Minister OsMan saleh hOlds talks with wOrkshOp On develOping …50.7.16.234/hadas-eritrea/eritrea_profile_16022019.pdf · 2019-02-16 · The tour will cover the cities of Bahir-Dar,

Vol 25. No. 101 Saturday, February 16, 2019 Pages 8, Price 2.00 NFA

Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met and held talks on 14 February at the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Luxemburg delegation headed by Mr. Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxemburg.

At the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations, the progress of the peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia as well as regional issues of interest to both countries.

Indicating that Eritrea and Ethiopia signed the historic agreement after

Eritrean national cultural troupe comprising Sibrit and other legendary and young musicians and singers departed to Ethiopia on 14 February, to perform musical concert in various Ethiopian cities.

According to Mr. Michael Teferi, coordinator of the cultural troupe, objective of the program is to

The Ministry of Education on 14 and 15 February organized a workshop at Asmara Palace aimed at developing the national education standard.

Noting that effort has been made to develop the educational policy and action plan for 2018-2022, Minister Semere said that the workshop is aimed at developing the draft of the national education standard.

The director of Planning and Curriculum Development at the Ministry of Education, Mr. Abraham Russom, said that the staff members of the Ministry have been working to prepare the draft since 2014

The Eritrean Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan, Mr. Yohannes Teklemichael, held talks on 13 February with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Deng Dau Deng Malek.

At the meeting held in Juba, President Salva Kiir and Ambassador Yohannes discussed on the progress of the understanding reached between President Isaias Afwerki and Presidents Salva Kiir during his official visit to Eritrea in August 2018.

Underlining the historic relations between Eritrea and the Republic of South Sudan, President Salva Kiir wished good will to President Isaias Afwerki and the people of Eritrea.

Likewise, Ambassador Yohannes met and held talks with the South Sudanese Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Deng Dau Deng Malek, focusing on Eritrean investors in country.

At the meeting in which heads of

Minister OsMan saleh hOlds talks with luxeMburg FOreign Minister

eritrean natiOnal cultural trOupe departed tO ethiOpia

aMbassadOr YOhannes hOlds talks with sOuth sudan OFFicials

wOrkshOp On develOping natiOnal educatiOn standard

and expressed expectation that the education standard will significantly contribute to the development of education in the country.

The national education standard document includes capacity of teachers, management of schools, participation of students in term of gender, capacity of educational facilities, standard and safety of schools, curriculum implementation and other education related issues.

The draft national education standard will be implemented in 36 schools as pilot project and will be presented to the Ministry of Education for full implementation in schools across the country.

Eritrean community in Juba as well as Eritreans owners of trucks took part, Mr. Deng Dau Deng recalled the support the Eritrean people extended to the South Sudan people during their time of need in their history, and expressed his country’s readiness to ensure the investment opportunities of Eritrean investors.

In the same vein, Eritrean national associations in the US cities of Denver, Phoenix, San-Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange

County organized discussion forum on 9 February with a view to sharing information on the objective situation in the homeland and strengthening contribution in the national development drives.

Eritrean nationals residing in the Italian cities of Rome, Milan, Bologna, Parma, Firenze, Napoli, Catania and Bari also celebrated the 29th anniversary of Fenkil Operation. The celebrations were attended by a number of friends of Eritrea.

more than 20 years of hostility and conflict, Minister Osman Saleh said that effort is being exerted to strengthen economic cooperation between countries in the Horn of Africa.

Minister Osman expressed expectation that European countries will support the program and that strong effort will be made to strengthening economic cooperation and partnership between Eritrea and the European Union.

Minister Jean Asselborn on his

part said that the new era of peace and cooperation unfolding in the Horn of Africa will have significant contribution in the diplomatic development and expressed his country’s readiness to work for strengthening relations between Eritrea and his country.

celebrate the peace and friendship agreement signed and to develop cultural relations between the two countries. Mr. Michael also said that similar programs will be organized in the future.

The tour will cover the cities of Bahir-Dar, Adama, Hawassa, and Addis Ababa, from 14 to 24 February.

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Aida Johar

2Vol 25 . No 101Eritrea Profile, Saturday, February 16, 2019

Emba Matara, or “The Mountain of the Cross” is a spectacular 1000 foot granite spire, which casts its late afternoon shadow on the village of Matera in the Eritrean Highlands. As a young child, I used to climb the mountain regularly with my brothers and with guests who would come to visit us in our home village of Senafe. We scampered up the mountain, including the steep section with a cable attached to a spike driven into a particularly challenging portion of the climb by Italian soldiers. The cross at the top, we were told as children, was placed on top of the mountain in memory of a defeated Italian general, who chose honor over surrender and jumped off the top of the Mountain.

This stunning spire, called a

In the shadow of Emba Matara“granite intrusion”, exposed by geological action some 10 - 100 million years ago, has faithfully watched over life at its feet over the centuries - from the beehive of activity in various kingdoms some 2000 years ago to the rhythm of 21st century Senafe village life. Emba Matara has quietly smiled on ululating women at weddings, the flood of donkey carts and buses on market days, oxen plowing rocky fields, and villagers welcoming strangers with freshly brewed bun filtered through horse-hair plugs from tilted jebena pots on charcoal fires. Emba Matara has also been a somber witness over the centuries to human conflict, tied inextricably to the map-drawing of five colonizations of Eritrea. Matara has shuddered as

elephants, and British soldiers from the Napier expedition passed underneath from Adulis into interior Ethiopia.

Many a scout has climbed the mountain’s flanks to get a birds-eye view, and trenches, landmines, and tanks have stained its base red far too many times to count in the past decades as Eritrea fought for self-determination. Moreover, as only an Eritrean village could do, on December 29, 2018, in the shadow of Emba Matara, the village of Senafe welcomed home my brother Samuel, whose last wishes were to return to the place of his birth.

To the people of Eritrea and Senafe, I offer my heartfelt thanks, and that of the entire Mahaffy family, in the form of the words I wrote for Samuel’s burial in the cemetery in the shadow of Emba Matara. Every person, every tribe, every village, every nation has its own stories. Also,

Samuel was no exception. Wedi Senafe, Son of a village. It takes a village to raise a son.

Samuel’s story began in 1952 in Senafe, where he spent the first 14 years of his life. So the complex stories of Eritrea were deeply woven through the complexities of his own life, his passions, and his values. Was there one true friend of brother Samuel’s with whom he did not break injera and eat zignay often that he made himself with his family? So it is fitting that the final chapter of Samuel’s story is written in the presence of so many kind friends in the village of Senafe. Samuel is surrounded today by his wife Renee, his children Sylvan, Hanna, and Kamila, representatives of his family in the form of Cheryl and myself and brother Paul, good friends from the United States, and most importantly by his brothers and sisters who make Senafe and Eritrea home. The child Samuel would have shared shahee, hospitality, and nourishing food with some of you here, along with the mothers, fathers, and grandparents of the many villagers who have come to say goodbye to him.

From the bottom of our hearts, Samuel’s family members who are here in person and his large family in other parts of the world who are here in spirit, say Yekanyele to all of you. Thank you, for helping to raise our brother Samuel, and for welcoming him and all of us back so generously to the home where he wanted his body and his spirit to rest. Your gracious hospitality and generosity deeply move us.

I am sure Samuel’s spirit jumps to know that this ceremony today in December of 2018, comes at a time we dare to hope after many decades that living in peace will be the new lasting story for the village of Senafe and for Eritrea. Samuel would wish that everyone here, along with your neighbors in villages and cities close to Eritrea and around the world will find ways to work for peace, to pray for peace, to live peace, and to love peace. It is the profound hope of his family that generations to come will stand quietly at this beautiful piece of ground believing that Samuel’s spirit and Emba Matara that looks over his final resting place will never again see trenches,

landmines, and weapons raised against others. Rest in peace, brother Samuel, Wedi Senafe. Your village has welcomed you home.

Following Samuel’s committal to his final resting place, I

climb Emba Matara with family members for the first time in 52 years. I stand quietly on its peak, giving thanks for being deeply rooted in the beautiful village in

the shadow of this majestic rock.

Note: For over a decade, Dr. Peter Mahaffy and his research team at The King’s University in Edmonton, Alberta, have worked with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

(OPCW), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013.

Dr. Peter MafhaffySources: www.kemey.net


Simon Weldemichael

Man is an historical animal with a deep sense of his own past” said Geoffrey Barrowclough. History is the most important product which the chemistry of the mind has concocted. In order to understand the present it’s imperative to study history and to predict the unknown future by understanding the present. This logical relationship makes history indispensable. We are the result of all the events that have happened in the past. Although we assume that we are living at present and look forward, simultaneously we should remember that we are the past. What happened in the past in the month of February?

1 Feb 1975 Wekidiba massacre. Many villages had suffered devastating losses during the 30 years long war of Eritrean liberation. Under the motto of “its Eritrea’s land that we want not its people”; successive Ethiopian governments committed untold suffering to exterminate Eritrean people. The Wekidiba massacre was one of the numerous atrocities that were committed against Eritrean civilians by Ethiopia colonial army. The Ethiopian army devastated the village suspected of harboring the liberation fighters. Ethiopian army also believed that to kill the fish one has to dash the sea. The tragic massacre of Wekidiba was most remembered as black Saturday. To understand the situation I bring in to your knowledge an eye witness account of a survivor of the massacre_ Colonel Zeremariam Tesfay. The full account of Zeremariam is available in Tigrigna and English in a book “massacre at Wekidiba” authored by Habtu Gebreab. He said that “in every house, there were two or three dead bodies. The ground was drenched with blood.

After committing the atrocities, the soldiers brought in trucks. Stepping over the dead bodies, they hauled away anything of value from these houses… As the morning progressed, the soldiers began killing the roaming cattle and made meals out of them” (Habtu, 2013; pp201_202). The massacre and dispossession perpetuated by Ethiopian colonizers followed a strict conformity to Machiavellian advice on holding the conquered. Nicole Machiavelli in his book “The prince” instructed that whenever those states which have been acquired have accustomed to live under their own laws and in freedom, there are three

February in the history of Eritreacourses for those who wish to hold them: the first is to ruin them. He further recommended that “there is no safe way to retain them otherwise than by ruining them” (pp20_21).

14 Feb to April 1950 the five man UN inquiry commission visited Eritrea. With the failure of the plan for partition, the UN General Assembly again discussed the Eritrean question and required more information to decide on its disposal. On 21 November 1949 it resolved to send its own inquiry commission and elected Burma, Guatemala, Norway, Pakistan, South Africa. The mandate of the United Nations Commission was to ascertain “The wishes and welfare of the inhabitants of Eritrea”. The commiss ion discovered t h e

strength of the E r i t e a n Independence Bloc and the political maturity of the people. The chief of the British administration, Robert Mason, opined that the Independence Bloc represented “a clear majority of the population of the country” (Tekie F 1990, p10). The delegations of Pakistan and Guatemala recommended for independence of Eritrea. Despite this fact however, the final recommendation of the commission was divided that gave chance to an erroneous decision of UN that is Federation. Independence of Eritrea was ignored simply because it doesn’t suit the interest of Ethiopia and United states.

11 Feb 1967 the massacre of Adi Ibrahim. Ethiopian Army killed, burned and bayoneted the inhabitants of Adi Ibrahim and surrounding villages. Ethiopian author Zewde Reta, gave insincere remark on the treatment of Ethiopia that way “in

the [years] we have lived togather … we should never forget that we Ethiopians have committed no offense against our Eritrean brothers” (Habtu, p2). Denial to such extent reveals the unregretful mentality that leads to another dilemma. This is scoffing at the blood of the innocent Eritreans shaded in Adi Ibrihim, Omhajer, Ona, Sheib and many other places. TPLF boss Late PM Meles Zenawi who once looted, imprisoned and deported Eritreans and Eritrean origin Ethiopians and proclaim with arrogance and ignorance ‘Go, because we don’t like the color of your eyes,’ latter said “we have made everything good that a wise man can

do for Eritreans.” Such kind of cheap political

mockery has been played

b y

unabashed TPLF political

comedians.

15 Feb 1982 the sixth offensive (red star campaign) launched by Ethiopia in 1982 to quash Eritrean revolution once forever. Red star campaign was all means aggression that tested the perseverance of EPLF, which according to Dan Connell was the largest war ever since the Second World War fought in Africa. It was the largest and challenging of all previous offensives that aimed to annihilate EPLF from the face of Eritrea. It was unique in that Derg took a two year multi dimensional preparation. During the war Derg deployed more than 120,000 army and many Soviet military advisors were arrived to plan and lead the war. The sixth offensive is known as a symbol of perseverance of Eritrean revolution. In the course of the war that continued for more than three months, almost half of the total number of EPLF were

martyred and wounded. During that time the then vice secretary of EPLF Issaias Afewerki has described the invisible power of the EPLF: “EPLF does not possess sophisticated modern weapons and an abundance of ammunition. Nor does it have satellites at its disposal. What the EPLF possess is political consciousness and it is this that works miracles” (Tekeste Fekadu 2008, p222).

10 Feb 1990 liberation of massawa. The offensive called Fenkil operation started on February 8, 1990. In the period between the demise of Nadew command (March 1988) and Fenkil operation EPLF conducted 50 military operations that cleared the way for the liberation of Massawa (PFDJ, 2015, p214). In Fenkil operation EPLF naval forces, using small boats surprised and confronted Ethiopian warships. Finally after three days intense battle the EPLF captured the port of Massawa and sealed off Ethiopia’s land forces from all but air-borne supplies. In retaliation, the Ethiopian army bombed the civilian population of massawa using clusters and napalm bombs that remembered by Eritreans as qbtset meaning desperation. Fenqil operation profoundly shocked the foundation of Derg and hastened the final defeat of Ethiopian army in Eritrea. On the other hand the operation enhanced the position of Eritrean revolution in regional and international politics.

10 Feb 1994 third Congress of EPLF was held in Nakfa. After achieving its mandate to liberate Eritrea from Ethiopian colonial oppression, EPLF convened its third congress and transformed in to a new post-war political movement, the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice PFDJ to build on the EPLF’s legacy and to lead the country. The PFDJ’s basic goals, as summarized in the National Charter adopted there, were: national harmony, political democracy, economic and social development, social justice (economic and social democracy), cultural revival and regional and international cooperation.

23 Feb 1999 second military campaign of TPLF against independent Eritrea. The so called border dispute which could have been resolved peacefully, due to TPLF’s covert intentions led to devastating conflict. The Eritrea Ethiopia conflict was basically created by TPLF in 1998. TPLF obstructed the efforts

to resolve the issue in a peaceful manner and launched full war toward the end of February 1999, a level what historians contrasted with Second World War. Tekeste and Tronvoll on their book “Brothers at war” estimated the second offensive of Weyane “to be the biggest battle on African soil since the expulsion of Nazi forces from Egypt during the Second World War” (2000, p73). The source of the conflict was Badme. In an intensive Ethiopian offensive against Eritrean position at Badme using a wave strategy of pouring thousands of men they secured short term gain. That time the victory was won at great cost and conservative estimate suggest that Ethiopian causalities at Badme reached 10,000 (Ibid pp73_74). Latter in 2002 when EEBC gave its final and binding decision, it confirmed and awarded Badme as an Eritrean land.

Eritrea, as a historic territory and political entity is therefore becomes a repository of historic memories (memories of resistance, sacrifice, massacre and dispossession) the place where our martyrs and heroes remembered for ever and successive generations lived, worked, and fought for. The TPLF war of aggression is the most unjust war ever waged against the freedom and independence of Eritrea.

To turn the tide of Eritrea independence and to kill the dream of prosperity, TPLF employed a campaign of terror, intimidation, deportation, sabotage, and open military aggression aimed to kill the hopes of Eritrean. They organize their labor, mind and resources in digging a grave to bury Eritrea. After twenty years they exhausted and finally they rested in peace in the ditch dug by their own hands. The Tigrigna proverb “ጉድጓድ ንፈሓሪኣ” grave to its diggers is right!

In explaining national identity

Anthony D. Smith in his book “National Identity” said that “national identity provides a powerful means of defining and locating individual selves in the world, through the prism of the collective personality and its distinctive culture” (1991, p17). Eritrean national identity offers a powerful means of defining and locating individual Eritreans in the world. History tells us that in the past Eritreans of all age and group died for their identity and territorial integrity and now Eritreans are making another history in development and construction.


Natnael Yebio W.

Thursday was Valentine’s Day and I learned according to a newly self proclaimed expert (whose name I can’t reveal for obvious reasons) on all things visible spectral compositions, aka colors; the color we wear on Valentine’s day say a lot about our relationship status.

We all had heard the story of Saint Valentine, a bishop during the rule of Emperor Claudius II. The bishop used to perform secret marriage ceremonies against the rules of the Emperor, who supposedly prohibited marriage because he thought marriages made men weak and issued an edict forbidding marriage to assure quality soldiers, only to find a certain man named Saint Valentine was marrying couples in a secret place. The Emperor had him imprisoned and killed and that is how 14 of February became known as “Valentine’s day” and reserved for lovers.

Now I am not here to write about Saint Valentine and bore you half to death with what you can basically find in the infinite web but rather put emphasis on the importance of the occasion in Eritrea. One can blame globalization or the ever-growing influence of western culture but I do believe love has no boundaries and doesn’t differentiate between cultures and same goes here and the meaning of celebrating Valentine’s Day.

It was just a matter of time before its importance grew in Eritrea. And about four o five years ago its wave of seduction started affecting public service givers such as pubs, boutiques, flower shops and restaurant all over Asmara; who started advertising the supposed holiday. For the shopkeepers, it is just another day of cashing in from the day. Just like a herdsman waiting for New Year and Christmas to sell a couple of Sheep for a ridiculous amount of money.

Valentine’s Day is one of the most ‘adaptable’ occasions; it has been accepted and celebrated in variety of ways all over the globe since it became popular. That has resulted in the celebration having taken a different flavor with

How was your Valentine’s Day?differences in places, regions and cultures across the world.

Basically, for anybody in a relationship these days, Valentine’s Day MATTERS. And just like it had been celebrated for hundreds of years in European countries, in Eritrea also Valentine’s Day has become the ideal occasion to show your partner or spouse just what they mean to you, whether you’re a sentimental traditionalist who wants to give the ever-dependable flowers and chocolates or someone with more individual ideas with a personal twist.

Come Valentine`s Day, what do red-blooded Asmarino men buy for their women-and, increasingly, women for their men? A box of chocolates and flowers! It is a trend that has become popular with the day itself.

Picture this: a couple sitting down to a candlelight dinner, looking longingly into each other`s eyes, while sampling an elegantly prepared meal. He presents her with flowers and perhaps a sophisticated piece of jewelry. She gives him the most romantic and thoughtful gift she found while shopping for hours. And they spend the rest of the evening discussing love and romance. That is what happens in Asmara on Valentine’s Day.

Red is the color of the day of course. Famous pubs and restaurants around Asmara are all decorated with Red Ribbons, Balloons, fresh set of flowers everywhere and candle lights on the tables signifying the day.

Couples are guests of the day. Men wearing immaculate Suits and Women looking stunning in their perfectly fitting dresses.

It is said in the 1950’s that the expression of true love and real romance became visible in Eritrean life. Boys and girls fell in love and got married. They expressed their passion more or less openly through letters or discreetly in public and challenged their families as to the correctness of their behavior.

This reminds me of a piece a certain Mebrahtu Asfha who once wrote “Although in our Eritrean tradition Valentine is an alien

notion, every day is a little Va l e n t i n e f o r Er i t rean

lovers???? I n d e e d , an outward expression of passion and romantic love may culturally be unknown, but the love of the heart with its rightful meaning of the human condition is manifested daily among Eritrean lovers. Interestingly, Eritrean lovers are empowered not only by the event of Valentine to walk together as lovers, wherever they may be in the world, but by the great sense of tradition, that is, the consciousness out of which we live as people.” I couldn’t have said it any better.

You can resist the pressure to conform to Valentine Day’s ritual and expectation if you want, like I do, especially if your relationship is secure without it. And feel free to resist it even if you’re just starting to date someone; after all, Valentine’s Day is a great chance to find out how much social pressure and expectation means to him or her.

On the other side of the pond and across the Mediterranean Valentine’s Day has been overtaken by cooperations who want to cash in big on the day. This has created a big hype which is somewhat facile and insincere, becoming unbearable to couples. The week leading up to it; is seen as laborious, along with all the usual hype and hullabaloo, the

day which is filled with

plenty of cynicism-a

consequence of the hype-

for me it is somewhat humorous. Because, some call it the “Make it or Break it day of romance” implying to the non-sensible beliefs that relationships are made or destroyed on Valentine’s Day. My personal favorite is “Valentine’s Day is a put up or shut up day”. No need for clarifications there.

These bogus ideas about Valentine’s Day have created cynicism about love and romance. However with that being said, the day is still celebrated across the globe with value and romance.

For instance, in Argentina One day is nowhere near enough for the passionate Argentinians – they also devote an additional entire week in July to the festival of love, calling it ‘Sweetness week’. Between the 13th and 20th, lovers exchange kisses for candy, and finish up the week of celebrations with a friendship day as well.

The Chinnese have their version of Valentine’s Day. The Qixi festival originates from a folklore tale of two star-crossed lovers. In it, a cow-herd and a King’s daughter are forced apart and only allowed to reunite on one day a year: the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese

lunar calendar. During the festival, couples go to temples and pray for prosperity, and at night they look to the heavens as the stars Vega and Altair (representing the cowherd and the daughter) pass close by each other on their annual reunion.

Finland and Estonia slow things right down on Valentine’s Day, opting for a friendlier celebration called Ystävän Päivä in Finnish and Sõbrapäev in Estonian instead. Here, February 14 is all about celebrating friendship, and people exchange presents and cards with the greeting ‘Happy Friends Day’. Probably not what you’ve been waiting to hear from your crush all this time!

Finding love can be a lottery, and no one knows this better than the French! Une loterie d’amour – a surprisingly unromantic custom from the country of love – saw hopeful singles line up in houses facing each other and call through the windows until they eventually paired up. Those women left partner-less then built a large bonfire, ceremoniously burning images of the men who rejected them whilst hurling insults into the sky.

Sadly, after things started getting a little unruly, the French government decided to ban the practice altogether.

In Japan, it’s the ladies who spoil the object of their affections with chocolates on the 14th of February – and it’s the type of chocolate given that counts.

For husbands, boyfriends, or prospective boyfriends, high quality honmei-choco (‘true feeling’) chocolates are hand delivered, while colleagues or acquaintances receive giri-choco, the cheaper ‘obligation chocolate’. If you’re unlucky (or unlikeable?), you might even end up with a box of cho-giri choco: ultra-obligation chocolate reserved for the most unpopular of male colleagues.

When White Day comes around on March 14, those who received

continued on page 6


Introduction1)

A book adapted into one of the Eritrean languages which is entitled ‘Sidra ab Fetene’ (Literally, A Family in an Ordeal)’ published in English as ‘Home Song’ was translated and became public to Tigrigna readers in Eritrea in 2018. As one may glimpse from the blurb, it is one of the top-selling and much loved romantic fictional-books so far with over 15 million copies in print.

Overview2) The protagonist is Tom Gardner a high-school headmaster, happily

married and well-respected both personally and professionally. But there is something uncannily familiar about a new pupil at the school, who has a disturbing similarity to Tom at that age. Events lead to climax as Tom Gardener tries to restore harmony in his family, which was disturbed by the entrance into the peaceful life of the family by the new child. The reader is not allowed to put the book down as he or she is ‘compelled’ to continue reading, as they attempt to know how the conflict between Tom Gardener and his wife would be resolved.

The translator, Mr. Basilios

From ‘home Song’ to ‘Family in an Ordeal’Zemo, is an experienced Eritrean teacher, with 40 years’ teaching experience. But, Sidra ab Fetene is his first book. No matter what sort of prose or poem he produced before, however, his first text in the field of literature seems to affirm as a litmus-paper to define him that he is really an avid reader apart from being a well-versed literati. From analogical point of view, Mr. Basilios seems to show the truth Ann B. Dobie (2012) stated in ‘An Introduction to Literary Criticism’, that reading and writing seem to be inseparable acts, rather like two sides of the same coin. Good readers grow more perspective

and insightful if they “write, write, write!” In terms of such spectrum, it is thus sensible to make a sense of what Zemo offered to the reading public of his compatriots in Eritrea.

Spencer’s original book, ‘Home Song,’ was published in English in 1995 and is organized into 18 chapters (of 442 pages). Its translated Tigrigna version is a little bit different in terms of title, cover picture, blurb color and similar features. As such, the title of the Tigrigna version is improvised to “Sidra ab Fetene’ (A Family in Ordeal) and its

pages are abridged to 256 pages.

Gauged under such cardinal frameworks and principles of translation philosophies, Mr. Zemo’s translation has shown that the truths forwarded in Steiner T.R.’s book in ‘Aspects of Language Translation (1975: 5) and in Gutt. E’s ‘Study of Translation and Relevance: Cognition and Context’ (1991: 164). Both Steiner and Gutt stipulate in their respective studies, the fact that a translator first must be a ‘complete reader’ to establish the full intentional quality of the ST and then changes himself to a writer is well-witnessed to be

the main proficiency and strength of Mr. Zemo’s excellence. As understanding the original text is a necessary precondition for making a good translation, the selection and validity of the target-text also seems to be based on a thorough understanding of the original transcript. When one tries to read between lines and compares the contents of both the original and translated versions, the translated book’s substance and style of presentation are seemingly in track with each other.

In this case, Mr. Zemo seems

to take cautiousness of his readership right from the onset of his task; the fact that he tended to stick on the lexical adaptation of languages and cultures is thus really a good preference. That’s why he was obliged to translate the spirit of the source-text other than merely relying on the ‘rule of the thumb. The technique of translation employed in his book is rather tilted on a ‘sense-for-sense approach’ which is commonly known as free translation. Perhaps one of the indications of such technique starts from baptizing the topic from ‘Home Song’ to ‘Family in Ordeal’. Even so, the literal translation which

is usually obsessed with words is also exploited where it deems necessary. Thus, if one attempts to judge from such standpoints, the emulation of words, clauses, sentences, metaphors etc rendered into the second version-book seem to give sense with the original transcript. Likewise, if one tastes both the original and translated version of the texts, it is presumably reasonable that the distance of flavor and coherence of meaning, style, tone, register are likely in symmetry with the spirit of the original fiction.

In terms of essence, the

development of plot, characters, setting, style, diction, style and voice of ‘Family in an Ordeal (Sidra ab Fetene)’ are also well-woven based on a linear mode of narration and using a third-person point of view. Thus, one can fairly come to a conclusion that such strengths of the artistic quality of the TL fiction are also key factors for its seminal readability and reader’s passion of interest. The fact that its theme is spread all over the book makes it also more enlightening and valuable. Besides, apart from becoming laden with sub-plots, the story-thread does not break since the causes and effects are complementary to one another. That’s why its characters’ critical choices and the climax part of the story arouse interest of readers till the resolution of the conflict.

In the meantime, the appearance and structure of “Family in an Ordeal” starts from its forefront face which is pretty eye-catching and well-accompanied with an appetitive color and footage of its front cover. As such, the simplicity and message of its cover image which are commensurate with the content, the way how the chapters are organized, and its indentation of paragraphs, font size and the like invite for any casual reader in arousing interest to read it. This in turn demonstrates for the seriousness and vigor of the translator. The fact that names of a dozen experts who participated in editing, proofreading, layout and suggestions are shown in the acknowledgment and blurb part of the book also seem to support it to be one of the ‘standard’ books in the country.

Meanwhile, a poem which is entitled ‘Home Song’ is there at the front page of the original text. In fact, the title of the poem also coincides with the book’s heading. Seemingly, one may also guess that the content of the poem might have been inspirational to the motivation of the author to come up with such a book. Nevertheless, the poem is completely excluded from the version of the target-text may be for an unknown reason. However,

continued on page 6


continued from page 5

From ‘home Song’ to . . .continued from page 4

How was your . . .

no matter what the reason may be, the fiction’s message seems to be coined in the poem as well. Hence, its inclusion in the translation version would have added more impetus and flavor to the weight of the target-text too. Last but not least, it would have been also advisable if the characters’ names could have been adapted or localized putting the context of the target-text into account just to create easiness for readers with low educational backgrounds.

Conclusion3)

Indeed, there are important ‘Take-Aways’ one has to share and assimilate in his life from the fiction. If readers can internalize what they may gain from the phenomenal fiction, undoubtedly they will be able to understand about twin responsibilities of building a monumental family and a legendary institution that can enjoy a good posture all the way ahead. Moreover, the book may help young ones to realize and take golden experiences about the grammar of love and challenges of building a modern family. Meanwhile, besides the

book’s philosophical ideas, since its plot, style of presentation and diction are also well-crafted and easy, it has also something to offer as lessons that the Eritrean authors can borrow in the course of their writing career. In a nutshell, it is also worth reminding that putting its educational values and social validity in to consideration, it seems to be waiting for adaptation into feature film too if deemed necessary.

As Charles Cantaloupe (ICES, 2018: 16), who advocates staunchly on the revitalization and development of Eritrean literature, underscored in his essay titled ‘Literature, Translation and National Development in Eritrea’, literature saves a nation from liquidation. What the Eritrean literature did during the armed struggle time is, thus, really a case in point as far as its resuscitation is concerned. [However], literature cannot be known beyond its geographical origin and understanding without translation (ibid). Hence, if Eritrean literature is to promote and flourish steps forward, its literary masterpieces are expected to come both from original scripts and translation inputs as well. Once Clifford E.

honmei-choco are expected to return the favour, by giving their loved ones presents (often jewellery or lingerie) worth two to three times the chocolates they received.

If you’ve ever dreamed of getting married alongside your best friends, acquaintances, neighbours, colleagues, and the waiter from your favourite restaurant – Valentine’s Day in the Philippines may just be your celebration.

Every year on February 14, hundreds (sometimes thousands) of couples come together in public places to be married en masse. Often, the celebrations are sponsored by the government as a public service, allowing underprivileged couples the opportunity to tie the knot.

In Slovenia, where St Valentine is one of the patron saints of spring, February 14 marks the first day of working in the fields for the New Year. It’s widely believed that this is the day that plants start to regenerate, and there’s even a proverb that says “St Valentine brings the keys of

local news

A seminar was organized recently in Kerkebet sub-zone, Gash Barka region, focusing on the eradication of harmful practices, such as underage marriage and FGM.

The head of promotion and information at the Ministry of Health branch in the Gash Barka region, Mr. Seltan Hagos, called on the community to enhance its contributions to fighting against the .harmful practices

At the seminar, a call was also made for integrating efforts from the National Union of Eritrean Women, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Leul Gebreab, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, noted the significance of cooperation among all stakeholders in order to eradicate harmful practices.

The head of family and community health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Berhana Haile, reiterated that integrated efforts will be necessary to eradicate the harmful practices. These practices predominantly affect the health of children and women, although they also negatively impact the entire society.

Mr. Efrem Gebrekrstos, Governor of the Southern region, expressed readiness to coordinate all sub-zones in the effort to eradicate harmful practices.

seMinar On preventiOn OF harMFul practices

Efforts are being made to introduce environmental sanitation programs in Emni-Haile. The programs can help control the prevalence of communicable diseases.

According to Berhe Kidane, head of the local health center, lack of sanitation is among the key causes of the spread of communicable diseases in the region. He added that, so far, 34 villages have introduced popular sanitation campaigns and that other villages should follow the initiative.

cOMMunitY-based envirOnMental

sanitatiOn prOgraM

roots”.

There’s also a belief that birds ‘propose’ to each other on this day (marking the start of the mating season), and to bear witness to the occasion, you must walk barefoot through fields that are often still frozen. It’s Saint Gregory’s Day on March 12 when people generally celebrate their love for each other (in a hopefully warmer way!).

Many South Africans celebrate the day of love with chocolates, flowers, and candlelit dinners in romantic locations with their Valentine on the 14th. But, for the times when a subtle anonymously signed card doesn’t do the trick, South Africans don’t mind wearing their heart on their sleeve – literally.

Following an old-age Roman festival called ‘Lupercalia’ (thought to be the predecessor to Valentine’s Day), young girls pin the name of their love on their sleeve for the day. Luckily, this is a much tamer version of the original festival, at which goats were sacrificed and men would run through the streets wearing the skins, whipping women to bless them with fertility.

Landers ‘Literary Translation: A Practical Guide’ highlighted that literary translators are delighted to see their work in print, and for many this is a reward enough (16). Therefore, if it is to be so, besides encouraging all types of writers, syndicate alliances and printing firms also must get due attention and motivation.

As a matter of fact, seemingly any type of authoring is quite tough. A reader may be able to end his reading and enjoy it in hours. But, for an author it is the reverse; most often, it may even take years to bring a book into completion. That’s why no one seems to understand that writing at large and literary translation in particular demand a talent of idea processing and articulating it with your audience so as to win the hearts and minds of his client readers. Far beyond that, what the author needs as his compensation is thus to get a constructive feedback whether or not his work of art has an added-value in the society of readers. It is only then that the success story of an author becomes the success of his readers!

Fessehaye Kidane (MOE, Asmara)

Potable water supply project worth around 2 million Nakfa has been put in place in Mai-Aini sub-zone. The administrative areas of Ginesba, Maekono, Merbet and Emba-Arba will become beneficiaries of the project.

The project includes installation of 6 km-long water pipelines, reservoir, 8.5 KW solar system as well as four water distribution centers.

Mr. Kibrom Misghina, head of Water Resources in the Southern region, said that the project will supply potable water to about 1,600 residents as well as the Mai-Aini community hospital and called for judicious use of water.

Commending the participation of the public and the regional administration in the implementation of the project, Mr. Kifle Mengis, villages’ coordinator in the region, called on the residents to take responsibility of the management of the project.

The residents on their part expressed that the potable water problem they have been facing has been alleviated and called for the construction of more water distribution centers.

pOtable water prOject put in place in Mai-aini sub-zOne


ERI-PROPERTYREAL ESTATE BROKERAGE

Sales* Rentals * Management

ናይ ገዛ ክራይን መሸጣን

* Tel: 121342 / 117770

Office No. 106, Nakfa House, Tiravalo

Please register with us!

CI-NHERI is planning to offer more Chinese language and culture courses to the public in Spring Semester 2019. The schedule is as follows:

Chinese Language Courses Schedule (100NKF for Handout Only)

Serial NO. Levels Classes Time

1 Level 1

Class 1Tuesday & Thursday 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

Class 2Saturday & Sunday 8:00 am-10:00 am

Class 3Saturday & Sunday 2:00 pm-4:00 pm

2 Level 2

Class 1Tuesday & Thursday 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

Class 2Saturday & Sunday 8:00 am-10:00 am

3 Level 3


Class 2Saturday & Sunday10:00 am-12:00 am

4 Level 4Saturday & Sunday 8:00 am-10:00 am



7 HSK III TrainingSaturday & Sunday 4:00 pm-6:00 pm

Chinese Culture Courses Schedule (No Payment)

Serial NO. Course Titles Classes Time

1 TaijiTuesday & Thursday 4:00 pm-6:00 pm

2 KongfuWednesday & Friday 4:00 pm-6:00 pm

3 CalligraphyWednesday & Friday 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

CHINESE COURSES TO THE PUBLIC

4 Chinese DanceClass 1

Wednesday & Friday 4:00 pm-6:00 pm


5 Chinese Song Class 1 Saturday (Kids ) 2:00 pm-

4:00 pm

Class 2 Saturday (Adults ) 4:00 pm-6:00 pm

More information is available for you on working days at Room 29 (CI Office), University of Asmara. Tel: 163581,162242

The following is the details for the registration:

Date: Feb. 16th-20th, 2019

Time: 9:00 AM -11:30 AM, 2:30 PM -5:00 PM

Venue: Room 29 (CI Office), University of Asmara

The duration of the courses: Feb. 23rd- May, 12th, 2019.

CI-NHERI is expecting you to begin the Chinese journey with us together.


Let’s us start with a brief introduction about you.

My name is Ruth Negash and I was born in Asmara. I immigrated to the USA after completing Middle School. Fourteen years after graduating from college and working in the USA and the Middle East, I came to Eritrea to serve my country. I studied medicine for my first degree but I had a change of heart for my real talent which is teaching. I came to Eritrea and served 2010-14 in EIT, Eritrea Institute of Technology. Coordinating various campus-wide research seminars and presentations allowed me to enjoy my service immensely. Simultaneously, I conducted several workshops and trainings on empowered leadership and management topics in ministries and other colleges of the country. In 2014 I started working in Bisha Mining Share Company as Training and Development Manager. Then, in 2018, I took 8-months to travel the globe and empty out my bucket list as I observed and gained experiences to of how other people in the world live and manage their employment services and steps they take to recover their environment and national workforce after the mining industry ends it contract.

What was the reason behind your visit to 20 countries? All in

Developing talents of the workforce for efficiencyBillion Temesghen

Meet Ruth Negash an Eritrean American with big dreams of contributing to develop talents of the workforce for efficiency. After teaching over 15 years from Kindergarten to College Levels in various subjects and managed many development programs, properly managed Training and Educational systems has become her specialty. She says her passion is producing goal-oriented and result-driven human resource development in the workforce.

one year!

My passion is human resources development. I wanted to see why and how countries like Japan, Cuba, Canada, Serbia and Australia are believed to have better system. Zambia was impressive. I love to see countries being developed by their own people. Many educated Zambians held high level jobs in their workplace and I met Diaspora Zambians who chose to return and work and live in their homeland. It was great to hear their resettlement stories and how their government had policies to accommodate them in the system. I like to analyze better ways through which students and employees can contribute to their countries’ development after being educated. It is an interest of mine to learn how countries implement policies in regards to reinforcing and allocating their manpower in the labor market. Serbia and Japan impressed me the most.

In your view, what examples do you think Eritrea can acquire from the different systems you saw in the countries you visited?

Let me start with the good things we have as a nation and a community. In Eritrea, our people

are hard-working and the culture encourages self-reliance and dedication. Unlike some countries I visited, there is no Eritrean who waits for outsiders to come any build their nation. Unfortunately, some African cities I visited, the locals told me that they believe that they cannot develop their communities without the help of foreigners. The story here in Eritrea is different. If anything else, there is pride in working on your own to solve their problems. Moreover, the work ethos is extremely praiseworthy. This is a value that is built-in within the society’s tradition. That being said, with the achievement over 80% literacy rate nationally, I believe this is the right time for investors to feel secured that plenty of graduated, trainable manpower in various fields awaits to be placed in the job market. With the right policies, companies and institutions can invest safely in Eritrea knowing that disciplined, dedicated, educated and work-loving manpower exists. The spirit of the people these days is good nowadays with the hope that peace have arrived in our East African region. If we channel the people’s readiness to work and create conducive management systems for our human resources, we can leap as a nation to a fast growth. In the meantime, every person has the responsibility to recognize his/her own talent and further their knowledge and skills to become experts through further trainings. Eritrea needs experts in many fields and highly qualified managers to lead and allocate the workforce in their rightful places to drive national development. So, to answer your question, although we already have many good qualities as a society in regards to work, we can also learn from many examples of other countries about effective and efficient systems when placing our working population and supporting our manpower to become experts.

Have you put your observations

on a research paper?Not yet, but I have collected

plenty of data and observed many workplaces to be able to share with institutions, ministries and companies who are already developing our beloved nation. My observation mainly has been qualitative; however, I plan to further my experiences and document my observations.

What made you choose to live here in Eritrea? You grew up and studied in America, isn’t it easier for you to live and work in America more than in Eritrea?

The praise goes to my parents, especially my mother who raised us in USA as a single mother. Growing up, my mother had strict house rules and high expectations for us in regards to education and social activities. In education, Master’s Degree was a minimum and in social matters, two services were mandatory: Sunday Church and Eritrean Community. So growing up alongside the Eritrean community in the diaspora helped me and to want to come back home and contribute. From Eritrea, my father pressed us to study hard so we can first help ourselves and then our country. The updates we got from Eritrean leaders, encouragement from our Ambassadors, connection with YPFDJ, NUEYS and NUEW played a big role in my life to come and contribute in Eritrea.

Are Eritreans abroad close as families and as communities?

As families, we support each other in any social issues such as graduations, weddings, death and other traditional events. As communities, we come together annually to celebrate national holidays, festivals, to raise funds, for peaceful political marches, professional workshops and seminars about homeland and more. In our second countries, we do charity

works in the local communities, homeless shelters, as mentors to disadvantaged poor families, engage in the environmental protection and participate in helping natural disaster victims. Either be in America, Australia, Asia, Africa, Middle East or the rest of the world, we work in unison as one heart.

What are some of your best memories in Eritrea?

Regardless of the obstacles by sanctions and regional instability, I like to witness positive changes we have acquired. Especially, if you travel outside to the remote areas, one can really see ongoing developments and change. Remote communities are being educated as good as the cities and improving their day to day activities. Working in Bisha, I realized that many families in small local communities have improved their living standards as a result of finding training and employment opportunities in the mining industries. While the youth of remote communities work hard in farming, they also study hard to become mining engineering graduates! My best memories are that of our people and beautiful journeys of people.

We will conclude by shedding a light on your future plans.

All my future plans align with national development programs tied to the Human Resource Development and management. Mainly, I would like to work with the Eritrean youth professionals to become experts in their fields by providing and coordinating trainings to improve their quality of performance in any workplace. Personally, I prefer to work on programs with training of trainers; to introduce a program where seniors in different workplaces take the role of leadership and as exemplars to the young manpower.

Documents

Minister OsMan saleh hOlds talks with wOrkshOp On develOping …50.7.16.234/hadas-eritrea/eritrea_profile_16022019.pdf · 2019-02-16 · The tour will cover the cities of Bahir-Dar,