Crime-free Asmara, in these COVID times! (Photo credit: Beraki T.)
A sweet & tender Asmara "hello" with social distancing in mind, in these COVID times!
Asmara skies! (@tekerebanelim)
Pics from Asmara, in these COVID times!
Crime-free Asmara, in these COVID times! (Photo credit: Beraki T.)
A sweet & tender Asmara "hello" with social distancing in mind, in these COVID times!
Asmara skies! (@tekerebanelim)
Re: Pics from Asmara, in these COVID times!
Around Dekamhere, Southern region. (Beraki T.)
________________
Massawa port has enough cargo handling capacity; even stronger than the pre-1998 level.
Bulk cargo handling increased by 71% from 850 tons per ship per day in 1997 to 1,457 tons in 2015.
_______________
Colorado Governor Jared Polis' Message to Eritrea Festival USA 2020
Re: Pics from Asmara, in these COVID times!
ማእገር - ሰራዊት ኤርትራን ትምህርትን | The Eritrean Army and education - ERi-TV
__________________
“Being in Sawa makes you learn how to get through life”
Written by Kesete Ghebrehiwet
http://shabait.com/articles/q-a-a/30966 ... ough-life-
Articles - Q & A
Heven Tesfamariam from Seattle, USA, and Mussie Ghirmai from Sweden, are members of the 33rd round of national service. They both came to Eritrea to go to Sawa, to participate in the national service program. After taking military training in Sawa, they graduated on 15 August; along with the other members of the 33rd round. The two expatriate Eritreans, have shared their experiences in and views about Sawa. Excerpts follow:
What is your impression of Eritrea in general and Sawa, in particular?
Heven
Eritrea is beautiful! Every time I come here, I get a feeling of peace and serenity of being at home and I feel the same way about Sawa. In Sawa, you meet so many people from all ethnic groups that come from different regions of the country.
What inspired you to be a member of the national service program?
Heven
The main purpose of coming to Sawa is the military training. I think it is a national duty to come and serve our country. Our younger brothers and sisters are coming to Sawa and spending the whole year here. It is very easy for us to stay for a couple of months. It is really important to come here and be alongside them and be active in everything.
Mussie
A conversation I had with my sister and the background information I learned about Eritrea and our identity from YPFDJ in Sweden, inspired me to come here.
Please, share with us what you witnessed here, in Sawa?
Heven
The best thing about Sawa is that it is a school; it teaches you a lot. It enables you to meet in one place, people from all the nine ethnic groups. Everybody speaks so many different languages. The traditions we have and everything else is amazing. In short, Sawa is an educational place. I would say the biggest thing you can gain from Sawa, is the relationships you make with people and what you learn about their traditions.
As someone who lives abroad, how do you maintain attachment with the homeland?
Heven
We have community centers that allow us to be in touch with other Eritreans. When you see that racism and discrimination are prevalent in places like the United States, you want to be with your own people. It is nice to have a place like the community center where all Eritreans come together and learn the culture, tradition and languages of Eritrea. This is instrumental for us, to keep in touch with our country.
Mussie
Every year, I come to Eritrea for summer vacation and I personally experience the culture and tradition. That is how I maintain the attachment. I have never been detached from my country.
What did you gain from your stay in Sawa?
Heven
Being in Sawa, definitely makes you a much stronger person. Above all you learn how to get through life, how to be a strong person and how to be optimistic. It really teaches you, that nothing is impossible. It teaches you, that you can move forward.
Mussie
I learned a lot! It is not only about the nine ethnic groups. Sawa is now built as a city. I am really impressed to see this. It is really appealing to me to see development activities being carried out. I’ve learned so many things during my stay in Sawa. Living in Sawa, you do not only learn different languages but different lifestyles of all ethnic groups.
Have you seen any difference, between what you imagined and what you witnessed?
Heven
I see a big difference! The false propaganda being spread about Sawa, is among the biggest topics. Sawa is being referred to as a horrible place, where there is nothing good. But, when you come here, you see everything is beautiful. Living with one hundred different people with different personalities and characters, teaches you a lot. It teaches you how to be independent and how to be able to stand up for yourself, and it gives you confidence. These are not the things you hear, when you are abroad. All you hear, is the negative things. But, there are a lot of good things here.
Mussie
What I heard and what I witnessed, are quite opposite. You always find information, filled with lies and rumors. On the other hand you find truth, facts and reality. Being a diaspora for years, makes you learn how to navigate through lies and fabrications. You then easily find the truth. You also find people, who personally experienced the reality in Eritrea and this way you get the true image of Sawa before you come here.
How do you feel, about the mutual co-existence of the different ethnic groups?
Heven
It is really amazing! One of the many things we saw in Sawa, was the way Easter and Eid were celebrated. Both times, we all came together and decorated the buildings. Everybody came, with entertaining programs. It was really beautiful, to see Christians and Muslims come together and celebrate Easter and Eid together.
What would you like to say to fellow Eritreans, about your experience in Sawa?
Mussie
We have to separate the lies from the truth. Now, I have a lot of information and experience. I am sharing not only the real image of Sawa, but I am also sharing what I feel and think about it.
Any message you would like to convey, at last?
Heven
I just want to say, we are the ones who can develop our nation. As young people, it is important for us to stand united so that we can continue to build our nation.
Mussie
I would like to tell Eritreans living abroad, to come to Sawa. There is nothing bad or tough, here. Everybody experiences it differently and there is nothing that cannot be accomplished in Sawa. Everybody needs to come to Sawa and to personally experience everything. It is the most important learning experience you will have academically, and you will also have life experience. It is a perfect place, to build strength and endurance. I will definitely send my kids to Sawa. Sawa, enables you to be self-reliant. What I would like to tell expatriates is that, Sawa is a place that creates productive citizens. I believe, Sawa is necessary for our country’s development.
Thank you very much, for your time!
Heven and Mussie
We also thank you!
____________
________________________
Memories (Part 1)
Saturday, 22 August 2020
Written by Dr. Fikrejesus Amahazion
http://shabait.com/categoryblog/30955-memories-part-1
I recently read Billion Temesgen’s article, “How must Sawa have been in 2020”, which was featured in the last edition of Eritrea Profile (published on August 19).
I found the piece extremely insightful and very enjoyable. Eloquent and well-written, it presented a detailed and interesting perspective of life in Sawa. It also evoked a flood of memories of my own experiences at the institution.
As I was reading, I found myself being transported back into time, reliving some of the things she discussed and also being reminded of so many other things that made my Sawa journey so special.
Taking the cue from Billion’s recent contribution, the following article briefly shares some of my own memories of Sawa. I should point out that many of the experiences I discuss here are of things that are often forgotten, less recognized, or do not instantly come to mind. Additionally, with so many different things to share about my experience, I thought it would be a bit easier and more fun to “organize” and present my memories alphabetically. Thus, the following presents the first part of my experiences, with entries categorized from the letter A through to the letter H. Part II and Part III will be presented in the next several editions of Eritrea Profile.
A is for Addes: One of the staples of the Eritrean diet is addes, or lentils. The same is true of meals at Sawa. Addes is extremely easy to prepare, healthy, full of protein, and very tasty. Personally, I had to ensure that I always had a small towel and a large cup of cold water to drink nearby, since addes was usually prepared with different types of spices (including red hot berbere, the undisputed king of the spices) that left me sweating, open-mouthed, and panting.
B is for Bitsainet: Bitsainet can be roughly translated as “camaraderie” or “comradeship”. In many ways, it is a term that perfectly encapsulates much of our time in Sawa. We do pull through everything – classes, lessons, assignments, work, exercises, drills, and chores – together. Moreover, we make sure to support and take care of the person next to us, calm in the knowledge that our comrades will likewise support and take care of us. Bitsainet malet!
C is for Cultural Nights: Among my most favorite things in Sawa are the cultural nights. Several times per month we all gather for live music, dance, poetry, and drama performances. Generally, these are conducted by students although special guests from around the country sometimes visit in order to perform. Cultural nights, which showcase our country’s rich history, diversity, identity, and culture are about far more than “just” fun and entertainment. They also have other important benefits.
For one, they help to instill within us a strong sense of pride in being Eritrean. As put by the prominent Black social activist and civil rights campaigner Malcolm X decades ago,
C is also for Camseen: Camseen are large, powerful, swirling winds that gather dust, sand, and other debris as they move. They are common to the region around Sawa, and also are found in parts of the countries surrounding Eritrea. When a camseen is approaching, your best bet is to quickly run inside for cover. Once safe inside, make sure that you have shut the windows!
I will never forget my first time experiencing a camseen. Seeing it increase in size as it rapidly approached from the distance, I ran inside, following close on the heels of several of my friends. In my rush to get inside to shelter, I totally forgot that my clothes, which I had washed and hung up to dry not long before, were still on the clothesline outside. After the camseen had passed, I spent several hours sheepishly tracking down socks and shorts that had been blown away and strewn to some of the farthest reaches of Sawa. Lesson learned!
D is for Dikas: In Sawa, dikas, or sleep, is deep and peaceful. In fact, I don’t think I have ever slept as well anywhere else as I did in Sawa. It may sound trite and clichéd, but “like a baby” is a pretty accurate description about dikas in Sawa.
D is also for Dinesh: Another of the staples of the diet in Eritrea, and in Sawa, is dinesh (potatoes). Personally, I loved when dinesh was on the menu for lunch or dinner since they usually were not drowned with berbere – my longtime nemesis.
E is for Equality: The promotion of equality is a fundamental goal in Eritrea, and Sawa is a key part of achieving that aim. For example, Sawa promotes equitable access and equality of opportunity for all, which is important for traditionally marginalized or minority groups (such as females, low-income individuals, and others). Equality is reflected in other ways as well; in Sawa, for instance, everyone is treated equally, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status or other distinctions.
F is for Forto Sawa: Forto Sawa is a small town located not far from Sawa. For the town of Forto Sawa, Sawa is very important. It is a source of employment for many people from the town, and it also significantly contributes to the life and economy of the town in other ways (e.g., purchases from local businesses).
F is also for Fisca: When you hear the sound of the fisca, or whistle, it means that you have to quickly get to where you need to be – in line, class, study, chores, exercises, field, or a meeting. During the traditional midday nap, the fisca serves as an alarm clock, telling you it is time to wake up.
G is for Gash Barka: Sawa is located within Zoba Gash Barka. There are six zobas, or provinces, in Eritrea: Anseba, Maekel, Debub, Gash Barka, Northern Red Sea, and Southern Red Sea. Gash Barka is located in the west of the country. In addition to Sawa, other big towns and cities in Gash Barka include Barentu, Agordet, Haikota, Tessenei, Goluj, Shambuko, and Omhajer. Of course, it should not be forgotten that Badme, one of the triggers for the destructive 1998-2000 war between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and which remains under illegal occupation by foreign forces, is also located in Gash Barka.
Interestingly, shortly after Eritrea’s independence, the country’s existing administrative regions were restructured into the current six zobas. This was done in order to promote socio-economic development, ensure equitable distribution of and access to resources and services and eliminate harmful divisions along ethno-linguistic or religious lines. The great importance of this latter focus is highlighted by the mayhem, upheaval, and terrible conflicts related to sharp ethnic divisions and hatred currently occurring within many parts of Africa.
H is for Hedareb: Eritrea is a country that is blessed with rich diversity. The population of approximately 3.5 million people is split almost evenly between Christianity and Islam, with each representing nearly half of the population. As well, there are nine ethno-linguistic groups dispersed throughout the country. The Hedareb mostly reside within Zoba Gash Barka and in the areas in and around Sawa. Mainly nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists, the Hedareb typically migrate seasonally with their herds of camels, donkeys, goats, and sheep. Having the opportunity to meet and interact with some of them was a special privilege and is something that I always cherish.
H is also for Hikea: Hikea can generally be understood as getting together for chatting, short stories and jokes. Usually after dinner and studying many of us gather together outside in a field, where we sit or lay down in a circle under the calm evening sky. Then, one by one, we each get up, stand in the middle, and tell a short story, share a joke or raise some question for everyone to ponder. Hikea time is all about laughter, friendly debate, relaxation and having a good time.
Memories (Part II)
http://shabait.com/categoryblog/30970-memories-part-ii-
Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Taking the cue from Billion’s recent contribution, I decided to write a brief article sharing some of my own memories of Sawa. I should point out that many of the experiences I discuss are of things that are often forgotten, less recognized or do not instantly come to mind. Additionally, with so many different things to share about my experience, I thought it would be a bit easier and a lot more fun to “organize” and present my memories alphabetically. In the last edition of Eritrea Profile (August 22), I presented the first part of my experiences, with entries categorized from the letter A through to the letter H. The following article, Part II, covers the letters I through Z.
I is for Ide Tibeb: Handicrafts, or ide tibeb, are a fun way to pass some of your free time in Sawa. Students are creative and they can make a broad array of unique ide tibeb, including bracelets, anklets, small banners, colorful mats for the traditional boon (coffee) ceremony, and cushion or table covers. These are then given as gifts to friends, family, former teachers and significant others.
J is for Jallon: One of your best friends in Sawa is your jallon, a 5-gallon plastic container that you fill with water. Everyone has their own jallon, and it is always kept nearby and close at hand, helping to ensure that you are always cool, refreshed and well-hydrated. We all cover our jallons with a cloth and then wet the cloth. This keeps the water inside wonderfully cool throughout the day.
K is for Kokob: In her article, Billion mentioned that the night sky in Sawa is spectacular. I wholeheartedly second that point. In Sawa, the evenings are calm and the skies are clear, helping to showcase a glittering array of bright kokob, or stars. After a day full of studies and various activities, there is hardly a better way to relax than to peacefully lie down in the field alongside your friends, eyes focused on the pearls and diamonds shining high above.
K is also for Kirar: A kirar is a traditional wooden stringed musical instrument that is similar to a guitar. It has been played by some of Eritrea’s greatest musicians and is a regular feature of some of our country’s most popular songs. In Sawa, every different section of students has at least a couple of kirars on hand and several talented players who play original or popular songs to the great enjoyment of everyone else.
L is for Learning: Attending Sawa is all about learning. Of course, it is generally the case that you learn in your classes. However, you learn outside of class time, too, acquiring greater understanding and insight about your culture, country, history, and people. Sawa also helps you to truly learn about yourself.
M is for Mai: Mai, or water, is life. In stark contrast to a lot of misguided reports, in Sawa mai is plentiful – with more than enough available for drinking, cooking, bathing and washing, cleaning, and for the plants and animals.
This point also leads to another important fact: mai has been a longstanding focus of Eritrea’s national development programs. In recent years, access to clean drinking water in rural and urban communities in Eritrea has risen to over 85%, dramatically higher than the meager figure at the onset of independence, and a significant increase from several years ago. Furthermore, dams and ponds with a capacity of well over 300 million cubic meters of water have been built across the country, thus supporting the vital agricultural sector.
N is for Narit: After exams are done and school is fully completed, training begins. Part of the training includes narit, or running. During narit, which is usually in the morning, we move as a single group, enthusiastically singing songs and teasing other sections.
N is also for Nicknames: In Sawa, nicknames are common. For the most part, the nicknames given are friendly and reflect admiration or endearment. For instance, one short, spindly student who is a wonderfully talented footballer is nicknamed “Messi”. In other cases, nicknames are bestowed upon those from popular, well-known cities and towns. Thus, you will frequently hear Wedi Arreza, Wedi Batze, Wedi Segeneiti, and so on.
O is for Opportunity: One of the most important aims of Sawa is expanding opportunity for all. Regardless of ethnicity, sex or gender, religion, socio-economic status, or any other distinction, all youth deserve an opportunity to learn, grow, develop, and reach their full potential. We should remember that while some students in our country grow up with access to laptops and tablets, Internet, tutors, and up-to-date learning materials, which is certainly positive, others may face challenges with access to the basics, such as enough food and water. Thus, Sawa helps fulfill our collective obligation and responsibility to ensure that the latter are supported, provided an opportunity, and not left behind.
P is for Packages: Few things match the excitement of receiving a package at Sawa. When you receive the news, you run to the post office, sign your name, and grab your box. When you return, smiling like a proud conquering hero, you are warmly greeted by the others. As you are opening the box, everyone else is seemingly on top of you, elbowing each other for space, trying to get a look at what’s inside. Of course, you share some of the goodies you received in the package – like biscotti, mastika, kitcha, lekka-lekka, and qolo (cookies, gum, traditional bread, lollipops, and fruit seeds) – with gorebetka (your neighbors) safe in the knowledge that they will share some of their goodies when their own package arrives.
Q is for Qotcera Habesha: Eritrea’s culture is rich and diverse. There are so many wonderful, colorful elements to appreciate and admire. However, some parts of our culture are not so positive. One example is qotcera habesha, which can be understood as running late or poor timekeeping and management. It is downright frustrating. Qotcera habesha can see someone make an appointment for 5 p.m., only to arrive at 5:30 p.m.! When asked about their late arrival, they’ll shrug their shoulders nonchalantly and casually brush it off,
R is for Ruba Sawa: The Sawa River, or Ruba Sawa, flows in and around Sawa and feeds the large Molober agricultural area. Notably, Ruba Sawa also gets a special shout out in the classic song, “Sawa”, by legendary Eritrean artist Wedi Tikul:
T is for Temri: Temri, or dates, are among the most popular snacks in Sawa. Sweet and delicious, temri have been common in Eritrea and the surrounding region for thousands of years. In Sawa, we usually would snack on temri during hikea time.
T is also for Teamwork: Teamwork is defined by Scarnati (2001: 5) “as a cooperative process that allows ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results”. In Sawa, teamwork is a basic element of life and it touches upon everything we do. Importantly, teamwork also helps to promote deep learning that occurs through interaction, problem solving, dialogue, cooperation, and collaboration.
One of my favorite examples of teamwork in Sawa comes during narit, or running. When we run, we run as a group. Despite everyone having different abilities, however, we manage to move quite fast and no one gets left behind. How? Teamwork. We assign some of the fastest runners to the front and to the back of the group. Meanwhile, the middle is reserved for some of the slower runners. The fast pull from the front and push from the back, ultimately helping to encourage the slower runners to keep up. Thus, through teamwork, we move fast as a group and ensure that no one is left behind.
U is for Ubal: In and around Sawa there is a plethora of ubal, or large, tall trees. Besides their massive height, what makes ubal particularly special are that their thick, leafy branches extend out far and wide, offering great shade and cover. Ubal and their shade are thus perfect for sitting with friends or taking a nap.
V is for Victory: In Sawa, we have many different competitions between sections (e.g., highest grades, cleanest dorms, sports and athletics, etc.). Victory is sweet and precious, providing you with bragging rights – and super material for narit (running) songs – until the next competition!
Sawa also helps ensure that our spoken words are not empty or devoid of meaning: victory to the women, victory to the youth, victory to the masses (awet n’ansetie, awet n’menesey, awet n’hafash)!
W is for Warsai Yikealo National Secondary School: All students complete Grade 12 at Warsai Yikealo National Secondary School (WYNSS), which is located in Sawa. WYNSS has several aims, including: meeting the learning needs and aspirations of youth; helping youth to develop and make the best use of their talent; improving quality of and access to education in the country; and promoting unity and social cohesion.
X is for Xada Addes: As described in my entry for the letter A, addes is one of the staples of the Eritrean diet and it is a common feature on the menu in Sawa. While healthy, full of protein, and very tasty, addes poses a small challenge for me, since it is usually prepared with different types of spices (including red hot berbere, the undisputed king of the spices). However, xada addes is flavored with onions, garlic, tomato, and oil instead of berbere and thus poses no such challenge. All the deliciousness, without the sweat and fire!
Y is for Youth: In Sawa, you become aware of Eritrea’s greatest and most precious resource – its youth.
Z is for Zur: Each batch of students that attends Sawa is known as a zur, or round. Thus, you have Zur 20, Zur 21, Zur 22, and so on. Zur 33 graduated last week while the students of Zur 34 are currently preparing to depart to Sawa. The members of your zur are like family and the experiences you share with them stay with you forever.
__________________
“Being in Sawa makes you learn how to get through life”
Written by Kesete Ghebrehiwet
http://shabait.com/articles/q-a-a/30966 ... ough-life-
Articles - Q & A
Heven Tesfamariam from Seattle, USA, and Mussie Ghirmai from Sweden, are members of the 33rd round of national service. They both came to Eritrea to go to Sawa, to participate in the national service program. After taking military training in Sawa, they graduated on 15 August; along with the other members of the 33rd round. The two expatriate Eritreans, have shared their experiences in and views about Sawa. Excerpts follow:
What is your impression of Eritrea in general and Sawa, in particular?
Heven
Eritrea is beautiful! Every time I come here, I get a feeling of peace and serenity of being at home and I feel the same way about Sawa. In Sawa, you meet so many people from all ethnic groups that come from different regions of the country.
What inspired you to be a member of the national service program?
Heven
The main purpose of coming to Sawa is the military training. I think it is a national duty to come and serve our country. Our younger brothers and sisters are coming to Sawa and spending the whole year here. It is very easy for us to stay for a couple of months. It is really important to come here and be alongside them and be active in everything.
Mussie
A conversation I had with my sister and the background information I learned about Eritrea and our identity from YPFDJ in Sweden, inspired me to come here.
Please, share with us what you witnessed here, in Sawa?
Heven
The best thing about Sawa is that it is a school; it teaches you a lot. It enables you to meet in one place, people from all the nine ethnic groups. Everybody speaks so many different languages. The traditions we have and everything else is amazing. In short, Sawa is an educational place. I would say the biggest thing you can gain from Sawa, is the relationships you make with people and what you learn about their traditions.
As someone who lives abroad, how do you maintain attachment with the homeland?
Heven
We have community centers that allow us to be in touch with other Eritreans. When you see that racism and discrimination are prevalent in places like the United States, you want to be with your own people. It is nice to have a place like the community center where all Eritreans come together and learn the culture, tradition and languages of Eritrea. This is instrumental for us, to keep in touch with our country.
Mussie
Every year, I come to Eritrea for summer vacation and I personally experience the culture and tradition. That is how I maintain the attachment. I have never been detached from my country.
What did you gain from your stay in Sawa?
Heven
Being in Sawa, definitely makes you a much stronger person. Above all you learn how to get through life, how to be a strong person and how to be optimistic. It really teaches you, that nothing is impossible. It teaches you, that you can move forward.
Mussie
I learned a lot! It is not only about the nine ethnic groups. Sawa is now built as a city. I am really impressed to see this. It is really appealing to me to see development activities being carried out. I’ve learned so many things during my stay in Sawa. Living in Sawa, you do not only learn different languages but different lifestyles of all ethnic groups.
Have you seen any difference, between what you imagined and what you witnessed?
Heven
I see a big difference! The false propaganda being spread about Sawa, is among the biggest topics. Sawa is being referred to as a horrible place, where there is nothing good. But, when you come here, you see everything is beautiful. Living with one hundred different people with different personalities and characters, teaches you a lot. It teaches you how to be independent and how to be able to stand up for yourself, and it gives you confidence. These are not the things you hear, when you are abroad. All you hear, is the negative things. But, there are a lot of good things here.
Mussie
What I heard and what I witnessed, are quite opposite. You always find information, filled with lies and rumors. On the other hand you find truth, facts and reality. Being a diaspora for years, makes you learn how to navigate through lies and fabrications. You then easily find the truth. You also find people, who personally experienced the reality in Eritrea and this way you get the true image of Sawa before you come here.
How do you feel, about the mutual co-existence of the different ethnic groups?
Heven
It is really amazing! One of the many things we saw in Sawa, was the way Easter and Eid were celebrated. Both times, we all came together and decorated the buildings. Everybody came, with entertaining programs. It was really beautiful, to see Christians and Muslims come together and celebrate Easter and Eid together.
What would you like to say to fellow Eritreans, about your experience in Sawa?
Mussie
We have to separate the lies from the truth. Now, I have a lot of information and experience. I am sharing not only the real image of Sawa, but I am also sharing what I feel and think about it.
Any message you would like to convey, at last?
Heven
I just want to say, we are the ones who can develop our nation. As young people, it is important for us to stand united so that we can continue to build our nation.
Mussie
I would like to tell Eritreans living abroad, to come to Sawa. There is nothing bad or tough, here. Everybody experiences it differently and there is nothing that cannot be accomplished in Sawa. Everybody needs to come to Sawa and to personally experience everything. It is the most important learning experience you will have academically, and you will also have life experience. It is a perfect place, to build strength and endurance. I will definitely send my kids to Sawa. Sawa, enables you to be self-reliant. What I would like to tell expatriates is that, Sawa is a place that creates productive citizens. I believe, Sawa is necessary for our country’s development.
Thank you very much, for your time!
Heven and Mussie
We also thank you!
____________
________________________
Memories (Part 1)
Saturday, 22 August 2020
Written by Dr. Fikrejesus Amahazion
http://shabait.com/categoryblog/30955-memories-part-1
I recently read Billion Temesgen’s article, “How must Sawa have been in 2020”, which was featured in the last edition of Eritrea Profile (published on August 19).
I found the piece extremely insightful and very enjoyable. Eloquent and well-written, it presented a detailed and interesting perspective of life in Sawa. It also evoked a flood of memories of my own experiences at the institution.
As I was reading, I found myself being transported back into time, reliving some of the things she discussed and also being reminded of so many other things that made my Sawa journey so special.
Taking the cue from Billion’s recent contribution, the following article briefly shares some of my own memories of Sawa. I should point out that many of the experiences I discuss here are of things that are often forgotten, less recognized, or do not instantly come to mind. Additionally, with so many different things to share about my experience, I thought it would be a bit easier and more fun to “organize” and present my memories alphabetically. Thus, the following presents the first part of my experiences, with entries categorized from the letter A through to the letter H. Part II and Part III will be presented in the next several editions of Eritrea Profile.
A is for Addes: One of the staples of the Eritrean diet is addes, or lentils. The same is true of meals at Sawa. Addes is extremely easy to prepare, healthy, full of protein, and very tasty. Personally, I had to ensure that I always had a small towel and a large cup of cold water to drink nearby, since addes was usually prepared with different types of spices (including red hot berbere, the undisputed king of the spices) that left me sweating, open-mouthed, and panting.
B is for Bitsainet: Bitsainet can be roughly translated as “camaraderie” or “comradeship”. In many ways, it is a term that perfectly encapsulates much of our time in Sawa. We do pull through everything – classes, lessons, assignments, work, exercises, drills, and chores – together. Moreover, we make sure to support and take care of the person next to us, calm in the knowledge that our comrades will likewise support and take care of us. Bitsainet malet!
C is for Cultural Nights: Among my most favorite things in Sawa are the cultural nights. Several times per month we all gather for live music, dance, poetry, and drama performances. Generally, these are conducted by students although special guests from around the country sometimes visit in order to perform. Cultural nights, which showcase our country’s rich history, diversity, identity, and culture are about far more than “just” fun and entertainment. They also have other important benefits.
For one, they help to instill within us a strong sense of pride in being Eritrean. As put by the prominent Black social activist and civil rights campaigner Malcolm X decades ago,
Additionally, cultural nights significantly contribute to social cohesion, tolerance, and understanding by exposing us all to different aspects of our country’s colorful culture. For me, seeing and learning about the history and culture of the Nara, Kunama, and Hedareb, for instance, helped strengthen my appreciation and understanding for those ethno-linguistic groups.Just as a tree without roots is dead, a people without history or cultural roots also becomes a dead people.
C is also for Camseen: Camseen are large, powerful, swirling winds that gather dust, sand, and other debris as they move. They are common to the region around Sawa, and also are found in parts of the countries surrounding Eritrea. When a camseen is approaching, your best bet is to quickly run inside for cover. Once safe inside, make sure that you have shut the windows!
I will never forget my first time experiencing a camseen. Seeing it increase in size as it rapidly approached from the distance, I ran inside, following close on the heels of several of my friends. In my rush to get inside to shelter, I totally forgot that my clothes, which I had washed and hung up to dry not long before, were still on the clothesline outside. After the camseen had passed, I spent several hours sheepishly tracking down socks and shorts that had been blown away and strewn to some of the farthest reaches of Sawa. Lesson learned!
D is for Dikas: In Sawa, dikas, or sleep, is deep and peaceful. In fact, I don’t think I have ever slept as well anywhere else as I did in Sawa. It may sound trite and clichéd, but “like a baby” is a pretty accurate description about dikas in Sawa.
D is also for Dinesh: Another of the staples of the diet in Eritrea, and in Sawa, is dinesh (potatoes). Personally, I loved when dinesh was on the menu for lunch or dinner since they usually were not drowned with berbere – my longtime nemesis.
E is for Equality: The promotion of equality is a fundamental goal in Eritrea, and Sawa is a key part of achieving that aim. For example, Sawa promotes equitable access and equality of opportunity for all, which is important for traditionally marginalized or minority groups (such as females, low-income individuals, and others). Equality is reflected in other ways as well; in Sawa, for instance, everyone is treated equally, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status or other distinctions.
F is for Forto Sawa: Forto Sawa is a small town located not far from Sawa. For the town of Forto Sawa, Sawa is very important. It is a source of employment for many people from the town, and it also significantly contributes to the life and economy of the town in other ways (e.g., purchases from local businesses).
F is also for Fisca: When you hear the sound of the fisca, or whistle, it means that you have to quickly get to where you need to be – in line, class, study, chores, exercises, field, or a meeting. During the traditional midday nap, the fisca serves as an alarm clock, telling you it is time to wake up.
G is for Gash Barka: Sawa is located within Zoba Gash Barka. There are six zobas, or provinces, in Eritrea: Anseba, Maekel, Debub, Gash Barka, Northern Red Sea, and Southern Red Sea. Gash Barka is located in the west of the country. In addition to Sawa, other big towns and cities in Gash Barka include Barentu, Agordet, Haikota, Tessenei, Goluj, Shambuko, and Omhajer. Of course, it should not be forgotten that Badme, one of the triggers for the destructive 1998-2000 war between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and which remains under illegal occupation by foreign forces, is also located in Gash Barka.
Interestingly, shortly after Eritrea’s independence, the country’s existing administrative regions were restructured into the current six zobas. This was done in order to promote socio-economic development, ensure equitable distribution of and access to resources and services and eliminate harmful divisions along ethno-linguistic or religious lines. The great importance of this latter focus is highlighted by the mayhem, upheaval, and terrible conflicts related to sharp ethnic divisions and hatred currently occurring within many parts of Africa.
H is for Hedareb: Eritrea is a country that is blessed with rich diversity. The population of approximately 3.5 million people is split almost evenly between Christianity and Islam, with each representing nearly half of the population. As well, there are nine ethno-linguistic groups dispersed throughout the country. The Hedareb mostly reside within Zoba Gash Barka and in the areas in and around Sawa. Mainly nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists, the Hedareb typically migrate seasonally with their herds of camels, donkeys, goats, and sheep. Having the opportunity to meet and interact with some of them was a special privilege and is something that I always cherish.
H is also for Hikea: Hikea can generally be understood as getting together for chatting, short stories and jokes. Usually after dinner and studying many of us gather together outside in a field, where we sit or lay down in a circle under the calm evening sky. Then, one by one, we each get up, stand in the middle, and tell a short story, share a joke or raise some question for everyone to ponder. Hikea time is all about laughter, friendly debate, relaxation and having a good time.
Memories (Part II)
http://shabait.com/categoryblog/30970-memories-part-ii-
Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Taking the cue from Billion’s recent contribution, I decided to write a brief article sharing some of my own memories of Sawa. I should point out that many of the experiences I discuss are of things that are often forgotten, less recognized or do not instantly come to mind. Additionally, with so many different things to share about my experience, I thought it would be a bit easier and a lot more fun to “organize” and present my memories alphabetically. In the last edition of Eritrea Profile (August 22), I presented the first part of my experiences, with entries categorized from the letter A through to the letter H. The following article, Part II, covers the letters I through Z.
I is for Ide Tibeb: Handicrafts, or ide tibeb, are a fun way to pass some of your free time in Sawa. Students are creative and they can make a broad array of unique ide tibeb, including bracelets, anklets, small banners, colorful mats for the traditional boon (coffee) ceremony, and cushion or table covers. These are then given as gifts to friends, family, former teachers and significant others.
J is for Jallon: One of your best friends in Sawa is your jallon, a 5-gallon plastic container that you fill with water. Everyone has their own jallon, and it is always kept nearby and close at hand, helping to ensure that you are always cool, refreshed and well-hydrated. We all cover our jallons with a cloth and then wet the cloth. This keeps the water inside wonderfully cool throughout the day.
K is for Kokob: In her article, Billion mentioned that the night sky in Sawa is spectacular. I wholeheartedly second that point. In Sawa, the evenings are calm and the skies are clear, helping to showcase a glittering array of bright kokob, or stars. After a day full of studies and various activities, there is hardly a better way to relax than to peacefully lie down in the field alongside your friends, eyes focused on the pearls and diamonds shining high above.
K is also for Kirar: A kirar is a traditional wooden stringed musical instrument that is similar to a guitar. It has been played by some of Eritrea’s greatest musicians and is a regular feature of some of our country’s most popular songs. In Sawa, every different section of students has at least a couple of kirars on hand and several talented players who play original or popular songs to the great enjoyment of everyone else.
L is for Learning: Attending Sawa is all about learning. Of course, it is generally the case that you learn in your classes. However, you learn outside of class time, too, acquiring greater understanding and insight about your culture, country, history, and people. Sawa also helps you to truly learn about yourself.
M is for Mai: Mai, or water, is life. In stark contrast to a lot of misguided reports, in Sawa mai is plentiful – with more than enough available for drinking, cooking, bathing and washing, cleaning, and for the plants and animals.
This point also leads to another important fact: mai has been a longstanding focus of Eritrea’s national development programs. In recent years, access to clean drinking water in rural and urban communities in Eritrea has risen to over 85%, dramatically higher than the meager figure at the onset of independence, and a significant increase from several years ago. Furthermore, dams and ponds with a capacity of well over 300 million cubic meters of water have been built across the country, thus supporting the vital agricultural sector.
N is for Narit: After exams are done and school is fully completed, training begins. Part of the training includes narit, or running. During narit, which is usually in the morning, we move as a single group, enthusiastically singing songs and teasing other sections.
N is also for Nicknames: In Sawa, nicknames are common. For the most part, the nicknames given are friendly and reflect admiration or endearment. For instance, one short, spindly student who is a wonderfully talented footballer is nicknamed “Messi”. In other cases, nicknames are bestowed upon those from popular, well-known cities and towns. Thus, you will frequently hear Wedi Arreza, Wedi Batze, Wedi Segeneiti, and so on.
O is for Opportunity: One of the most important aims of Sawa is expanding opportunity for all. Regardless of ethnicity, sex or gender, religion, socio-economic status, or any other distinction, all youth deserve an opportunity to learn, grow, develop, and reach their full potential. We should remember that while some students in our country grow up with access to laptops and tablets, Internet, tutors, and up-to-date learning materials, which is certainly positive, others may face challenges with access to the basics, such as enough food and water. Thus, Sawa helps fulfill our collective obligation and responsibility to ensure that the latter are supported, provided an opportunity, and not left behind.
P is for Packages: Few things match the excitement of receiving a package at Sawa. When you receive the news, you run to the post office, sign your name, and grab your box. When you return, smiling like a proud conquering hero, you are warmly greeted by the others. As you are opening the box, everyone else is seemingly on top of you, elbowing each other for space, trying to get a look at what’s inside. Of course, you share some of the goodies you received in the package – like biscotti, mastika, kitcha, lekka-lekka, and qolo (cookies, gum, traditional bread, lollipops, and fruit seeds) – with gorebetka (your neighbors) safe in the knowledge that they will share some of their goodies when their own package arrives.
Q is for Qotcera Habesha: Eritrea’s culture is rich and diverse. There are so many wonderful, colorful elements to appreciate and admire. However, some parts of our culture are not so positive. One example is qotcera habesha, which can be understood as running late or poor timekeeping and management. It is downright frustrating. Qotcera habesha can see someone make an appointment for 5 p.m., only to arrive at 5:30 p.m.! When asked about their late arrival, they’ll shrug their shoulders nonchalantly and casually brush it off,
In Sawa, however, there is no such thing as qotcera habesha. Instead, it is all about arriving on time, if not early, and keeping to the tight schedule. Here’s to hoping that this slowly seeps into the rest of our society!Yakreta (sorry)…qotcera habesha.
R is for Ruba Sawa: The Sawa River, or Ruba Sawa, flows in and around Sawa and feeds the large Molober agricultural area. Notably, Ruba Sawa also gets a special shout out in the classic song, “Sawa”, by legendary Eritrean artist Wedi Tikul:
S is for Shilemat: In Sawa, shilemat, or awards, are presented to outstanding students, teachers, and trainers. These are special moments for the recipients and the entire Sawa family offers their appreciation and applause.Ruba Sawa seyesey…Sawa keydom menesey.
T is for Temri: Temri, or dates, are among the most popular snacks in Sawa. Sweet and delicious, temri have been common in Eritrea and the surrounding region for thousands of years. In Sawa, we usually would snack on temri during hikea time.
T is also for Teamwork: Teamwork is defined by Scarnati (2001: 5) “as a cooperative process that allows ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results”. In Sawa, teamwork is a basic element of life and it touches upon everything we do. Importantly, teamwork also helps to promote deep learning that occurs through interaction, problem solving, dialogue, cooperation, and collaboration.
One of my favorite examples of teamwork in Sawa comes during narit, or running. When we run, we run as a group. Despite everyone having different abilities, however, we manage to move quite fast and no one gets left behind. How? Teamwork. We assign some of the fastest runners to the front and to the back of the group. Meanwhile, the middle is reserved for some of the slower runners. The fast pull from the front and push from the back, ultimately helping to encourage the slower runners to keep up. Thus, through teamwork, we move fast as a group and ensure that no one is left behind.
U is for Ubal: In and around Sawa there is a plethora of ubal, or large, tall trees. Besides their massive height, what makes ubal particularly special are that their thick, leafy branches extend out far and wide, offering great shade and cover. Ubal and their shade are thus perfect for sitting with friends or taking a nap.
V is for Victory: In Sawa, we have many different competitions between sections (e.g., highest grades, cleanest dorms, sports and athletics, etc.). Victory is sweet and precious, providing you with bragging rights – and super material for narit (running) songs – until the next competition!
Sawa also helps ensure that our spoken words are not empty or devoid of meaning: victory to the women, victory to the youth, victory to the masses (awet n’ansetie, awet n’menesey, awet n’hafash)!
W is for Warsai Yikealo National Secondary School: All students complete Grade 12 at Warsai Yikealo National Secondary School (WYNSS), which is located in Sawa. WYNSS has several aims, including: meeting the learning needs and aspirations of youth; helping youth to develop and make the best use of their talent; improving quality of and access to education in the country; and promoting unity and social cohesion.
X is for Xada Addes: As described in my entry for the letter A, addes is one of the staples of the Eritrean diet and it is a common feature on the menu in Sawa. While healthy, full of protein, and very tasty, addes poses a small challenge for me, since it is usually prepared with different types of spices (including red hot berbere, the undisputed king of the spices). However, xada addes is flavored with onions, garlic, tomato, and oil instead of berbere and thus poses no such challenge. All the deliciousness, without the sweat and fire!
Y is for Youth: In Sawa, you become aware of Eritrea’s greatest and most precious resource – its youth.
Z is for Zur: Each batch of students that attends Sawa is known as a zur, or round. Thus, you have Zur 20, Zur 21, Zur 22, and so on. Zur 33 graduated last week while the students of Zur 34 are currently preparing to depart to Sawa. The members of your zur are like family and the experiences you share with them stay with you forever.
Re: Pics from Asmara, in these COVID times!
Danakali Talks: Episodes 1 & 2