Eritrea - Ministry of Information

Today’s interview will be done with one of the well known Eritrean vocalists and composers, his name is Mohamed Saleh and he was born in 1974 in the subzone of Mogolo. Ever since he was ten years old he was nourished by musical knowledge in the revolutionary school under the E.P.L.f.

Let’s meet today a young man who together with his team mates is making some unforgettable myths in our country’s bicycle raising history.

-Well come to this week’s Q&A.

Thanks for inviting me over!

-You have a nice nick name…

Santo? Yeah it is quite a nice nick name. It was my grandfather’s nick name, as I inherited the passion I have for football from him I also inherited his nick name… it came with the package...

-What’s your real name?

Hermon G/Slase

-What can you tell us about yourself?

Uhm… I was born in 1993 in Asmara. I lived here my whole life; I spent my time playing football in my neighborhood. There was no other world for me besides football, matter of fact I used to have a hard time at school. I went to Sawa and discovered a whole new world and that’s when I thought that maybe I had to a bit smarter and be a good student as well, I studied so hard and got admitted to the Marine Science college so right now I am a marine student in Massawa.

Today’s we have a guest that his work is recognized by all Eritreans all over the world. Actor, musician, and producer and of course one of the comedians in our home town: Gigi.

Rahel Asghedom is author of Colourful Stories and Some Sweetly Kept Thoughts, published by Hdri Publishers, both a collection of poetry and the short stories. Rahel has recently written her first novel – Before She Breaks My Heart. Here, she tells Huriy Ghirmai about the joy of reading and writing, childhood influences and future projects.

-Well come sir, glad to have you here with us.

It is my pleasure.

-What is the history behind your nick name “John Carlo”?

A lot of people call me “John Carlo”, but my real and original nick name is “Gian Carlo”. Our battalion commander: Martyred Mekonen Tekle, came up with that nick name back when we were young, meaning in 1979. It all started in Durfo at that moment I was a bare foot doctor so for some reasons I stayed behind my unit and while everyone reached the top hill I was trying to join my comrades, as I was young (I was 19 at that time), very light skinned and my hair is really soft, looking from the above I looked like a white man so our battalion commander noticed and named me after that name. It was an Italian name that came up to his head at my sight.