News of Asmarino.com’s Tesfaldet Meharena’s passing was devastating. An absolute pioneer and visionary, who awakened and inspired so many Eritreans at home and abroad. One of the earliest memories I have of the internet was Asmarino.com during the Eritrea and Ethiopia 1998-2000 border war. We had a computer at home and my family and many … Continue reading Asmarino: Memories & its spirit
inspiring & unforgettable cultural intiatives or content from music to books, poems, plays, exhibtions, TV series, films, photos and food this season… šš Autumn. Arguably one of my favourite seasons but this year marks a painful one for humanity. Speechless at the barbarism, frustrated at the western media’s casual gaslighting and like many feeling helpless … Continue reading Gems of the season: Autumn
inspiring & unforgettable cultural intiatives or content this september, from music to books, poems, plays, exhibtions, TV series, films, photos and food on my favourite month and season… Geez New Year/ Kudus Yohannes Ge’at š Hoye Hoye! We start with the delicious ge’at for the celebrations, with greek yogurt and extra berbere sprinkled on top. … Continue reading Gems of the month: September
āHesasāledeā is a term referred to the youngest child in an Eritrean home. The most adored, often spoilt, independent and arguably the sharpest, quickly learning from their older siblings. Meticulously absorbing their surroundings, they might be the first to greet guests and assist them without a second thought. Some hesasālede were freer than their older siblings, … Continue reading The Hesas’lede’s Burden
PBSā Escaping Eritrea documentary was just as horrifying as expected. The scarring footage of over-packed prisoners trapped, all squeaked into a small, intoxicating space. As they lay down to sleep, one can be unsure if these men are still with us, let alone the mental strains they sleep with. When were these images captured? 1500s … Continue reading (Still) Escaping Eritrea: PBSā heart-wrenching reminder
āI donāt know Ades, if I donāt know Ades how can I know where it might be?ā – Ras Isu of Eritrea 2018 was an unforgettable year for Eritrea and Ethiopiaās troubled history. Kubur President Hager Eritrea, Harbegna Tegadelai Neber Ato Isaias Afwerki Abraha and Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed took to the centre stage. … Continue reading “Did you enjoy the show?”
The waves of excitement brought by Labourās gains in the general election was short-lived. Reality hit in Grenfell Tower. Home to hundreds of people and with 23 floors there were no sprinklers, emergency exits or fire safety measures. Many suspect hundreds to have perished in their own homes, in one of the richest boroughs in … Continue reading The Unelectable, The Troublemakers and The Polite
Last month the Twitter-savvy, Kubur Minister of Information/Chief of Staff of the Only (Presidentās) Office, Yemane āCharlieā Gebremeskel attended a panel discussion in the European Parliament on āDevelopmentā in Eritrea. For the House of Cards fans, The āDoug Stamperā of Eritrea. Smiles all around In a country where you cannot even say the word āParliamentā … Continue reading Seeking Information
The 18th of September marks the anniversary of the disappearance of prominent Eritrean leaders, known as the G-15. In the early hours of the morning; Eritreaās unelected President Isaias Afewerkiā of 23 years and counting ā arrested his comrades and members of his cabinet for writing an open letter, urging reform. In ten years they … Continue reading What if it never happened? The 13th Anniversary of the G-15ās Abduction
The power of the koboro is a reality I find both amusing and puzzling. ‘Koboro’ is a traditional Eritrean drum. The repetitive beat of the Koboro is an effective tool that is numbing Eritrean society at home and abroad. That’s rights abroad! Refugees who fled their homeland following unimaginable persecution are controlled by the captivating … Continue reading The Power of The “Koboro”
Zara Tewolde-Berhan 