Eritrean Newspapers 1928 – 1962
The late Mufti, Sheikh Ibrahim Al Mukhtar (1909 - 1969), was not
only a religious leader who called for respect and co-existence with other
faiths in Eritrea but was also well respected among all Eritreans. He was also a great
scholar who authored several books and articles and documented events during his period. He was also a political figure
who stood for Eritrea’s independence and against interference of the state in
religious affairs. He was in good terms with Abune Marcos who fell off with the
Ethiopia and died mysteriously in what seemed to be a car accident and was
replaced by the Andinet fundamentalist, Geshi Demetros. He was also a close
associate of Ras Tessema Asberom. A whole webiste is dedicated to his works: www.mukhtar.ca
This is a translation of one of his articles on
Eritrean newspapers of the time:
------------------------------------------------
Since the publications of newspapers started in
Eritrea, Arabic newspapers became immediately a reality and were widely spread.
There were more than 20 such newspapers within 20 years, written either
exclusively in Arabic or in both Arabic and other national or international
languages. The nature of these newspapers and themes raised, varied depending
on the purpose, and depending on the publishers and funders. The First Eritrean Mufti, the late Sheikh
Ibrahim al Mukhtar, not only encouraged the Arabic newspapers, but also
provided them with information, articles and at times rote the editorials. He
was also keen to record what was published on those newspapers.
He noted,
"Where the press is the standard that is used to
measure the extent of spread of the language of any people; the presence of 20
newspapers, within 20 years, that were
published in Arabic in both Eritrea and Ethiopia then demonstrated, the wide
spread use of the language among Eritrean Muslims.” He also noted that those
who opposed the use of the Arabic language (Unionists or otherwise) in Eritrea
also published in Arabic in order to reach Eritrean Muslims, which was a tacit
recognition of its major role in Eritrea. Below is a breakdown of these
newspapers:
Governmental Arabic newspapers and they were (12)
Name: "Eritrean Daily"
Release
date: around 1928.
Issuer:
the Italian Government.
Language:
Arabic, Italian and Tigrinya
This
newspaper was published every Friday, sometimes in one page and at other time in
two pages, and then became a daily, This was the first newspaper published in
Arabic in Eritrea.
_____________________________
Name: Imperial Post
Release
date: after the occupation of Abyssinia in 1936.
Issuer:
the Italian Government.
Language:
Arabic.
This
newspaper was printed in Addis Ababa and distributed to Muslims in Ethiopia and
Eritrea.
_____________________________
Name: Savoia Newspaper
Release
date: around 1934
Issuer:
the Italian Government.
Language:
Arabic.
This
newspaper was of a military nature, and were distributed to soldiers in
Eritrea.
_____________________________
Name:Al alem Newpaper (Aalem)
Release
date: in 1941 after return of the Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie regained his
throne.
Issuer:
Ethiopian Government.
Language:
Arabic, Amharic
It
was printed in Addis Ababa and published weekly.
_____________________________
Name: Eritrean weekly
Release
date: August 1942
Issuer:
British Administration.
Language:
Arabic and Tigrinya
_____________________________
Name: Monthly Journal
Release
date: July 1944
Issuer:
British Government.
Language:
Arabic
Issued
with 12 pages at the beginning of every month
_____________________________
Name: Arabic Weekly Newspaper
Release
date: December 7, 1945
Issuer:
British Government.
Language:
Arabic.
The four-page issue was released every Friday. After
the establishment of the Eritrean Government of Eritrea, the newspaper was
merged with the Tigrinya issue and was renamed, “The Dawn
of liberty”. Its editor was Abdul Rahim Ahmed Ismail, but the name
became unacceptable to the higher authorities. Thus it was neglected and later
changed name to “Zemen”. Nimer Tesmer was
appointed as its editor instead of former editor, Abdul Rahim
_____________________________
Name: Zemen newspaper
Release
date: 6 January 1953.
Issuer:
the Eritrean Government.
Language:
Arabic and Tigrinya
It
was published on four pages, twice a week on Fridays and on Tuesdays, and then
became a daily in the published in the two languages November 10, 1953. It was the
first daily newspaper in the country.
_____________________________
Name: Eritrean Gazette
Release
date: 1st of March 1953 15
month may 137
Issuer:
the Eritrean Government.
Language:
Arabic.
_____________________________
Name: Sunday Newspaper
Release
date: 1st of June, 1958.
Issuer:
the Eritrean Government.
Language:
Arabic, Amharic
Published
every Sunday, It replaced the daily, “Zemen”
on Sundays. Its editor was Nimer Teshmer.
_____________________________
Name: Teachers Magazine
Release
date: 17th April, 1959
Issuer:
the Eritrean Government.
Language:
Arabic and Tigrinya
It
was published every three months, and were distributed freely to teachers.
_____________________________
Name: Unity
Release
date: November 1962.
Issuer:
the Eritrean Government.
Language:
Arabic and Tigrinya
It was published daily, and replaced, Zemen after
the abolition of the federal system and the forced annexation of Eritrea to
Ethiopia.
Arabic newspapers published by political parties (9)
Name: Voice of Eritrea.
Publication
date: around 1945
Issuer:
Unity Party with Ethiopia (Andinet)
Language:
Arabic, Amharic
It was issued in Addis Ababa, and
distributed freely and published propaganda for the annexation of Eritrea to Ethiopia.
_____________________________
Name: Voice of Eritrean
Muslim League
Release
date: 25 February, 1947
Issuer:
ML.
Owner:
Bashir Osman Bashir
Editors:
yassin Mohamed Batook, Mohamed Osman Al Hayoti, then Mohamed Omar Al Gadi and
later Mohamed Seid Mohanmed.
Language:
Arabic.
At
first it was issued every Tuesday on two pages, and later every Wednesday on
four pages. It was the first political party newpaper to be published in Eritrea,
and it was the mouthpiece of the Eritrean Muslim League.
_____________________________
Name: Ethiopian Newspaper
Release
date: on the 4th of May, 1947
Issuer:
Unity Party with Ethiopia (Andinet)
Director:
Ahmed Hussein Al hayoti and the Sheikh Suleiman Al Din Ahmed.
Language:
Arabic and Tigrinya
Published
every Sunday in four pages, Mouth piece of Unity Party with Ethiopia
_____________________________
Name: Noor Eritrea
Release
date: 15 November 1947
Issuer:
Pro-Italy Party.
Language:
Arabic and Tigrinya.
Published
every Saturday every in four pages.
_____________________________
Name: Independent Eritrea Newspaper
Release
date: 8th of July, 1949
Issuer:
New Eritrea Party
Director:
Hassaballah Abdul Rahim
Language:
Arabic and Tigrinya.
It
was published on four pages, and was mouth piece of the Party
_____________________________
Name: Eritrean Unity Newspaper
Release
date: 28th January 1949
Issuer:
Independence Block.
Director:
Woldeab Wolde Mariam
Editor:
Hassabalh Abdul Rahim
Language:
Arabic and Tigrinya
It
was issued every Saturday of the week, in four pages, and then every Wednesday,
and was the mouthpiece of Independence Block.
_____________________________
Name: Unity and Progress
Release
date: 28th February, 1952
Issuer:
independent League.
Director:
Mohammed Omar Gadi.
Language:
Arabic and Tigrinya.
It
was four-page weekly, the mouthpiece of the Eritrean-Ethiopian Federation
_____________________________
Name: Voice of Eritrea Newspaper
Release
date: September, 1952
Issuer:
Muslim League
Director:
Ahmed Hussein Al Hayoti and Saleh Mahmoud
Language:
Arabic and Tigrinya
It was defending the
Constitution and the Federal arrangement decided by the United Nations.
_____________________________
Name: Unity Newspaper
Release
date: 1373 Ah 1954
Issuer:
Youth of the Unionist Party
Language:
Arabic and Tigrinya
It
was published every Thursday, and was its Director was Gebre Sellasie Garza
Religious, cultural, commercial and newspapers, (4)
Name: Asmara Cultural Magazine
Release
date: July 1947
Author:
Mahmoud Ahmed Rabaa
Language:
Arabic
It
was published monthly in a 16-page Arabic language only. It covered literary,
cultural and historical issues and was with pictures
_____________________________
Name:The Newsletter
Issuer: Eritrean Chamber of Commerce
Release
date: 1951
Language:
Arabic, Tigrinya, Italian and English.
It
was published twice a month.
_____________________________
Name:The Eritrean Economic
Journal
Release
date: 1951
Owner:
Thomas Medini, the Italian
Language:
Arabic, Italian, English.
_____________________________
Name: Al Manar Magazine
Release
date: 1954
Owner:
Saleh Abdul Gadir Bashir Berhatu
Language:
Arabic.
Religious
social and cultural, literary magazine
No comments:
Post a Comment