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Aferkebu Bun Dereja – Stop the Empire
In Eritrean tradition, coffee is served in three rounds—Awel, Dereja, and Bereka. This is Aferkebu Bun Dereja, the second round in a conversation about empire, exile, and the ongoing silencing of Eritrean voices. We explore how authoritarian power survives in modern disguise, how dissent is criminalized, and why Eritrea today is flying on autopilot—with no…
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The Last Matriarch Passing the Torch of Family Tradition
Life is just a pilgrimage from the womb to the tomb.— Cornel West In the cycle of life, we move from one milestone to the next seemingly purposefully. How life might select and favor some for longevity over others is one of the mysteries of our existence in this world. The average life expectancy…
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Negarit 322: Emergency – A Fresh Cup of Coffee
A deep dive into Rousseau’s Social Contract and how it applies to the diplomatic impasse between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Why understanding the foundations of justice, negotiation, and power is vital to resolving regional conflict—and why failing to do so is an Aferkebu, an emergency. With cultural reflections, political satire, and critical analysis, this video explores…
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Wobbly Thrones of Tyrants and Echoes of Empires
Ancient empires ruled with swords—today’s regimes rule through propaganda, proxies, and fear. From Baathist Iraq to Abiy’s Ethiopia, the playbook of power, deception, and oppression remains the same. This piece reflects on history, misinformation, and the urgent need for genuine national healing in Eritrea and beyond. #Negarit321
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Reviewing Negarit 320: A Letter of Truth and Reconciliation
In Negarit 320 published April the 10th, 2025, Saleh Gadi Johar, henceforth referred to as The Writer. The latter because this article relied solely on the written text that was published at awate.com on April the 11th, 2025. The Speakers starts the speech with a noble wish how he would’ve loved to feel pride and approbation…
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Neg 320, A Letter to Brezidenti Isaias: A Cry for Justice and National Healing
Kbur Brezidenti, How I longed to defend you, to be proud of you, and, through you, to see a promotion of civil discourse and a stable, peaceful nation—one at peace with itself and its neighbors. Despite the ups and downs, there was pride in what was achieved through a united struggle. Ironically, the lopsided allocation…
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Between Approbation and Anathema Justice Suffers
“The past is never dead. It’s not even past. All of us labor in webs spun long before we were born, webs of heredity and environment, of desire and consequence, of history and eternity.” Faulkner, W. (1955), “Requiem for a Nun” This is a reflection on the insightful conversation between Daniel Teklai and Saleh “Gadi”…
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Negarit 319: Eritrean Harikari, like The Japanese
In our culture, hurt or shamed persons never blame themselves but seek revenge on those who caused the shame or indignity, and the Japanese have a right tradition on that. But there are stories of determination, valor, and dignity. Let’s compare the Japanese Harikari and the Eritrean valor. Japanese are different. The Samurai were governed…
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Negarit 318: Beware of Fake News and Misinformation
This article dives deep into the role of fake news and misinformation in the Horn of Africa, focusing on suspicious news outlets and personalities. We explore the spread of unverified rumors, the potential influence of foreign powers like the UAE, and the consequences of misleading narratives. Read or watch to understand why we must hold…
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PFDJ self-appointed Matchmakers
A stranger followed a young girl to her house. After a short time, he knocked on the door, and an elderly man answered. The stranger, seemingly uncertain, asked, “Is the girl who just walked in your daughter?” “Yes, she is my daughter. What’s the matter? What did she do?” The stranger assured him, “Nothing. What’s…
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The Power and Peril of Social Media
This article argues for the regulation of social media to prevent the harm caused by unchecked platforms. It explores the damaging role social media has played in fueling violence and conflicts, citing examples such as the Rohingya crisis and the ongoing civil unrest in Ethiopia. The article calls for accountability, proposing that social media accounts…
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Weaponizing Silence, Vulgarizing Languages
(Editor’s note: this article was first published on July 26, 2023; it’s being republished as a reference.) When one’s faith in humanity was beginning to wane with the seemingly endless streams of vitriols from social media, intelligently thought-out discussion in a podcast restores that faith quite a bit*. Prior to the podcast, too, Negarit 28,29,…
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Understanding Stupidity: Inspired by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Exploring the deeply rooted issue of stupidity in society and its relationship with ignorance. Drawing inspiration from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s work on stupidity, we reflect on how societies can combat this dangerous trait through education, critical thinking, and philosophy. From the history of thinkers like Galileo to modern reflections on political ignorance, this video explores how…
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Thanks to Dr. MK Omar, Inputs Enriching the Eritrean Library
Many Eritreans are for sure not well aware of how much poor the Eritrean library still is. Records of the colonial period were themselves scanty on top of being mostly distorted or written by less informed authors. But nothing can be done about that except regretting that it was so. Eritreans of the first two…
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Abiy’s Red Sea Obsession and the Blue Wave’s Challenges
The last few weeks have been filled with significant developments, though one issue seems to have lost momentum: Abiy’s Red Sea obsession and the Blue Wave conference in Addis Ababa. It’s good to remember that hate of others doesn’t translate to love of your people; even the self-centered do not necessarily hate others; they must…
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Notes on Culture, Identity, and Social Change
I have a habit of jotting down interesting things I see or hear. Today, I’d like to share a few of those notes with you. Yusra, the amazing performer Recently, many people sent me a clip of a young woman—a gifted artist—singing in multiple languages: English, Arabic, Bedawyet, Tigrigna, and Tigrayit. What an amazing performer!…
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Excuse Me PFDJ, I’m Sorry
Rumors about Isaias Afwerki grooming his son, Abraham, to take over the presidency of Eritrea. Is it just a father passing down his legacy, or does it reflect a broader trend in global politics where dynasties and nepotism take center stage? Should Abraham be blamed for his father’s actions? The political system in Eritrea, along…
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Negarit 308: The Ethiopian Red Sea Craze
Over a week ago, I started to record an episode that I didn’t finish. This is what I prepared: For the last five or six months, I have been suffering from a nasty papilloma growth in my nostril. Tomorrow, I will lie on an operation table to get rid of it. Those of you who…
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What is the PFDJ problem with the UN?
If you are oblivious to how things work, you risk feeding on every propaganda or rumor and endlessly blaming everyone but yourself. There is a danger of forgetting the root cause, thus point your fingers in the wrong direction. For instance, if you misplace any of your clothes, you would make sure to check the…
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Negarit 306: Saving or Shooting?
Negarit 306 is the final episode for 2024; Happy New Year. As we welcome 2025 though the security situation in the Horn of Africa is as worrying as ever: Eritrea is still in the middle of a precarious situation. And nothing can improve unless the single ruling party and its leader change their attitudes and…
