Motive, aim and list

 

 

 

Biographies: motive, aim and list

 

Remembering unique Eritrean individuals in contemporary history.

A wakeup call

 

Many countries in the world honor their heroes and commemorate them eternally by erecting statues, naming streets, parks, schools, universities and all sorts of institutions in their names. Eritrea has failed to remember its heroes in all spheres of life and fields including statesmanship, military, scholarships, arts, literature, religion, music and sports. It would be too long to list all the great Eritrean personalities from antiquity to the present. Even the heroes of the last 50 years who have not been recognized and honored are very many.

 

I believe many will agree with me that Eritrea has many amazing individuals in history who have done something unique to their country in the field of politics, culture, education, sport etc, which we need to remember them for what they have done. It is disheartening though not to see biography books of Eritreans in the library shelves. Lately I have decided to open a section in my website that will be dedicated to the biography of individual Eritreans from all walks of life in history.

 

To start with I have randomly established a list of possible candidates. These are some I remember the public positively talk about by the word of mouth. Otherwise some of them I am not even sure exactly what they did but they were popular. I therefore ask you all to put additional names to the list and return it to me.  The list has to accommodate only individuals who have passed away. In other words we will concentrate only on post mortem biographies. I will update the list when I hear from you. But even after receiving your contributions It is possible there could be some names missing. But we do not have to worry about that since the list will remain open all the time for additional names.

 

If you are positive about this idea and you have the time I would challenge you all to write biographical articles or find individuals who can be interested to write a biography on any in the list. If you come across anyone who has access to information but not ready to write, you can ask him/her to supply the information to me in any format (paper, diskette, gramophone dish, cassette, videos, photographs etc) so that I can send it to the one who is interested to write.  

 

 The size of the file is not important at all. What is important is remembering them and trying to document their history before it disappears all together. The size will be determined only by the amount of information available on these individuals. Of course the individuals in the list must have done something positive to the cause of our country or to the well being of our people and our culture. Eritreans with special talents who made significantly positive contributions to other countries are also a source of pride to Eritrea and are included in the list.   

 

 

 

 This is only the beginning. At this stage all we will be doing is identifying names and encourage our compatriots to write biographical articles. If one has sufficient information it would be a challenge to write a biography book. It does not have to be a fat book. Even a 20 page book should be good enough. So let us all work together to encourage our compatriots to write about their heroes and heroines. Obviously locating close relatives of the individuals in the list could be helpful as they can supply at least personal data and pictures. Other thoughts that I have and would like to share it with you is that by organizing a fund raising we may be able to motivate capable individual students, teachers and others in Eritrea to take the writing task against reasonable amount of payment. I would be happy to receive your comments on the practicality of this idea.

 

Suggested names in alphabetical order.  Titles follow names :-

Abraha Medhin, Bashai                                                       oral poetry

Abraham Deboch                                                                 politics/military

Abraham Tewolde                                                               politics/military

Abubeker Ahmed and Mohamed Nuri                                  politics / military

Agustino Tedla, Aba                                                            politics/language

Alemayehu Kahsay                                                              theater & comedy, arts

Aman Andom, General *                                                     politics / military

Asfaha Kahsay                                                                     educator

Asier Gebremedhin                                                              educator

Ateweberhan Segid                                                              singer, arts

Azien Yassin                                                                         politics

Bahrenegassi Habtesulus                                                      politics / military strategy

Bahta Hagos, Degiat *                                                          politics

Berhane Teclu, Aba                                                              politics

Berhe Ghebrekidan, Azmatch                                               politics

Beyene Kahsay, Grazmach                                                   politics

Beyene Zahlay, Degazmatch                                                 politics (designed Eritrean flag in 1947)

De Pertis Nicola                                                                  religion/humanity

Debessay Chirum, Blatta                                                      oral poetry

Elias Amare                                                                          politics / journalism

Emnetu Temelso                                                                   oral poetry

Fiseha Ghandi                                                                       politics

Gebresellassie Habtu, pastor                                                religion

Ghebremedhin Asihiel, Colonel                                            politics

Haile Asgede, Bashai                                                           oral poetry

Hamid Idris Awate*                                                              politics/military

Haregot Abay, Degiat                                                            City administration/politics

Hassen Ali, Dejazmatch                                                         politics

Ibrahim Affa                                                                           politics/military

Ibrahim Al-Mukhtar Ahmed Omer, Sheik                               politics and religion

Ibrahim Sultan Ali                                                                  politics

Idris Adum, Kjekk                                                                  politics

Idris Gelawdios                                                                      politics

Idris Wed Amir                                                                       poet and singer

Kahsay Bahlibi (wedi Libi)                                                    politics/sports

Kahsay Malu, Blatta                                                                politics

Kahsu Melkie, Azmatch                                                           politics

Kebire Abdelqader                                                                  politics

Kidane Kiflu                                                                            politics

Lorenzo Taezaz, Dr.                                                                 politics  / diplomacy

Martha Mebrahtu                                                                      politics/revolution

Mehari Andemeskel, Degazmatch                                            legislator, customary law

Mezgebu Hailu                                                                         oral poetry

Mirach Gudum, Degiat                                                             politics

Mogos Asgedom                                                                       politics/military

Mohamed Omer Akito                                                               politics

Mohammed Said Naud                                                              politics

Negash Bayraw (Sagla)*                                                          oral poetry

Nystrom Karl                                                                            religion/humanity

Ogba Michael, Bahri negassi                                                    politics / military

Omer Qadi                                                                                politics

Osman Saleh Sabe*                                                                  politics

Qadi Mussa Adem                                                                    politics

Reesom Haile Dr.                                                                     Litrature / poem

Seare Kahsay, Inspector                                                           Educator / politics

Sebhatu Yohannes, Dejazmatch                                                politics           

Seid Osman Hayot                                                                    politics

Seyum Measho, Grazmatch                                                       politics

Suleman Ahmed, Haji                                                               politics

Techlemichael Woldemichael, Sheka                                       politics

Tedla Bairu, Dejazmatch                                                          politics

Teklehaymanot Bokru                                                               politics / finance

Temelso Qelete, Bashai                                                           oral poetry

Tesfa Leul, Azmatch                                                                politics / military

Tesfay Zemichael                                                                    politics

Tesfazghi Kifle, Calsolayo                                                      politics and religion

Tesfazion Deres, Blatta                                                           oral poetry

Tessema Asmerom, Raessi                                                      politics                      

Teweldemedhin Gebremedhin, pastor*                                   religion/languages

Tewoldebrhan Woldeselassie, Aba                                        politics/literature

Tibereh Tesfahuney*                                                               arts/musician/politics

Tiquabo Abay, Aba                                                                 oral poetry

Woldeab Woldemariam*                                                         politics/language/labor movement

Woldegiorgis Gebrekidan, Degiat                                            politics

Woldemicael Solomun, Raessi *                                              politics

Yemane Ghebremichael (baria)                                                arts

Yishak Teweldemedhin*                                                           educator

Yishak Yoseph                                                                           educator/historian

Yohannes Zemichael                                                                  sport

Zeggay Eyassu                                                                            politics/law

Zeineb, Mamma                                                                          politics/poem

Zemicael Ogbamicael                                                                 labour movement

Zerai Deres                                                                                 politics / military

Zereabruk Mengesha, Kejazmatch                                               politics / military

 

*A biography book already exist.

 

Suggested names of Institutions

Mahber Theater Asmara                                                        Arts / politics

Mahber 7                                                                                    politics

Adulis football club                                                              sport / politics

EriAme sisters                                                                               arts

 

 

Cheers,

Emnetu Tesfay