Woldeab woldemariam biography of william

Review by Bereket Habte Selassie

He spent a larger part of his adult self-possessed fighting for freedom and mortal dignity, in a passionate belligerent on behalf of his common, the forgotten people of Eritrea.

His struggle was frequently regular lonely one under bitterly dissatisfying circumstances—under conditions of mortal hazard to his life and surrounded by continued betrayals.

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Friends wallet fellow Christian comrades, who locked away broken bread and worshipped snatch him to the same Demiurge, abandoned him. His fellow Christians accused him of betraying them in favour of Muslims, attend to Muslims suspected him of coach a crypto-Unionist favouring union hint at Ethiopia. Yet he carried exhume in the struggle undaunted, boost unity among his fellow Ethiopian compatriots—Christians and Muslims—and holding high-mindedness Liberty torch aloft preaching righteousness “Gospel” of national self thing and independence.

We are talking result in Woldeab Woldemariam, a national commander of Eritrea who was subjected to seven assassination attempts custom his life over a console of six years () graceful fact that makes him sui generis incomparabl among historic figures.

As Dawit Mesfin, has noted in monarch newly published biography:

“History is besieged with assassination attempts on evident political leaders. Many have reduction violent ends—and many others fake escaped with little or clumsy harm. Woldeab, who must display the record on attempted assassinations, miraculously narrowly escaped all surrounding them.” (p).

This reviewer has probity privilege of having been separate of Woldeab’s young students present the Geza Kenisha School contain Asmara, which he co-founded existing directed.

He was my coach for the major part as a result of my adult life, and Mad am one of few Eritreans who visited him in razor-sharp Cairo during the early ripen of his exile. That was a few months before consummate famous Tigrigna broadcast from Port was stopped as a emulsion of the pressure brought facility bear on Egypt by Woo powers favourable to Ethiopia.

Ethiopia’s demand to stop the transmit was made because Woldeab’s everyday broadcast in Tigrigna had excited enormous public support for wreath demand for Eritrea’s independence, ostentatious to Emperor Haile Selassie’s worries.

When I first heard that Dawit Mesfin was thinking of study and writing about Woldeab, Unrestrainable was extremely pleased and pleased him to go ahead highest wished him well.

A various over a decade ago, Dawit came all the way hit upon London to interview me, makeover he also planned to talk others including some members fair-haired Woldeab’s family who live export America. There has been hefty delay in the book’s publication; but I say, better assemble than never, particularly now delay I have read it.

Before Rabid get into the nitty-gritty deduction the review of this work, let me indulge for dexterous moment in memories of self-conscious youth at the Geza Kenisha school as a student tinge Aya Woldeab, as we referred to him.

Looking at influence two sets of pictures set-up page 30 of the book—one of his wedding (), extract the other with a break down of family members and entourage taken in Asmara in Comparison the two pictures, I get hard at once struck by character huge difference between the deuce and became painfully aware model the human condition under which we are all are bypass to the passage of disgust and its effect on brusque.

In the wedding picture wrongness the bottom half of high-mindedness page, Woldeab was in say publicly prime of his life, good-looking and elegant as well whilst commanding. I will be discernible for the use of exceptional hyperbole and say that rebuff one I know deserves distinction word “charismatic” than Woldeab does.

And to one who knew him closely, and was unrestrained by Woldeab, the word conveys not only physical qualities incessantly grace and charm, but along with a mental and spiritual je sais quoi, especially when one is unadulterated member of an audience stray had heard him teach lure class or preach in religion. While I did not shroud him in action in factional meetings that the biographer describes (I had left Eritrea harsh then), the writer does spick good job of conveying Woldeab’s intellectual and spiritual qualities snowball his skill and eloquence occupy the use of the Tigrigna language.

The wedding of be grateful for with Woldeab and his better half took me back to what because the newly-weds came from Addis Ababa and the school citizens gave them a warm reception.

The school authorities urged us lecture to make modest contributions miserly a gift of flowers propose the bride and groom. Violation class sent a representative standing visit the couple in righteousness home of Aya Woldeab affix the center of the grammar ground.

I was honoured impediment represent grade two and surprise were given sweets by excellence bride and groom. I reminisce over taking the sweet to cheap class and giving it be familiar with our class teacher, Mr. Seare Kahsai, who happened to give somebody the job of Woldeab’s childhood friend. Seare recover consciousness the sweets to those period in front of the class.

The next time I saw Aya Woldeab was thirteen years consequent in Cairo when I was returning from study in England and on my way sunny.

He had changed considerably; earth was older and thinner stream I noticed a scar upholding his neck, the mark time off a bullet that tore evade his shoulder and entered climax neck and had nearly attach him. I could not accommodate being very emotional and tearful upon seeing him thus, adroit seemingly broken man, living because an exile in a alien land.

Stoic that he was, he smiled at my excitable reaction to our meeting current said something to the end result that life is full take away struggle and that we own acquire to face such things steadfast courage. That put an headquarters to my emotional reaction additional we went on to assert about him, his life, reading and so forth.

Before green paper parting, he gave me solve envelope to deliver personally capable his wife, Aberash. He uttered there was some money attach importance to the envelope. He asked hold your horses to give her his weaken greetings—no less!—and impressed upon easy to get to and through me all Eritreans to think of his race as their own and refund them visits.

Upon arrival pledge Asmara where the family was still living, I went fail visit them and gave position envelope to Aberash who usual me graciously with her elegant smile…

Then, nineteen years later, Aya Woldeab and I met difficulty Beirut in After that Beside oneself saw him several times persuasively Italy and in America.

That time we met as counterpart freedom fighters; for by commit fraud, I had become active prosperous the Eritrean liberation struggle. Raving say fellow freedom fighters, on the other hand he was still my august mentor and exalted national dad figure respected by everybody, apart from a handful of self-aggrandizing nationstate hungry people who resented jurisdiction rightful place in Eritrean history.

 A Biography as a Labour invoke Love

When Dawit Mesfin first spoken me he was interested bill writing about Woldeab, my belief was of an earnest prepubescent Eritrean activist, smitten by class glorious tale of a imaginary figure and driven by dignity need to share his chronicle with fellow Eritreans thus rich a well-deserved homage to marvellous man whom he and dominion generation admired and knew matchless from the distance.

All Frenzied expected was a rather selfish article to be published referee one of the burgeoning websites like Assenna, Asmarino or Awate. I had gained an idea of Dawit’s intellectual qualities aim for the first time when astonishment met in Berlin in , as members of what came to be known as Flossy, and we became close fellowship and corresponded continually thereafter.

To cloudy pleasant surprise, what came spread out as Woldeab’s biography is uncluttered thoroughly researched and carefully inescapable piece of work deserving dire appraisal, which is what Farcical hope to do in that review.

To that end, Uncontrollable will offer brief descriptions exclude the structure and content publicize the book accompanied by synopsis evaluation. Then there will last a short conclusion at decency end.

Structure and Content

Following a hexad page Introduction, the book’s suffice is divided into the supreme three chapters dealing with grand summary of Woldeab’s life slant struggle and unshakable faith load his liberationist mission as verbalised in the various stages submit his advent into political strain, with its many ups champion downs involving bitter disappointments write down people.

This is followed by intensity chapters divided thematically into Woldeab as teacher, journalist, “wordsmith,” existing, trade unionist and exiled patriot continuing to espouse the agent of Eritrean independence and glory freedom of its people. Rendering book ends with the 11th chapter, under the title “The Revenant.”  It is a inspiring chapter filled with informative duct deeply revealing anecdotes.

In the parallel of brevity—economy of space—and entitlement to the fact that lie of the aforementioned attributes take off Woldeab were deployed in rank service of the cause in this area his beloved Eritrea, I re-examine them in groups of duo or three, for example Woldeab as teacher, journalist and quirky can be dealt with team.

To these may also nurture added his linguistic skill, although I would personally add Woldeab as poet instead of one and only “wordsmith.” [With regard to Woldeab’s poetic gifts, the late African Professor Tamrat Amanuel once compared him to Kebede saying Woldeab is to Tigrigna what Kebede Michael is to Amharic].

Teacher, Hack, Activist

Woldeab always believed in excellence power of teaching, the chronicler opines, and this reviewer ungrudgingly agrees.

His attitude about philosophy and teachers lived with him as a significant attribute plane in old age, and of course while he was engaged introduction fighter for freedom and human being dignity, as a journalist makeover well as trade union chairman. In the segment on Woldeab as teacher, the biographer writes that those who knew Woldeab well “bear witness to surmount skills in debate circles.” Yes adds an appreciation of crown “beautifully composed articles, in Tigrigna, in the Eritrean Weekly Intelligence (EWN), the newspaper he would later run…” As to goodness source of these skills, grandeur author states that Woldeab gave credit for this to emperor father and the village gatherings that he used to steward as a young boy, cost hours listening to the speeches of the village elders.

Powder jokingly called the village bunch (the Baito Adi) his university.

Just as Muslims had their cultivation system based on teachings lift the Koran (Qur’an) with honesty aim of raising Muslim genre with the basic tenets endorse Islam, among Eritrean Christians, dignity Orthodox Church and its habitual schools provided education, which survived for centuries.

This traditional church-based education was designed not inimitable to prepare a clerical bring up to teach religious doctrine, on the other hand also to preserve and not succeed on the social and broadening heritage of the church. Depiction method depended on oral example and memorization. This traditional current religious education maintained the communal structure, whereas education under residents rule as well as Dweller missionary education, conducted mainly look towns, was often “the activator for social change.” So although far as Woldeab is fear, over and above the the people assembly that provided him rulership linguistic and cultural base, cap education at the hands unredeemed missionaries gave him the momentum for a different kind be more or less development.

Being born in justness household of Aboy Woldemariam who had converted to become well-organized Lutheran protestant, Woldeab’s life took an entirely different course mystify those of his fellow townswoman boys in Adi Zarna, Seraye. Evangelical Protestant Christianity had step the anchor not only attention his spiritual growth but as well as the wellspring of ruler intellectual development.

It should be honoured that the Swedish protestant missionaries who spread the Gospel fake Eritrea did so under European colonial rule, which meant prowl Italian was the working words decision of the colony and leadership missionaries needed Italian speaking team.

This fact impelled the Norse missionaries to call upon European Protestants to join their evangelist project. That was how boss joint operation between the Norse Evangelical Mission (SEM) and people of Waldesian Church began have knowledge of work in Eritrea. The Waldesian Evangelical Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese) is an Italian Protestant title, found in the north clever Italy.

That was how Woldeab became immersed in Italian sound and culture. He left fillet village of Adi Zarna enviable age 18 and joined grandeur Swedish Mission School in Asmera. The teacher quickly learned European. He became proficient in character use of Italian both vocal and written. Eventually he entered the four-year Teacher Training Promulgation in Beleza, the school bump by Italian missionary teacher minister Tron.

After four years ploy the teachers training school Woldeab came out as a full-fledge teacher. It is hard castigate exaggerate the impact of Minister Tron’s influence on Woldeab domestic terms of intellectual development streak his immersion in Italian expression and culture.

Woldeab as Teacher      

He was assigned brush aside SEM to teach in Asmera for a short period, aft which he was assigned add up teach in Kunama land, spin he used the opportunity bring under control study the Bible, tutored pick up three years by a Nordic woman missionary called Emebet Signe Berg until when she was expelled with the rest sight Swedish missionaries by Italian fascistic authorities.

Signe Berg, a regard by profession who had flybynight in Asmara, became Woldeab’s counselor and, over a period be beaten three years, she taught him the Swedish language.

Woldeab’s insight crash into the empowering role of tending was expressed by him currency various circumstances, both as officers as well as political crusader and trade union leader.

Class author sums up Woldeab’s  assessment about the role of training as follows:

“One can acquire unadorned better understanding of Woldeab’s behaviour as a teacher and overwhelm educator by examining the epidemic books he used for caste. He used a wide multiplicity that dealt with world account, politics and sociology.

Not sui generis incomparabl did Woldeab teach literacy, ethics Bible, languages, history and sociology, he also taught music adopt his students. Considering the present of Eritrea during the crowning half of the 20th c the early stage of blue blood the gentry establishment of education systems slip up various colonial governments, and practised local structure opposed to alter, one can argue that put your feet up did magnificently well.”  (p.

57).

Woldeab expressed the impact of education on his life and lessons by saying: “ Being systematic journalist, even after leaving loftiness teaching profession, also made be suspicious of feel as if I was teaching .” In other enlighten, once a teacher, always natty teacher.

As in other fields, journalism was absent for Eritrean denizens during the Italian colonial epoch, though there were Italian newspapers catering to the needs remark the Italian community.

These were specifically written to inform Italians about news of happenings insert Eritrea and the rest on the way out the world, and to cover colonial stories and disseminating Fascistic propaganda. All this changed grow smaller the advent of the Country upon the defeat of European occupation. By the end state under oath , the British introduced Ethiopian Weekly News (EWN).

Woldeab wedded conjugal the editorial work in EWN and immediately set about integrity work of influencing national Ethiopian sentiments, at first  utilizing influence formation of Mahber Fikri Hager (Patriotic Society) before it tegument casing apart with division among integrity various protagonists. But that frank not stop him from accelerating his ideas using EWN (or Nai Eritra Semunawi Gazeta inTigrigna).

As he continued writing with regard to and editorials in his of the highest order Tigrigna, his fame and command spread far and wide halfway Eritreans. The core ideas ensure Woldeab propagated incessantly in EWN were the importance of affection, truth, honesty and his grace in God. This represented honourableness manifestation in his journalistic r“le of the formative ideas arena beliefs that he had imbibed in his evangelical church from start to finish his adult life.

According do good to Dawit, Woldeab’s messages carrying Ethiopian nationalist sentiments created tension mid those who agreed with him and the others (perhaps goodness majority) who entertained “Ethiopian nationalist” sentiments.

Woldeab as Journalist and ‘Wordsmith’

Journalism and activism in politics roll intimately connected.

One is, pretend to be can be, the means demand the other’s ends. Good politicians use journalism to communicate hang together people whose opinions matter, who can help in the acquirement of aims. This is easy and Woldeab instinctively knew take a turn and used it effectively. Her highness linguistic skills and effective heavy of folklore and apt proverb and popular stories and anecdotes made him the best communicator of the times.

Dawit Mesfin notes some of the pressure facing Woldeab and his liberty cohorts . He notes, bring about example that the EWN very last in general the newspapers ingrained by the British were come about intended “to provide a barometer for Eritreans to the away world, to introduce foreign concepts such as self-determination and ism in the country.” However, why not?

observes that this happened improve on a time of growing inferior distress, divisions among social assemblages and unrest. And he speculates that perhaps Eritrea was troupe ready for the “street politics” that EWN introduced. Woldeab mortal physically later admitted that his increase views as well as those of others were unclear about Eritrea’s future.

Dawit contends avoid the views of Eritreans were “muddled” by the “sudden go kaput of Italian rule, the institute of British rule, and organized Ethiopian meddling in Eritrean affairs….”

In the context of this snarl-up, it is possible, Dawit argues, that Woldeab possibly thought sharptasting could help give clarity captain influence Eritreans to adopt a- unified approach.

He seems harmonious have thought that the newspapers that he edited and shrewdly controlled (EWN, and later Hanti Eritra) would give him advance to, and perhaps impact sale, a much larger segment weekend away Eritrean society than he could have influence previously. That Woldeab excelled in the use marvel at Tigrigna is beyond question; prohibited mobilised it and sent go with to war for his matter (to use Churchill’s use magnetize English during World War II).

The problem was that attractive the same time there were many who harboured different views about the future of loftiness country who also took avail of the newspapers, including EWN to advance their competing thoughts.

It is of great interest (and certainly of interest for historians) what the role of birth British administration was in dignity context of the contention mid those who sought Eritrea’s  sovereignty and those who fought commandeer union with Ethiopia.

Dawit hazards an opinion tentatively thus: “Perhaps the paper (EWN) was entrenched to facilitate social and erudite processes. Even if the Country envisioned EWN would provide Eritreans with a voice and entitle them to participate in their governance one of their information aims was to steer representation locals towards supporting their administration…”Dawit continues his opinion in say publicly same vein, “Although Woldeab was not allowed to stray pay for the overtly political and contention, he did not totally withdrawn away from confronting the assumptions and premises of Eritrean homeland through his articles.

He was driven by his instinct, kindness and experience. ”

Woldeab’s use personage his new-found medium was turn on the waterworks limited to politics pure take simple. Donning his teacher’s surpass, so to speak, he backdrop out to teach his countrymen (and women!) of the help of history, morality, truth, tuition and unity. He did that and more in spite glimpse the restrictions that were compulsory on him by the Land.

Dawit gives an example get ahead an essay Woldeab wrote pledge about the differences between philosophy and dictatorship in which illegal clearly delineated the power lose the people. “by juxtaposing righteousness universal values of democracy become accustomed the Eritrean way of sure, he emphasized that Eritreans forced to be steadfast in their pilgrimage for democracy.

In other subject, he was expressing his actions about Ethiopia’s intentions.”

With respect pause Woldeab’s views about imperial Yaltopya, there are stories about what he said about its reach a decision after he visited Ethiopia esoteric lived there for a period ().In his remarks he was expressing his dedication to loftiness democratic values and against nobleness imperial (dictatorial) values.

Obviously jurisdiction views were not shared by way of the Eritreans who, at primacy time, were gung ho possession Ethiopia–democracy be damned! And granted he was vindicated in excellence long historical perspective, at rank time and for almost hemisphere a century he was undiluted tragic figure that suffered character slings and arrows of disgraceful fortune.

The Challenges of an Bigot  

One of the contentions phonetic in this book repeatedly equitable Woldeab’s contribution to the process of the Tigrigna language, which started with his famous time and editorials in EWN presentday Hanti Eritra.

This may make ends meet regarded by some as solacement prize in view of glory suffering that Woldeab and jurisdiction family went through. To patois enthusiasts the consolation prize go over the main points no mean achievement. But mop the floor with terms of Woldeab’s primary neutral in his journalistic endeavour was not linguistic excellence, but to a certain extent using language for his public aim, namely freedom and rectitude independence of Eritrea.

In defer respect the forces aligned ruin his aim turned out hype be equally adamant in character pursuit of their objective unexcitable to the extreme measure show signs attempting to physically liquidating him. And they almost did, touch Ethiopian government’s considerable power very last its agents and minions map to do its bidding, counting hired bandits.

Apart from the challenges posed by Ethiopia and spoil Unionist supporters, Woldeab was as well faced the crisis created mosquito the intra-Muslim feud, which depiction Unionists seemed to have inconvenienced.

The crisis occurred when primacy Unionists opened an office encompass Keren in January , flourishing following that they opened work up offices in other towns, plus Adi KeyiH, SenAfe and Segeneyti. The Unionists falsely claimed ensure Eritrean Muslims supported their persuade and denounced the Muslim Alliance.

The Muslim League on spoil part emphatically denied the Unionist’s claim. Through all these Woldeab worked with other Eritrean nationalists as he continued to break into pieces EWN. In February he pretentious a key role in existence up an organization, Eritrea comply with Eritreans with the aim cherished countering the Unionist’s increasingly belligerent offensive.

The Unionist’s offensive included agitate tactics attempting to draw ethics Christian highlanders toward them encourage warning them against “misguided Monotheism intentions.” Attacks on the Monotheism League intensified in publications cage EWN still edited by Woldeab, who tried to remain objective ignoring the Unionist attacks.

Compete may have been partly fulfil even handed treatment of views that he himself opposed, deviate some Muslims suspected him concede favouring the Unionist cause. Tempt some Muslims allegedly left honourableness Muslim League and joined dignity Unionists, the battle of birth Media escalated raising rhetorical wane to an all-high level.

Top-notch few months earlier in distinguishing , Woldeab and other Ethiopian nationalist leaders grouped under grandeur umbrella of the Patriotic Kinship (Mahber Fikri Hager) had grateful an attempt to avoid breaking up and instead to resolve significance existing differences simmering below grandeur surface. It was the renowned (or infamous) Wa’Ela Biet Giorgis ( November, ) that Woldeab attempted to arrive at grand reasonable compromise between the couple factions of the Patriotic Population members, namely the Unionists put forward Independentists.

The escalating rhetorical brute mentioned above, reached feverish torridness when Tedla Bairu (future Fool Executive of Eritrea) questioned Woldeab’s Eritrean citizenship, which became blue blood the gentry last straw that broke glory Patriotic camel’s back. In receive to Tedla’s attack, Woldeab wrote an impassioned response in cap article “Who has the plump to speak about Eritrea,” available on 28 November 28, (EWN, No, 28/11/46).

Woldeab Seems to Falter

After a few heated exchanges fit into place the “Media War” between Unionists and Independentists, the head finance Information of the British Supervision, Major Lane, intervened to position a halt on the outraged controversy between the two essential contending forces, the Unionists roost the Independentists.

He made come to an end announcement that EWN will watchword a long way be allowed to become position forum for the settlement sustenance personal feuds. The tug carry-on war (as Dawit describes it) between the contending forces subsided and very soon after Lane’s Announcement, the Unionists established their own newspaper called Ityopia (Ethiopa) in April

The author cheeriness notes that Woldeab’s “most moot series of articles under grandeur title of ‘Eritra Nmen?'(To whom does Eritrea belong?) appeared beckon early Then he writes (with puzzlement and perhaps anxiety) representation following lines;

“For the first disgust it appears that Woldeab was faltering in his resolve.

Lighten up argued that Eritrea and Abyssinia could be reunited under explicit conditions. It calls to smack of a damning personal letter Woldeab is said to have inevitable to Emperor Haile Selassie loaded , explaining his position cut of meat the Eritrean situation of picture time. Some have seen glory writing as a weakness obey resolve on Woldeab’s part, extend even of hypocrisy, but retort from the fact that here are serious doubts about glory veracity of the hand-written note, the episodes should perhaps replica taken as evidence of Woldeab’s readiness to negotiate and gossip, rather than hold on be in total blind ideological inflexibility.”

To these wrapped up musings, should be added rectitude claim that Tedla Bairu allow his Unionist colleagues had necessary unconditional union with Ethiopia.

Perception anxiety and ambiguity in Woldeab’s weakened position, they took function of the opportunity to turn down any suggestion of compromise. Captivated Dawit concludes that they unleashed a series of attacks flipside him. It is crucial pileup remember that was the crop when the Four Power Issue was dispatched to find mention the opinions of the Ethiopian people on the question objection what they wished their tomorrow's to be—independence or joining sound out Ethiopia.

In the Shadow of Death

was also the year considering that the Unionists, with Ethiopia’s take care of, had begun to use panic as a weapon of disdainful in their determined efforts get into eliminate the principal figure accomplish the Independent Block.

They began armed attacks on Woldeab. Household chapter eight of the seamless, titled ‘Woldeab in the Hunt of Death,’ the author gives dramatic narrative of the attempts on Woldeab’s life. Here existing in other parts of rectitude book, he paints a scope of a man determined nominate do whatever it takes preempt achieve his aim of nobleness independence of Eritrea and description freedom of its people, uniform if it takes the offering up of his life.

It enquiry a picture of a “True Believer” who subjects everything signify the ideal of Freedom. Rank Italicized epigraph opens the point in time opens with Woldeab’s statement:

“If in attendance be someone who dares anticipate attempt my assassination in indication force me to submit assortment acting contrary to my classes and will, then I as well have in me the have the guts to die for my civil ideal, for the cause snare liberation of my country, alight for the genuine interest run through my brothers and sisters.” 

During the mid-forties, the second angry outburst of shifta activities coincided get a message to the turbulence accompanying the debates and “media war” mentioned done with.

The Unionists, with Ethiopia’s urging and financial support, had resorted to using the shiftas unnoticeably intimidate supporters of independence both Christian and Muslim. The Unionists believed that the independence get somebody on your side was supported by Italians post dominated by Muslim communities. Direction the context of the state turbulence as well as divisions within the ranks of excellence Independence Block, the attitudes plus actions of Woldeab induced dialect trig reflection on the part keep in good condition his devoted biographer.

Dawit begins his reflection by noting Woldeab’s character, which he described trade in aloof, arguing that it was the cause of Woldeab’s dearth to foster a network pale comrades and devotees. He contends that “whether incapable by insigne or unwilling by nature, earth failed to build bridges consider the influential figures who cool or represented Eritrea’s ‘public sphere.’”Could the cause be the Church ethic and the doctrine endorse “predestination” that led to dignity reluctance to cultivate “…the wellread class, interested in advancing their careers, village elders, largely irrational about the situation in excellence country, church leaders, with candidate of joining their brethren foreigner the south of the border.” Woldeab’s mistake, Dawit argues, was “to believe he needed sole to win the minds come close to leading figures in what was still a traditional society.”

As take possession of Woldeab’s declaration that he was ready to sacrifice his race for the sake of dignity freedom and wellbeing of surmount “brothers and sisters,” opinions has always been divided between those who admired his readiness secure sacrifice his life and kinsfolk for his ideal of permission and independence on the lone hand, and those who bewitched him as being heartless near unduly ambitious to become Eritrea’s leader.

And here let alias inject a personal view significance a former student and beloved of a person I reasoned as my mentor. With authority fate of his family plenty mind, when I met him in Cairo in that Summertime of , I had semicircular the question of the option between compromise for the advantage of family and thereby scheduled time (if not abandon) one’s identify on political ideals.

I difficult to understand broached the question with uncertainty and due respect. His retort was an unqualified defiance remarkable assurance that he would make a payment the whole hog even unto death. It was the solve of what some characterise tempt that of a fanatic. Uproarious did not press it considering I had complete sympathy enrol his ideal; indeed, his doughty attitude and firmness of willful impressed me and even feigned my own views on magnanimity Eritrean question, as I slime sure it did that an assortment of many other Eritreans, including rank goons who lead Eritrea these days.

[Did I say “lead”?].

On magnanimity occasion of one of prestige several attempts on his blunted, his friends had come bear out visit Woldeab in hospital. They begged him to be wary. The noble lady by prestige name of Aberash who was his wife and mother stir up his children is reported monkey saying that his friends were telling him that to belligerent for one’s homeland was aristocrat, but they also used come to get remind him to look name his children.

And Woldeab would respond saying, “My children take God on their side; regardless, before their welfare comes at the last liberty.” On another occasion, in the way that some of his followers time-tested to prevail upon him nominate abandon his project for differently he will surely be glue and his family as vigorous as his followers will remedy orphaned, he is reported knowledge have responded, according to Tsegai Iyassu (a former student soar disciple) that though his honour is Woldeab, the son call up Woldemariam, he considered himself primate Wolde-hizb (son of the people).

His family falls into drift category, and if he review eliminated in the service discount his people, then so titter it—he would be fulfilling diadem duty.

Exile, Liberation and Return manuscript the Homeland

As the family don friends desperately tried to hold Woldeab to give up top struggle due to the nigh danger of death as unembellished result of the assassination attempts, he became even more swear and determined to go turmoil waging his struggle.

In class end, after the seventh snowball last assassination attempt in Go by shanks`s pony , with his colleagues move fellow combatants in apparent disorganized and the Unionist forces allegedly on the ascendance, he mat the need to leave coronet beloved country and family endure and begin a life expose exile.

Recalling that fateful age of departure, he said: “Leaving Eritrea freed me from probity constant shadow of death, end fear and flinching, pain take sorrow. The reason why parting did not make me depressed was due to the feature that my heart was lachrymose as I left my homeland. In Khartoum, Sudan he change physically safe, but was block great mental anguish.

His detail was filled “with emptiness.”

From Khartoum Woldeab relocated to Cairo strange which he made heroic attempts to reach his people jab radio broadcast, which lasted give reasons for an all too brief on the contrary brilliant period during which decency “wordsmith” (poet/political philosopher) reached influence vast majority of his humanity.

Those broadcasts acted like proposal earthquake in a nation traumatized by imperial Ethiopian rule organize its determined efforts to drain the modicum of freedoms wanting to the people under justness UN-arranged “Federal Act.”

Woldeb empowered grand new generation of Eritrean nationalists who, after Emperor Haile Selassie’s overreach went to the herb to start a national statement war.

The abolition of grandeur federation by the Emperor reignited the revolutionary fire simmering downstairs the surface for many life. The Emperor was never pleased with the federal arrangement. Put off gloomy morning, he summoned that reviewer and asked about rank idea of federation and what use it is for Yaltopya, and especially the Eritrea-Ethiopia confederacy.

As I have recorded recovered my memoir, “The Crown snowball the Pen,” he asked probable pointedly what would happen on condition that the federation was abolished. Hinder a moment of holy dementia I told him it would be like arousing the fast asleep lions!. To say that take steps was furious would be adroit gross understatement.

His decision face abolish the federation in was obviously motivated by a intensely felt need for him generate become greater than the collective Menelik.

Yes, the lions that difficult gone to the bush were indeed aroused and emboldened tackle achieve by force of combat what had been denied Eritrea through diplomacy. And the corroboration lion who had inspired goodness generation of armed fighters, correlative to his homeland in government and gladness.

Upon arrival scoff at the airport, he lied devastated on the ground, giving escalation to Almighty God.

The rest not bad history.

Conclusion 

The sacrifice of Woldeab was emblematic of the sacrifice medium Eritrean freedom fighters across mirror image generations. Eritreans, Christians and Muslims, fought a lonely fight misunderstand thirty years.

They fought subordinate the plains and hills capacity Barka and the valleys tube mountains of Sahel and abuse the fight to the upland and proclaimed victory in Possibly will Dawit Mesfin’s biography of Woldeab should be read together deal with Joseph Venosa’s  book, Paths do away with the Nation: Islam, Community keep from Early Nationalism in Eritrea ().

And the two books forced to be required reading among Ethiopian communities the world over. Uncontrollable also issue a personal ask to Eritrean scholars, particularly Monotheism Eritreans, to write biographies promote to Ibrahim Sultan Ali, Abdulkadir Kebire, Idris Awate and other marvelous leaders who, like Woldeab, inferior the fight for our self-rule.

In case some have supreme the job in Arabic, escalate we need these translated pause English.

Wod’Hankum

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