The Diplomatic Mission to Abyssinia 1903

This is "ABYSSINIA OF TO-DAY", AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST MISSION SENT BY THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TO THE COURT OF THE KING OF KINGS (1903—1904)  

BY ROBERT SKINNER, Commissioner to Abyssinia 1903 - 1904 

https://archive.org/stream/abyssiniatodaya00skingoog#page/n10/mode/2up

                                                                                                                                                   

The report about the Marine Corps that accompanied the first American Diplomatic Mission sent by President Roosevelt to Emperor Menelik in 1903, which as usual of that period,  includes exaggerated and racist remarks, but has historical importance and can be accessed at this link: 

https://ia802700.us.archive.org/13/items/DiplomaticMissionToAbyssinia1903/DiplomaticMissionToAbyssinia1903.pdf

NASA IMAGE: How Close is Yemen : Djibouti & Southern Red Sea

NASA IMAGE: How Close is Yemen : Djibouti & Southern Red Sea

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=85400

An Amazing NASA Image where the Two Niles Meet

An Amazing image where the two Niles Meet at Khartoum:

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=81186

ELF: FIRST ERITREAN WOMEN FIGHTERS

Picture: ehrea.org

FIRST ERITREAN WOMEN FIGHTERS

(Interviews conducted by Wolde-Yesus Ammar at Rassai in  March 1982)

Jum'a Omar:

I joined the Third Zonal Command of the ELF on 18 October 1967. With me was Rahma Saleh who in 1971 went to the PLF. We attended literacy courses in the field and were later sent to Kassala in April 1968 where we worked in an ELF clinic. In October 1969, we were sent to Iraq for training in public health and returned in August 1970. We were 18 girls and 17 boys; all of us had continued to work at Kassala.

Nisrit Karar:

The first ELF women's cell in Kassala was formed in June 1963 whose key members included Jemie Bahdur, Site1 Hamid, Fatna Mahmuday, Khadija Nur, Aisha Osman, and myself. We helped organize cells in Aroma, Walfa and Ghirba. Cells were expanded after the October 1964 revolution in the Sudan. Our cells in Kassala rose to 35. We also encouraged the establishment of cells in Tessenei, Agordat and Keren. Already by 1964, Fatna Jaffar was our contact in Haicota. We in the Sudan were contributing 25 piasters per month each. Besides, we sewed flags and prepared dry food. Bekhita Abdalla joined the ELF in 1970 and had been serving as a nurse ever since then. There were ten women participants in the first ELF National Congress of 1971, eight of them nurses.

Almaz Woldu:

I became an ELF fighter in April 1973 together with Ghennet Ghebre-Hiwet. Until that time, I had been a member of a five person cell; there were many .student strikes then. In August 1973, Alem Mesfin joined the ELF in the Akkele-Guzai region. She was martyred in 1974.

Before 1973, therefore, there were no well studied plans to accommodate women in the ELF. We were given a short 20-day training as fedaeen and stayed in the Mensa area around Gheleb sewing and repairing clothes for fighters. We also helped in the preparation of food.

Almaz was my nom de querre. My first name, now totally forgotten, was Nebiyat. By end of 1973, we conducted a public meeting in the Mensa area and wanted to continue doing so in other parts of the country. There were no sexual advances made on women in those days. However, women were not accepted as fighters before us. We met many girls in the countryside who told us that they were sent back with their hair shoven by ELF units

when they asked to become fighters in the 1960s. Ghennet and I started talking to women about their rights and duties in the revolution; we addressed in gatherings like village holidays, and at matrimonial and burial ceremonies. We were later given a two-month course at Debir Sala by martyrs Hassan Bashumel and Idris Omar. In February 1974, we joined a 13-member women's committee already formed in 1973. The Constituent Congress of the Eritrean Women's General Union was held on 27 June 1974 with 40 women participants.

Talking about other women fighters, Almaz added the following:

Saadia Tesfu was one of the early and heroic women participants in the Eritrean nationalist cause. In early 1968, Saadia Tesfu agreed with two ELF fedaeen to help them liquidate Ali Bekhit (Wed-Hayget), a deserter from the ELF who was helping the Ethiopian authorities to arrest many cell members in the town. Ali-Bekhit had terrorized Keren. Many of the town's

inhabitants had some connections with the ELF, and had reason to spend sleepless nights or leave the town to become refugees. It was then that Saadia was asked to help. She soon befriended herself with Ali-Bekhit and had him killed. She left the town with the ELF men but her father was shot dead by the Ethiopians. Saadia spent five months in the field and later went to the Sudan.

Another early woman participant was Rumana Saleh who helped in the liquidation of another deserter, Abu Nurit; the latter had terrorized the town of Agordat until he was killed by the ELF in January 1975.

Mana Mussie was an important political cadre of company 97 until her martyrdom at the battle of Metekel, and Martyr Haregu Gegziabeher was a brilliant platoon leader, After 1975, the number of women fighters became very large.

---------

Source: Eritrea: Root Causes of War & Refugees by Wolde-Yesus Ammar pp. 147 - 149

-------------------------------------

Interview with Jumaa Omer in Arabic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8ueJvRyraQ

------------------------
Interview with Nisrit Kerar in Arabic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dt5kE0wNzo

Eritrea and Ethiopia: The Federal Experience by Tekeste Negash 1997

Eritrea and Ethiopia: The Federal Experience by Tekeste Negash 1997

The book in 234 pages is accessible here:

http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:272775/FULLTEXT01.pdf

الخلل التاريخي في التعليم... في إرتريا

الخلل التاريخي في التعليم... في إرتريا

هناك عدة عوامل  التي يمكن ان تسبب الانقسامات و التي يمكن التعرف عليها بالسهولة في إرتريا. من هذه العوامل وجود تسع لغات (لهجات)، ديانتين رئيسيتين ومنطقتين جغرافية متميزة. هذه العوامل، يمكن ان تصبح العناصر الأساسية للتقسيم في أيدي النخبة المتلاعبة بمصير الشعب الإرتري. لم تكن الإعتقادات الدينية سبب الصراعات،  ولكن الأسباب الحقيقية كانت دائما  الصراع على السلطة السياسية، المنافع المادية، الحفاظ على الهوية والكرامة الجماعية... من ضمن الأسباب الأساسية التي تسبب الإنشقاقات. لقد رأينا أن المسلمين الإرتريين كانوا يشكلون أغلبية في صفوف دعاة الاستقلال في الإربعينيات من القرن الماضي في النضال الوطني من أجل التحرير حتى عام ٩٧٥. لقد اختاروا هذا النهج والطريقة من اجل مصالحهم البعيدة المدى والتى لا يمكن ان تتحقق بإنضمامهم الى اثيوبيا بدون قيد او شرط. من ناحية أخرى، المسيحيين الإرتريين، في العموم، كانوا يأملون انّ الوحدة مع الدولة الإثيوبية، التي يسيطر عليها إخوانهم في الدين (المسيحيين الإرثوذكس)، من شأنه أن يجلب لهم "الكرامة والمساواة الحرية وفرص جديدة في جميع المجالات".

كانت مسألة الوصول إلى 'الفرص الجديدة " هي التي عمقت فجوة الانقسام بين الطائفتين الإرتريتين.

على سبيل المثال من  ١٣٨ أعلى مناصب للدولة في إثيوبيا بين ١٩٤١  -  ١٩٦٦، ٨٥ وظيفة كان يشغلها الأمحرة من منطقة شوا، ١٩ وظيفة كان يشغلها الإرتريين و٧ وظيفة كان يشغلها التقراويون (ابناء تقراي – شمال اثيوبيا)*، ارتريا  كانت المنطقة الثانية الأكثر حظا حسب  ولد يسوس عمار

(تعليقي الشخصي هو أن الارتريين يحتلون المركز الأول إذا اخذنا في الإعتبار حجم السكان) ولكن في تحليل المشاركات في الوظائف الدولة العلية في اثيوبيا  بالنسبة للارتريين نجد ان من ضمن الوظائف العلية ال ١٩،  ١٦ كانت للمسيحيين و 3 فقط منهم للمسلمين من بينهم السيد صالح حنيت، أول مسلم في التاريخ الاثيوبي يصبح وزيرا عام ١٩٦٦.

عادة، التعليم كان وصيلة للحصول الى مناصب علية في الدولة ومنافع مادية، والفرص كانت اقل ولم تكن متاحة للمسلمين كما كانت لمواطنيهم المسيحيين. في عام ١٩٦٦، ٥٠ ٪ من الأطفال فوق سن العاشرة في أسمرا كانوا يعرفون القراءة والكتابة. ٢٨ ٪ من الأطفال من الفئة العمرية ٧ - ١٢  أيضا ذهبوا إلى المدرسة في عموم إرتريا. ولكن الحصة بالنسبة لأبناء المنخفضات  في فرص التعليم كانت منخفضة للغاية. وبالمثل، أظهر التسجيل في مؤسسات التعليم العالي الاثيوبية نسبة عالية جدا بالنسبة للإرتريين. في المتوسط، كان هناك ٨٣٠ طالبا ارتريا  في جامعة هيلا سيلاسي الأول خلال ١٩٦٣ - ١٩٦٨ ، مما يمثل ١٦,٦ ٪ من مجموع الطلاب الجامعيين في الجامعة في تلك الفترة. ولكن من تلك النسبة من الطلاب الارتريين، أقل بكثير من ٢٪  كانوا من غير الناطقين بالتغرينية من المنخفضات الارترية.

هذا الكاتب (ولدي ايسوس عمار)  مسيحي الديانة أكمل الصف الثامن-  مع  ٨٦ من زملائه في مدينة كرن في يونيو عام  ١٩٦١.  وفي الصف التاسع في إمتحانات القبول الوطنية (الإثيوبية) حيث كان النجاح في اللغة الأمهرية شرطا اساسيا للإستمرار في الدراسة، أربعة فقط (جميعهم من المسيحيين) تمكنوا من الحصول على علامات النجاح. كان هذا بسبب انّ اللغتين التغرينية والأمهرية تستعملان الأبجدية  الجعزية والتي درسوها الطلاب المسيحيين منذ البداية على حسب المنهج التعليمي الذي كان متبع في تلك المرحلة (المسلمين كانوا يدرسون باللغة العربية والمسيحيين باللغة التغرنية). كان يشكل المسلمون ٩٠٪ من ذاك الفصل وجميعهم لم ينجحوا في  إمتحانات القبول. بعد ذلك ذهب العديد منهم إلى العالم العربي للدراسة أو التحقوا بالثورة الإرترية للنضال من أجل التحرير خلال بداية الستينات.

المصدر: إرتريا: الأسباب الجذرية للحرب واللاجئين – تألبف: ولد يسوس عمار، 1992،  صفحة ٨٦ - ٨٨

وهذا جزء منما فعله النظام الارتري

من مجموع 512 مدرسة  ابتدائة في عام  1996 كانت 354 منها اي 70% منها كانت تدرس بالتجرينية في حين 96 كانت تدرس بالعربي و 25 منها كانت تدرس بالتجراية و 13 بالكنامة و 14 بالساهو. اما بالنسبة للمدرسين كان 15% فقط منهم في

المنخفضات. فيا تري مافعله هذا الاختلال عبرالسنين في تقرنة المجتمع
----------
شكرا  Hamid Idris Awate  للترجمة 

The historical educational imbalance in Eritrea

The historical educational imbalance in Eritrea

There are factors that cause easily identifiable divisions in Eritrea. These include the presence of nine languages, two major religions and two distinct geographical zones. These factors, however, become essential elements of division in the hands of manipulative elite. Otherwise, it was not religious faith but the struggle for political power – the source of material benefits, the preservation of group identity and dignity – that has caused disunity. We have seen that the Eritrean Muslims constituted the majority in the ranks of the independentists in the 1940s and in the liberation struggle until 1975. They acted in the way they did mainly because they perceived that their interests in the long-run would not be satisfied in a political relationship with Ethiopia. On the other hand, the Eritrean Christians in general hoped that unity with the Ethiopian state, dominated by their co-religionists, would bring them “dignity, freedom equality and new opportunities”.

It was the question of access to the ‘new opportunities’ that widened the gap of division between the two Eritrean communities.

Take the access to state power in Ethiopia. Out of 138 highest state posts between 1941 to 1966, 85 went to Shoan Amharas, 19 to Eritreans   and 7 Tigriyans.* Eritrea was the second most favoured region (my own comment is that Eritreans came first if you take it proportional to population size), but the breakdown of the 19 posts made a difference locally; 16 were Christians and only 3 Muslims. Among them Saleh Hinit, the first Muslim in Ethiopian history to become cabinet minister in 1966.

Education, which was usually the path to high state posts and material benefits, was less accessible to the Eritrean Muslims than their Christian compatriots. In 1966, 50 % of the children over the age of ten in Asmara were literate; 28% of the children of the  7 – 12 age-group also went to school in Eritrea as a whole. But the share of the lowland peripheries in educational opportunities was very low. Similarly, the enrolment in Ethiopian higher institutions of learning showed a very high percentage of Eritreans. In average, there were 830 Eritrean students in the Haile Sellasie I University at any given year during 1963 – 1968, making 16.6% of the total university student population. But out of those Eritreans, much less than 2 % came from the non-Tigrinya speakers of the Eritrean lowlands.

This writer (meaning Wolde Yesus Ammar) a Christian, completed grade 8 with 86 mates in the town of Keren in June 1961. In the 9^th grade entrance (Ethiopian) national examination, in which a pass in Amharic was a pre-condition for further studies, only four (all Christians) obtained pass marks. This was because both Tigrinya and Amharic written in Ge’ez Alphabet which the Christians studied from the beginning. The Muslims constituted 90% of the group all failed, Many of them either went to the Arab world or joined the liberation struggle during the 1960s.

-----------------------------------------------------

Source: Eritrea: Root causes of War and Refugees by Wolde-Yesus Ammar, 1992, pp.86 -88

·        Christopher Clapham, Haile Sellasie’Government, 1969. P.81 quoted in

the book

And here is the educational imbalance during PFDJ:

Out of 512 elementary schools in 1996, 354 (about 70 %) taught in Tigrinya, 96 in Arabic, 25 in Tigrait, 13 in Kunama and 14 in Saho in a population where Tigrinya speakers are estimated to account for about 50 % of the population. The same pattern prevails in the distribution of teachers in the lowland provinces of Barca, Denkalia, Semher, Senhit taken all together formed simply a mere 15 %. One wonders how much of this has influenced the social engineering of the society through the years

---------------------------------------------------------

Source of the Statistics: Fouad Mekkis article, “Nationalism, State Formation and the Public Sphere in Eritrea 1991 – 1996 p. 483 quoting an article by Jenny Street and a Report of the Ministry of Education

Nella Colonia Eritrea: Italian book on Eritrea 1908

The whole book can be accessed at this link;

https://archive.org/details/ldpd_7285625_000

And another book: Lettere dall Eritrea :

https://archive.org/stream/inafricalettere00daingoog#page/n9/mode/2up

A rare video: Life in Eritrea under Italian colonization some 100 years back

A rare video film on life in Eritrea under Italian colonization some 100 years back:

Can be downloaded Here:

http://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/08602/avCreation_luce_it_IL_avCreation_IL3000096025_1.html?q=L%27Eritrea+-+Cinematografia+eseguita+dai+PP.+Cappuccini.


Details of contents:

L'Eritrea - Cinematografia eseguita dai PP. Cappuccini.

Description:100-pictures of a citrus plantation;101-didascalia: "Psidium";102-a boy shows the branches of a tree laden with fruit;103-the boy off a fruit from the branch;104-caption: "Citrus Catholic mission";105-pictures of a citrus plantation;106-caption: "papaya plant with tasty fruits";107-a man detaches from a tree two papaws (papayas);108-caption: "brick material and manufacturing of amphorae";109-a brick factory worker on a table;10-a man laying on his shoulder taking the branch of a tree;110-a child system bricks on the ground to dry;111-a worker takes the Earth from a pile and puts it on the table;112-a girl carries an amphora on shoulder;113-caption: "Weaving of mats";114-two women converse crouched on the ground;115-a woman weaving the fiber;116-caption: "oil mill Tittoni. The square of the settlement ";117-bags stacked in a square;118-caption: "To clear your complexion, suffers a smoke bath";119-a woman puts ground ash with a shovel and there lays the branches;11-caption: "Eritrean Salt. Machinery for lifting of sea water, with which they feed the water ";120-caption: "bridal gown worn...";121-a woman wearing a wristband;122-caption: "you succinge sides...";123-the woman is tied a belt at the waist;124-caption: "and adorned with jewelry ankles...";125-the woman clutching the ankles of bracelets;126-caption: "and your wrists";127-the woman wearing the bracelets;128-caption: "Inserted in the fingers gemmati rings ...";129-the woman wearing rings;12-workers control a machine in operation;130-caption: "neck and hung the jewels and the cross ...";131-the woman wears necklaces;132-caption: "winds in netzelà (white linen bedsheet)...";133-the woman wrapped in a white shawl;134-caption: "and is covered by a rich coat with hood";135-the woman wearing a dark cloak with hood;136-caption: ' per Saganeiti. A civil court Chief native province. Chief arrives with his later ";137-a man with a dark cloak with the hood towards the stairs followed by some people;138-some people have a gun;139-man sits in a Chair;13-caption: "cleaning the box (catchment area receive water)";140-man looks towards the camera;141-caption: "the two sides";142-two people back bow before the man sitting on the Chair;143-caption: "discussion";144-man standing makes gestures with one hand;145-caption: "the judgment";146-the man holds a speech and when ends the shoulders turn away;147-caption: "feast of ' Temchet ' (the Epiphany). The clergy from the church he goes to the place of ";148-a group of people down the stairs at the foot of a church;149-caption: "the people follows the clergy...";14-workers fill carts with shovels;150-priests vestments probably feast;151-caption: "while the primitive stone bells ring to party";152-a child strikes a stone hanging boulders;153-caption: "Arrival of the procession".154-procession of priests and faithful;155-caption: "the beginning of the ceremony";156-a priest is swinging a censer in front of the crowd;157-ceremony near a river or a lake.158-caption: "glue water Blessing cross";159-a priest approaches to water with a large crucifix in the hands;15-caption: "The water collected in the basin for evaporation";160-caption: "the sermon";161-the priest standing talking to the faithful sit around;162-caption: "the ritual lighting of the fire";163-the priest Crouching near the water and lights of the matches;164-caption: "the priest sprinkles the people";165-the priest sprinkles the faithful with a branch in water;166-caption: "All devoutly bathe...";167-the faithful Crouch near water and bathe;168-caption: "and some dip in holy water";169-some children plunge into water;16-overview of the water basin surrounded by heaps of salt;170-caption: "Philippines boat. Wells dug into the bed of the boat ";171-farmers with cattle near a well;172-caption: "the water transported to the watering place";173-two people pull the rope from the well;174-caption: "the numerous herds of the surroundings there are conducted every two days to quench your thirst";175-a farmer walks into a puddle, while a woman takes water from a borehole.176-the cattle we quench;177-caption: "The population provides of water by means of ghirbe. The ghirba is a leather bottle that Amer Heritage protects with a net woven with strings of palma ";178-two women close the Wineskins in networks and settle them on a mule;179-some women will load the ghirbe on your back;17-caption: "after a few days they will salty layer break";180-caption: ' towards the marketplace;181-some people lead of dromedaries loads;182-caption: "on the market";183-pile of bags in the market place;184-caption: "Big hard deposits in bags";185-some people are sitting on a pile of sacks;186-caption: "Sandals makers";187-a man crouching packs a sandal;188-caption: "Gunner";189-a man takes a stone with a hammer;18-breaking workers with shovels salt layer;190-caption: "the monument erected in memory of the glorious fallen in the battle of Agordat, have rendered military honors...";191-a posse of an indigenous body, meharisti, probably you have on the sides of the monument to the fallen in the battle of Agordat of 1893;192-the soldiers with their weapons;193-caption: "and is invoked by the priest the eternal Peace to the heroes";194-two priests kneel at the foot of the monument;195-caption: "dum Palm...";196-a man climbs on a Palm;197-a man shows the fruits;198-caption: "and its fruit";199-two men eat fruits;19-caption: "the salt is ammonticchiato";1-three children bow and shake hands;200-caption: "the fruits in bags of mats, ready for export";201-bags laid out on a flat ground;202-three men weigh a lot, one of them takes away some fruits from the lot;203-caption: "one hundred Kilograms!";204-two men carry the lot;205-caption: "Dongolao Horses. Held in great honor for liveliness and beauty of forms ";206-a man holding the bridle a rather dashing dark horse;207-the man tries to tame the horse;208-caption: "the garden of the Government. Banana cultivation ";209-two men in colonial dress walking among the banana trees.20-some workers form a pile of salt;210-caption: "its beautiful bloom";211-a man shakes the flower;212-caption: "and the tasty its fruit";213-man off a banana from the helmet;214-caption: "cane vegetation of India";215-a man checks of canes;216-caption: "Vast extensions of land, planted with cotton";217-pictures of cotton plantations;218-caption: "the plantations spread along the course of the boat, flanked by Palm trees-dum";219-two men walk between plants of cotton;21-some workers fill the buckets with salt, while other workers carry buckets on large heaps;220-caption: "White flakes".221-a man collects the cotton;222-caption: "cotton in the domestic environment...";223-a woman row cotton;224-caption: "and in the industry. The settlement Tittoni. After the arrival of a caravan ";225-a man checks the contents of a bale of cotton;226-bales of cotton placed on an open veranda;227-caption: "a dance";228-two workers empty lots and control the cotton;229-caption: "processing";22-caption: "and piled in pyramids";230-some workers do roll the cotton bales on the Rails;231-caption: "Breeder of camels at the Boat people";232-two men beat a Dromedary has one leg tied;233-camels sitting;234-a man runs towards the camels with a whip;235-the camels rise;236-caption: "the Camel Sciucria";237-a man advances a camel;238-caption: "Camels Mares";239-a baby sucks milk from his mother;23-the workers emptied buckets atop the pyramids of salt;240-caption: "Camels runners";241-a man from behind holding the bridles of four camels;242-caption: "Postal Service disengaged with camels runners";243-a man comes upon a camel load of sacks;244-the man descends from camel and with the help of another man ties the bags to another camel;245-p.p. including a lot of Poste Italiane tied up on the side of the camel;246-the man with the new camel;247-caption: "the camel troops pioneered. Special body mounted militia on camels, for services in areas of the boat, Gasc and Enset. The Commander of a platoon ";248-a meharista holding the bridle of a camel;249-Commander salt on camel and it does raise;24-caption: "a pyramid under the blows of an axe";250-caption: "Exercises";251-a posse of meharisti advances on camels;252-the Group stops and dismounts from camels;253-caption: "here and there for the colony. Part III. Solemn reception to his Excellency the Governor in Agordat (February 1922). Representatives of various hill tribes along the way, waiting for the arrival. Fantasy, manifestation of tribute and of rejoicing. The Sudanese. Invitation to the dance ";254-some people sitting on the floor playing the tambourines and clap your hands;255-three men approached brandishing whips;256-caption: "Beginning of the imagination";257-men and women dancing;258-some men are dancing in front of a drum player;259-four men dance shoulder;25-some workers take a pickaxe a pyramid of salt;260-caption: "the Abyssinians";261-two women dancing accompanied by a woman who plays a drum;262-group of women sitting on the ground;263-band of meharisti with horses;264-horse man in traditional dress;265-crowd of people waiting;266-band of meharisti on camels;267-caption: "the arrival of his Excellency";268-arrival of two cars with authority preceded by meharisti on camels;269-three personalities descend from one of the cars and come into a building with columns;26-some workers filled the baskets of salt;270-caption: "the fantastic parade of Heads";271-the meharisti parade galloped ahead of the authorities on horses and camels;272-caption: "the cheers of the people";273-the crowd moves next to two men who play the drum;274-caption: "the leaders go on receipt";275-some men caught while walking;276-caption: "among the Kunama. The Kunama (about 18,000) inhabit the South-West region of Eritrea. Dedicated to agriculture and pastoralism, retain very primitive costumes are of pagan religion. The imagination is a ritual that they perform in the most important ice adventure. Before sowing of cereals you dance in honour of the deity in propitiation of abundant harvest ";277-a group of Kunama moves to step dance;278-caption: "The tiring blink toes accompanies the rhythmic chanting";279-a group of Kunama dance turning around some women who play drums;27-caption: "grinding transport";280-caption: "La civiltà embroider on the canvas; the Kunama on their skin ";281-pictures of women with tattooed backs;282-some men dancing brandishing of sticks;283-caption: "a jewel of architecture Kunama";284-pictures of a village of huts Kunama;285-caption: "with the Sun and freedom flourishes youth";286-some children play Kunama;287-pictures of guys Kunama;288-caption: ' A Figaro in the immense Hall of nature! ";289-a man Combs his hair to another man;28-the baskets full of salt are emptied into a small train carts;290-typical Kunama hairstyles pictures;291-a man passes the color on the hair of an elder;292-caption: "the beating of ' hard '. With water and flour of tough women prepare the merissa (especially beer)... ";293-some women and children prepare the merissa in some jars placed close to a tree;294-caption: "and the offer to workers...";295-women wear the pots with the drink to a group of men;296-a man distributing the drink;297-caption: "after cleaning from the Hague, spreads the cobs of corn";298-two men settle the cobs in the Hague with pitchforks;299-some men beat the cobs;29-salt-filled train moves slowly;2-title: "part I";300-caption: "under the blows of strong arms, armies of Baobab bark";301-men fighting the cobs with the bark of baobab;302-caption: "piled up the precious beans...";303-the beans are spread on the threshing floor;304-caption: "you can dance in honor of Singing (God), who granted abundant harvest";305-the Kunama moving dancing;306-the Kunama are dancing around some women who play the drum;307-caption: "his Excellency the Governor of the colony among the Kunama. Get to Ducambia ";308-the car with the personality passes close to a group of people;309-caption: "A conversation with leaders of surrounding villages";30-some workers pull of camels;310-a man in colonial dresses, probably the Governor, talks with the heads of the villages through an interpreter;311-caption: "fantasy of homage";312-authorities attend the dance of the Kunama;313-some women playing drums and clap your hands accompanying the dance of men;31-some workers empty a basket full of salt into a trap door;32-caption: "Ribbon that leads the salt in large deposits";33-conveyor that transports the salt on the move;34-caption: "mountain of salt, ready for loading on ships";35-pictures of a salt deposit;36-a worker climbs up a mountain of salt;37-caption: "vast expanse of artificially irrigated and cultivated ground to hard";38-a man walks near a field;39-a guy moves riding a mule;3-caption: "the coast of Massawa";40-caption: "vegetation";41-the tough field moved by the wind;42-caption: "Towards Ghinda district";43-moving train;44-caption: "in the Valley of Ghinda district";45-some people crossing a Brook;46-caption: "Herds at watering";47-a guy pours water in a watering hole for cattle;48-caption: "Through the bed of the stream";49-a group of people leads of cattle along the course of a stream;4-Overview of the coast of Massawa;50-caption: "Ascari, returning from Libya, proceeding to Asmara and their families come to meet them";51-a group of Askaris climbs on a train with families;52-caption: "departure from Ghinda district";53-pictures of the station of Ghinda district;54-a train departs from the station;55-overview of a town;56-caption: "in the garden of the Catholic Mission in Asmara";57-un calesse advances on a tree-lined street;58-caption: "eucalyptus Plantation awarded by the colonial Government";59-men at work in a plantation of eucaliptus (images are in poor condition);5-boats in the port;60-caption: "At Elabered. Extensive plantations of citrus fruits (gentlemen's Purchase Grant) ";61-overview of a citrus plantation;62-two men in colonial clothes walk amongst the trees;63-caption: "coffee plant";64-a man collects the coffee grounds.65-caption: "Harvest of the fruit";66-man shows collected beans;67-caption: "granting Casciani agave industry";68-overview of an agave plantation;69-caption: "vast fields of agave;6-caption: "Some typical types of coast";70-pictures of agave fields;71-caption: "a specimen";72-a man standing near a specimen of agave;73-caption: "As if you cut the leaves";74-a worker cuts the leaves the plant;75-caption: "Sfibratura";76-a worker puts a leaf of agave in a machine that only breaks into fibres;77-caption: "fiber Wash";78-a woman and a baby washing the fiber in a fountain;79-caption: "In dry";7-a man bare-chested posing before the camera;80-a man in colonial clothing check the work of women and children among the ranks of fiber placed for drying;81-caption: "Putty";82-some guys beat fiber bundles with sticks and then bind them;83-caption: "transport to the warehouses";84-a worker carries on his shoulder a lot of fiber;85-caption: "the last stretch of the railway Asmara-Keren under construction, opened in June 1922. Laying sleepers ";86-some workers carry on their shoulders the sleepers;87-caption: "Rail Transportation along the road";88-some workers lift a rail by levering with a pile of sticks;89-the rail is fixed on sleepers;8-a bare-chested boy ride;90-caption: "serving trolley";91-an elderly man in colonial clothes makes sitting on a rail cart pushed by some workers;92-caption: "Inghiaiamento";93-some guys empty buckets full of gravel near the Rails;94-caption: "rail Bedding";95-settle the rail workers with pickaxes and levers;96-caption: "Viaduct on the ravine of Addis-Addi";97-pictures of a viaduct;98-a train passes over the viaduct;99-caption: "citrus Cultivation (Granting of Prof. Baldrati) ";9-man posing wearing a shirt;

The documentary shows pictures of Eritrea, and customs of the inhabitants of various parts of the colony.
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[Attualità Comerio. Ascari e coloniali in Eritrea] 1914

http://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/08619/1037479000000254035.html?q=Eritrea%2A

Old video: Italians moving the remains of Italian soldiers killed at the battle of Adwa to Adi Quala

An old Italian video film that shows how Italians moved the remains of Italian soldiers killed at the Battle of Adwa to Adi Quala                                                                       

Picture: Wikipedia

http://www.europeana.eu/portal/record/08602/avCreation_luce_it_IL_avCreation_IL3000094009_1.html?start=12&query=Eritrea&startPage=1&qf=TYPE%3AVIDEO&qt=false&rows=24

Details of the film:

10-the Group stops in the area occupied by the troops from Ethiopia;11-the caravan parades in front of the Governor;12-men resume their March towards Adi Quala.13-Gasparini and Eritrean troops parading between two wings of the natives;14-Eritrean troops affiliated to Italian Army have weapons in honor of the fallen;15-the funeral ceremony in honor of the fallen officiated by pro Vicar Apostolic;16-the religious ceremony ends with absolution and blessings of mortal remains;17-a light aircraft flying at very low altitude;18-the transfer of mortal remains of fallen continues on the streets of Adi Quala.19-an Italian flag flies atop a building [probably the Governor];1-Long caravan to the passage of the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea, near Adi Quala: marciano together African and Italian Italian army aggregates [most likely Ethiopians];20-Italian and indigenous troops wait in recollection;21-the caravan leaves the town and continues off-road;22-the row of camels with load of crates containing the remains of the dead in battle;23-ascari deployed in meditation before the crates;24-the Governor of the colony and other Italian officers in uniform reaches the area where they were gathered Tomb chests;25-Gasparini mounts to horse and salutes before leaving;2-some of the men proceeded on horseback;3-many of the natives, wrapped in white cloaks, they are walking with bayonets on their backs;4-row of camels from soma;5-the caravan walking on sandy knolls and stops in a clearing;6-the camera delivers the crates containing the remains of Italian soldiers and officers who died in the battle of Adua [the shots to make swings hard cracking images];7-among the natives wrapped in white cloaks a child;8-arrival of a posse of ascari on horseback and with the insignia of lance [this is, most likely, of Eritrean ascari] together with Italian officers ride and the Governor of Eritrea Jacopo Gasparini;9-open the group a bearer of the flag of the Italian Kingdom.At Adowa Italian troops suffered a disastrous defeat in the clash with the Ethiopians: remained dead on the 4000 between Italian officers and soldiers and about 2600 ascari. The documentary shows the transport of mortal remains at Adi Quala in Eritrea.

Hedgait: Three months old, humble start and kicking

Hedgait: Three months old, humble start and kicking

Hedgait, which means ‘the narrator’ in Tigrait, was launched on the 21^st of December and this is a stock assessment on how it has done so far, some statistics:

-       It has more than 40, 000 views

-       It has 339 posts

-       Views per day varied from 43 - 1087

-       Viewers from 46 countries (most of whom are regular visitors and assume most are Eritreans spread worldwide with few Ethiopians, Sudanese, Djiboutians)

-       Few regular visitors from Eritrea

-       Few  visitors (mostly regular) from countries such as Japan, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Angola, Uganda, Ukraine, Belgium, Finland, Malaysia, Turkey, Bahrain, Jordan, South Africa

-       The top six countries where visitors originate from, in descending order: are USA, UK, S. Arabia, Sweden, Egypt and Canada

-       The items most read are rather personal stories than political issues: The top six most read items, in descending order:

o   http://hedgait.blogspot.com/2014/12/picture-elf-group-that-was-training-in.html (ELF group in China)

o   http://hedgait.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-portrait-jelal-yassin-aberra.html (Story about Jelal Yassin)

o   http://hedgait.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-eritrean-artist-whose-life-was.html (Story about Younis Ibrahim)

o   http://hedgait.blogspot.com/2015/02/1928.html (Arabic Newspapers since 1928 – in Arabic)

o   http://hedgait.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-eritrean-freedom-fighter-who_19.html (Story about Abdella Tzegay)

o   http://hedgait.blogspot.com/2014/12/picture-central-committee-of-general.html (Picture CC of the General Union of Eritrea Women – affiliated to the ELF)

Hedgait will remain a window to Eritrean history, mainly the hidden untold stories. Knowledge is power and knowledge is to be spread to reach a wider audience, not be monopolized by few. There are two schools of thought in the scientific community: those who want to make knowledge freely available to all, and those who want to commercialize it. There has been a lot of progress in terms of making knowledge accessible. You will have the opportunity to get access to articles and books and other media outlets on Eritrea that are freely available.

Thanks to all who collaborated with me by providing documents and pictures, particularly Jelal Yassin and Ibrahim Gedem. Though I plan to concentrate on a bigger project on Eritrea the next months, I will continue to update the blog with more materials, from time to time.

 Your feedback and constructive criticism will always be valuable.

“Spring is the time of plans and projects.”

Leo Tolstoy in Anna Karenina as quoted in ‘goodreads.com’