Author: Saleh “Gadi” Johar
-
Let Sherifo Testify
I am sure you must remember Mahmmed Sherifo. Certainly, you remember the reformers. Were they reformers… or something else! And how is the constitution tied to their arrest! Lastly, what’s the foundation of a constitution! This topic includes two parts. It’s an important topic and I believe it will help many who might be confused
-
And I Waited for the Stale Speech!
It’s good when a culture encourages entertainment; it is bad when it spreads gloom. Entertainment makes you forget your pain. And Eritreans have more reasons than any other country in the world for partying. That is why they must adopt the goal of “Pursuit of Happiness” which is a fundamental right of Americans that’s engrained
-
Between Constitutionalism and “The Constitution”
[Reading time 9 minutes] Carlo was a driving school owner and trainer who was traveling to Keren in a bus together with his friend. The bus driver was reckless and seemed incompetent. The bus swayed and the passenger panicked, including Carlo. The friend asked Carlo to sit beside the driver and instruct him how to
-
Fattening the Warriors of Ethiopia
This is Negarit 171, Belated Happy easter and Happy Eid message. It addresses the Eritrean inter-religious coexistence that is being tried by some irresponsible individuals, mostly of fascist and chauvinist elements. Digdig, a small village near the town AkiTeklezan as a sample. The Ethiopian fires that are spreading to more places.
-
Nom de plume
Before pencils, fountain pens and dry pens were invented, writers used feathers that they dipped in a container of ink to write. Somehow ‘plume’, a French word became so popular that it is used to mean the feather in many languages. And if you are thinking that pseudonyms are a new phenomenon, it is not.
-
Eritrean PFDJ and Crowd Mentality
The following is inspired by Gustav Le Bon’s book, The Crowd—the study of the popular mind. If you are walking on a street and dog bites you badly, do you sue the dog or the owner? That is how I see the vulgarity and abuse that Eritreans are facing. The PFDJ cannot claim innocence, I
-
Death Between Two Choices
The history of WW! And WW2 is scary though what followed the wars might seem normal in comparison. But it is not better when considering what happened to the world, particularly Africa and the Middle East that have paying dearly since the WW ended—Did it end? It’s no surprise the war is still going on
-
Welcome Without Reservation
Sometimes, either out of respect, or traditional humbleness you sit on the edge of chairs when visiting other peoples’ houses. The host encourages you to “sit properly”, take off your shoes and relax. Then the host suggests to present food, but even if you are dying of hunger, you pretend you are fine, “I just
-
The Priorities of My Compatriots
Alzheimer’s, or dementia, a disease that causes memory loss, forgetfulness. What happens if a government has Alzheimer’s? God forbid, what happens if the entire population is inflicted by that disease? AS it is, both the government and a big portion of the population seems to have forgotten Eritrea’s prisoners. A few days ago, UN voted
-
Despising Weavers and Tailors!
Comments reflect the commentators’ character. While some are insightful and they help sharpen one’s views, others are vulgar, uncouth, and primitive in nature. But still one can learn from them about the different segments of our society and how they think, their prejudices, perceptions, and worldview. One should not be annoyed by them but on
-
The Primitive Mineliks
A friend told me a joke about someone who frequently climbed up a hill and prayed to win the lottery. One day as he was praying, an angel came gliding and stood in front of him. He screamed: ‘what’s wrong with you, how would God make you win when you haven’t even bought a lottery
-
Celebrating Dr Saeed Forma
The last time I eulogized my friend Mebrahtu, I didn’t think I will do another one for a while. But life is such that we cannot predict who leaves next, or when. Yet, we do not stop taking life for granted, especially with our loved ones, or ourselves. But unexpectedly death strikes and reminds us it
-
My Uncle Malik Amber
The Siddis-Ahbash in the Gujarat and Maharashtra regions of India are of African ancestry. They were brought to India by the Arabs, the Dutch, and the Portuguese, as soldiers or slaves. From among them rose the famous Abyssinian ex-slave who became a Kingmaker known as Malik Ambar. Malik Amber, original name Chapu, was born in
-
Singers and Poets
About ten years ago there was a popular singer named Tarreqe. He had a unique voice. Until his slow disappearance, he used to remind me of Mohammed Wardi the Sudanese singer. Last time I watched Isaias’ marathon interview–I had to because it’s my raw material. After the end of the interview, Helen Meles screeched, neberlna,
-
Proclamation No. 1
Last Friday, Abiy Ahmed released a few prisoners of conscience who posed a risk to his control of power. The announcement sounded as if Abiy Ahmed had pardoned the prisoners. In the first place, I don’t believe Abiy alone made the decision to imprison them; the Dergue and Haile Selassie clusters were part of it.
-
The Story of the #BlueEritrea Flag
Today, I hope the restless would stay calm as I narrate a basic history of the Eritrean flag–the significance of our AwlieE, meley, HKhedra. I realize some people may have an opposing view, or to believe a contrary narration; it’s fine provided the counter narration is based on knowledge not on ignorance or bias. Some
-
Tug Of War
When a country faces a risk of war and invasion, the best precaution is to strengthen is national unity. But what kind of unity? And exclusive unity or a comprehensive one? When ruling parties fight, it’s mostly like a tug of war; forces pulling each other to the fall line. The force that gives in
-
Eritrea, Ethiopia’s Hostage
Anyone who went through the miseries and cruelties of the successive Ethiopian occupation (Haile Selassie’s and Mengistu’s) followed by the PFDJ oppression, would never wish for a perpetual rule by similar regimes. In fact, if it was possible, the victims of these regimes wish to erase the painful memories, let alone welcome their reincarnation. But
-
The Era of PFDJ-Stupidity
This is excerpts from my Negarit 151, a presentation of Carlo Cippola’s book, “The 5 Basic Laws of Human Stupidity.” It is based on Antonello Zanini’s series of articles about Cippola’s theory on stupidity. In early 2000 I spend hours at Schiphol Airpot in Amesterdam, waiting for my connection flight. I bought Cippo0l’s book from
-
The Six-Husbands of Eritrea
In the Tigrinya language we do not have separate words for sebay, as in husband, and sebaay, as in Man. Both are sebay. Therefore, the title is not about men but about husbands. Also, we refer to Eritrea in the feminine gender, Eritra t’Ewet, not Ertra y’Ewet, always in the feminine gender. But what triggered