Eritrea - Ministry of Information

Eritrean cyclist Yohana Dawit finished ninth place at the first stage of the Green Mountain Race in Vermont, USA. Her remarkable race on September 2 marks a significant milestone in her career- as the first Eritrean female cyclist competing for an American cycling team (Amy D.Foundation race team).

The history of cinemas in Eritrea dates back to 1920s during the Italian colonial period, when the Eritrean people were familiarized with the culture of cinemas. But not all the Eritrean citizens had the opportunity to watch movies in the cinemas which were abundant even back then. The only few privileged citizens who were allowed to watch cinemas were the ones who worked with the Italians and only with their bosses were they allowed to get in. Almost all the movies back then were Italian, especially until the early 1940s.

• Detrimental or Fruitful?

Have you ever wondered what people would have been left with if there had been no words, no sentences, no frameworks of phrases and conversations? It is hard to imagine and accept people remaining with an open mouth and non-functional muscle tongue. Human beings use their tongue as a very essential part of their life. I believe there is a very articulate saying in the Tigrinya culture in this regard which goes as, kab beal taff beal aff, roughly translated as better to have a tongue than wealth. Like the standup comedians of our days I guess. Conversing and transferring information and getting back what you want is the ultimate mode of modern humans, as contrary compared to the unfortunate animals.

When we were young we were not supposed to cry under pain. Crying was meant for girls and sissy. Stoic fortitude under pain was the mark of manhood.

It is that time of the year again, and the fact that it has been raining heavily makes it even more of a special occasion. I am talking about the Eritrean Festival.  Annually in the last week of July and the first week of August Festival Eritrea is celebrated in the Asmara Expo ground for seven days and nights. The festival area is a location to witness the culture, tradition, music and dance of all ethnic groups in Eritrea.

“Can you lend me 500 Nakfa until Sunday?”

“Can you spare me 300 Nakfa to tide me over until I get my salary?”

“My wife has just given birth to a beautiful child, can I have an advanced payment?”

Shakespeare tells us to be neither a borrower nor a lender, the Holy Bible counsels us to lend without any thought of getting it back. The Bible was right. On the other hand one clever wit by the name Oscar Wilde, once said borrow money from a pessimist, he won’t expect it back.