Opinion
Homecoming in Summer- A ritual of the Eritrean Diaspora
Simon Weldemikael
https://shabait.com/2025/09/04/homecomi ... -diaspora/
Sep 4, 2025
For many Eritreans living abroad, summer isn’t just a time for vacation. It’s a sacred season of return to the homeland and renewal of connection. Thousands of Eritreans come back to Eritrea, reconnecting with their family, culture, and the land that shaped them. The summer visits of the Eritrean diaspora carry profound emotional and practical significance for the individuals returning and for Eritrea itself. These journeys are acts of reconnection, cultural preservation, and quiet resistance to displacement.
For Eritrea, in addition to economic spinoffs, the diaspora visitors create opportunities for many of them to give services during their stay in areas of their specialization — including medicine, engineering, and education — that are highly needed in the country. Culturally, the diaspora help sustain Eritrea’s vibrant heritage. Artists, musicians, and scholars contribute to local events, enriching the national dialogue with global perspectives. Their presence at festivals and public gatherings reinforces a shared identity that transcends geography.
Returning home has far reaching symbolic meaning. At its core, it is a declaration that says,
It’s a ritual of remembrance, respect, and renewal.we may live abroad, but Eritrea lives in us.
The summer visit is one way of affirming that the Eritrean identity cannot be erased by distance. For the Eritrean diaspora, the seasonal migration is an occasion for the demonstration of belonging, a reconnection with roots, and a quiet affirmation that identity endures across borders.
Summer is the season of return to reconnect with family, culture, and community. Weddings, reunions, and national celebrations become touchstones of identity, especially for second-generation youth born and raised abroad.
The summer visit has become a cherished tradition, among diaspora families. Parents use these trips to pass down Eritrean values and history to their children. They go to festivals, ancestral villages, and historical places along with their children. And the children born abroad get to experience the land their parents speak of with reverence. They walk the streets of Asmara and other cities and towns in their homeland and participate in traditions of the society.
Beyond the economic and cultural impact, the summer return of Eritreans underscores the enduring emotional bond between the diaspora and their homeland. The act of returning affirms a shared sense of belonging, that transcends time and distance. This persistent bond is what makes the diaspora not just a community abroad, but an extension of Eritrea itself.
The Eritrean diaspora have played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s trajectory, both during its long struggle for independence and in the years that followed. They have consistently mobilized resources and voices, to support their homeland. They contributed to the Eritrean liberation war, through fundraising and advocacy. And during the post-independence war of resistance, they demonstrated Eritrea’s valor by organizing rallies, sending remittances, and raising awareness about the conflict.
The Eritrean diaspora, did not come into being by design or choice. That came as a result of the 30-year war of Independence (1961–1991), which displaced a lot of Eritreans. In a world where displacement often leads to disconnection, the Eritrean diaspora’s summer return stands as a powerful counter-narrative. It is a ritual of belonging and a testament to the enduring pulling power of home. The enduring emotional bond of Eritrean diaspora with their homeland, has passed the test of time.
The Eritrean diaspora have been dubbed ambassadors without portfolios, because they represent their homeland’s interests in their host countries. They defend Eritrea’s sovereignty and policy positions in foreign land, to promote its national interests. They are increasingly seen as a national resource in their performance in public diplomacy. For instance, the Eritrean community in the USA have created a National Public Diplomacy Group, that aims to inform and connect the Eritrean diaspora with their homeland. They have initiated social media campaigns and opened various media outlets such as Voice of Eritrea, KFAI Eritrean Community Radio, EriXpress, and KNON radio community Dallas.
The Eritrean diaspora community is part and parcel of the “imagined community” of Eritrea with a strong sense of belonging, across different spaces. They have been able to bridge gaps through networks, making it easier even for Eritreans born and raised in foreign countries to identify with Eritrea. These children of Eritrea born and raised abroad, are part of the Eritrean community and committed to the maintenance and restoration of their home country.
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On September 3, 2025, the Chicago National Public Diplomacy Group (NPDG) met with Leslie Combs, District Director for Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, marking a significant first step in building a collaborative relationship with the Congresswoman’s office. @WolduTuku #NCEA
