 1942, Lemma went to "
Lebna Dengel primary school" which is about 10
Kilometres from his hometown. Among his notable work
Kuwanta has become very meaningful. On this portrait, Lemma tried to glimpse
Africa's natural resource corruption. On this portrait there are 2 cats looking at meat that hung on horizontally tied rope. In 1983 Lemma Guya opened an art gallery that was called Lemma Guya art gallery that was located in the Oromia region of Bishoftu. This art gallery began to be a place of study for african art and artist.
Awards Lemma's paintings have been exhibited and sold successfully in
America,
Sweden,
United Kingdom,
Nigeria,
Kenya and
Senegal and let him win numerous prizes and
awards. Lemma was awarded as
"a man who is an author of notable work which glimpse three generations" by Native American Heritage Association. For his contribution to the society of Oromia the
University of Jimma also awarded him
Honorary Doctorate. == Death ==