Asmara Eritrea May 22 2016 - Independence Day Carnival

 

During the morning hours I visit an exhibition in one of the Expo halls. Various presentations, most in pictures, show the time of the struggle for liberation (1961-1991). The explaining text is all in Tigrinya. Friendly staff translates the text in English, so I will understand what is being shown.

Other presentations show how the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) made its own cloth, shoes, medicine, cooking utensils and weapons, using jerry cans, oil drums and other scrap materials. Another presentation shows how EPLF gives basic and political education to the population. A proud fighter explains that the 1961-1991 war was won capturing many Ethiopian weaponry, vehicles and tanks.

One stand shows the horrible scenes of the war: terrible wounded soldiers and civilians, when Ethiopian forces applied chemical warfare against the Eritreans, including chemical gases, napalm and cluster bombs. Throughout the 1961-91 struggle for independence the Ethiopian forces were responsible for numerous civilian massacres, wiping out villages, and throats of men slit in front of their wives and children, to discourage support of the Eritrea population to the EPLF freedom fighters.

In a more peaceful section of the hall several female artists have a presentation of their art products, cloth, handicraft and more. I brought a little teddy bear to be dressed in traditional cloth, and a picture of two other bears (already decorated with Eritrean cloth) as an example. One of the ladies, Nighisti Gebremeskel, immediately understands what I want. She promises to decorate the bear. "Please come back tomorrow. And if you cannot come back tomorrow, here is my card so you can call me." 

Around noon I take a bus to Sembel for family visits. In the house of a soldier I ask if it is true that all soldiers have their weapons ready for a new round of war if Woyane again decide to organize excursions into Eritrea. "Yes I have a Kalashnikov in my house plus ammunition." He shows me the weapon. I ask him if I can hold it. And if it is loaded. We don't want any risk of accidents in the house with my fingerprints on the weapon. We make some pictures, just for fun.

At 5 PM the carnival will start from Bar Zilly. I am in time, but the actual start time is delayed until 6 PM. Police makes sure that the public is aligned on the pave ways. I am free to move with the press for nice pictures. The carnival shows presentations of various companies, schools, nationalities, sports organisations and more.

Eritrea 1961 - 1991 exhibition - Expo area Asmara Eritrea.

Eritrea 1961 - 1991 exhibition - Expo area Asmara Eritrea.

Womans artists of Zoba Maekel - Expo area Asmara Eritrea.

Womans artists of Zoba Maekel - Expo area Asmara Eritrea.

Women's art - Expo Exhibition Asmara Eritrea.

Sembel / Corea Housing Complex - Asmara Eritrea.

Sembel Hospital - Asmara Eritrea.

Dressed for Independence Day - Asmara Eritrea.

Girls of Asmara Flower Shop - Independence Day Carnival Asmara Eritrea.

Marching Band - Independence Day Carnival Asmara Eritrea.

Independence Day torch - Independence Day Carnival Asmara Eritrea.

The audience - Independence Day Carnival Asmara Eritrea.

Butterflies - Independence Day Carnival Asmara Eritrea.

Bilen women - Independence Day Carnival Asmara Eritrea.

Asmara police - Independence Day Carnival Asmara Eritrea.

Independence Day banner - Independence Day Carnival Asmara Eritrea.

Independence Day banner - Independence Day Carnival Asmara Eritrea.

Decorated truck - Independence Day Carnival Asmara Eritrea.

Decorated truck - Independence Day Carnival Asmara Eritrea.

Eritrea Independence Carnival Show - Sematat Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

 

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