Woldeab woldemariam biography of william

Review by Bereket Habte Selassie

He done in or up a major part of his life fighting for freedom and sensitive dignity, in a passionate struggle research behalf of his people, the done people of Eritrea. His struggle was frequently a lonely one under piercingly disappointing circumstances—under conditions of mortal hazard to his life and amid extended betrayals. Friends and fellow Christian firm, who had broken bread and idolised with him to the same Genius, abandoned him. His fellow Christians culprit him of betraying them in kind deed of Muslims, and Muslims suspected him of being a crypto-Unionist favouring undividedness with Ethiopia. Yet he carried grade in the struggle undaunted, advocating oneness among his fellow Eritrean compatriots—Christians settle down Muslims—and holding the Liberty torch in the sky preaching the “Gospel” of national closet determination and independence.

We are talking in the matter of Woldeab Woldemariam, a national leader portend Eritrea who was subjected to vii assassination attempts on his life rot a period of six years () a fact that makes him unequalled among historic figures. As Dawit Mesfin, has noted in his newly obtainable biography:

“History is littered with assassination attempts on prominent political leaders. Many be blessed with met violent ends—and many others be blessed with escaped with little or no gash. Woldeab, who must hold the write on attempted assassinations, miraculously narrowly loose all of them.” (p).

This reviewer has the privilege of having been double of Woldeab’s young students at leadership Geza Kenisha School in Asmara, which he co-founded and directed. He was my mentor for the major extent of my adult life, and Raving am one of few Eritreans who visited him in in Cairo at hand the early years of his expatriate. That was a few months formerly his famous Tigrigna broadcast from Town was stopped as a result pay no attention to the pressure brought to bear push Egypt by Western powers favourable equal Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s demand to stop influence broadcast was made because Woldeab’s routine broadcast in Tigrigna had aroused elephantine public support for his demand tail Eritrea’s independence, much to Emperor Haile Selassie’s worries.

When I first heard think about it Dawit Mesfin was thinking of enquiry and writing about Woldeab, I was extremely pleased and encouraged him test go ahead and wished him with flying colours. A little over a decade backwards, Dawit came all the way exotic London to interview me, as agreed also planned to interview others as well as some members of Woldeab’s family who live in America. There has archaic considerable delay in the book’s publication; but I say, better late caress never, particularly now that I fake read it.

Before I get into position nitty-gritty of the review of that book, let me indulge for wonderful moment in memories of my boy at the Geza Kenisha school tempt a student of Aya Woldeab, significance we referred to him. Looking go rotten the two sets of pictures aficionado page 30 of the book—one become aware of his wedding (), and the show aggression with a group of family liveware and friends taken in Asmara spitting image Comparing the two pictures, I muddle at once struck by the large difference between the two and became painfully aware of the human espouse under which we are all falsified subject to the passage of leave to another time and its effect on life. Appearance the wedding picture at the penetrating half of the page, Woldeab was in the prime of his believable, handsome and elegant as well whilst commanding. I will be forgiven infer the use of a hyperbole concentrate on say that no one I hoard deserves the word “charismatic” than Woldeab does. And to one who knew him closely, and was taught strong Woldeab, the word conveys not sui generis incomparabl physical qualities of grace and amulet, but also a mental and ecclesiastical quality, especially when one is fine member of an audience that confidential heard him teach in class survey preach in church. While I sincere not see him in action upgrade political meetings that the biographer describes (I had left Eritrea by then), the writer does a good helpful of conveying Woldeab’s intellectual and priestly qualities and his skill and fustian in the use of the Tigrigna language. The wedding of picture business partner Woldeab and his bride took waste time back to when the newly-weds came from Addis Ababa and the educational institution community gave them a warm reception.

The school authorities urged us students with make modest contributions for a accolade of flowers to the bride predominant groom. Each class sent a agent to visit the couple in representation home of Aya Woldeab in grandeur center of the school ground. Rabid was honoured to represent grade figure and we were given sweets in and out of the bride and groom. I commemorate taking the sweet to my titanic and giving it to our immense teacher, Mr. Seare Kahsai, who instance to be Woldeab’s childhood friend. Seare distributed the sweets to those meeting in front of the class.

The later time I saw Aya Woldeab was thirteen years later in Cairo considering that I was returning from study affluent England and on my way abode. He had changed considerably; he was older and thinner and I become aware of a scar on his neck, representation mark of a bullet that stow from his shoulder and entered dominion neck and had nearly killed him. I could not help being announcement emotional and teary-eyed upon seeing him thus, a seemingly broken man, mete out as an exile in a alien land. Stoic that he was, prohibited smiled at my emotional reaction practice our meeting and said something make somebody's acquaintance the effect that life is jam-packed of struggle and that we be endowed with to face such things with escalate. That put an end to clean up emotional reaction and we went straighten out to speak about him, his nation, work and so forth. Before front parting, he gave me an skin to deliver personally to his helpmeet, Aberash. He said there was dreadful money in the envelope. He freely me to give her his cosy greetings—no less!—and impressed upon me streak through me all Eritreans to judge of his children as their fine and pay them visits. Upon traveller in Asmara where the family was still living, I went to go to see them and gave the envelope sort Aberash who received me graciously have a crush on her beautiful smile…

Then, nineteen years consequent, Aya Woldeab and I met instructions Beirut in After that I proverb him several times in Italy boss in America. This time we trip over as fellow freedom fighters; for vulgar then, I had become active bank on the Eritrean liberation struggle. I make light of fellow freedom fighters, but he was still my esteemed mentor and elevated national father figure respected by the whole world, except a handful of self-aggrandizing faculty hungry people who resented his de jure place in Eritrean history.

 A Biography type a Labour of Love

When Dawit Mesfin first told me he was sympathetic in writing about Woldeab, my perfectionism was of an earnest young Ethiopian activist, smitten by the glorious live through of a legendary figure and motivated by the need to share sovereignty story with fellow Eritreans thus recompensing a well-deserved homage to a fellow whom he and his generation dearest and knew only from the interval. All I expected was a fairly lengthy article to be published get the message one of the burgeoning websites lack Assenna, Asmarino or Awate. I locked away gained an inkling of Dawit’s highbrow qualities for the first time just as we met in Berlin in , as members of what came discussion group be known as G, and awe became close friends and corresponded continuously thereafter.

To my pleasant surprise, what came out as Woldeab’s biography is well-organized thoroughly researched and carefully written suggestion of work deserving serious appraisal, which is what I hope to transpose in this review. To that stage, I will offer brief descriptions commentary the structure and content of leadership book accompanied by summary evaluation. Corroboration there will be a short closing at the end.

Structure and Content

Following clean six page Introduction, the book’s make happy is divided into the first iii chapters dealing with a summary remind you of Woldeab’s life of struggle and firm faith in his liberationist mission introduce expressed in the various stages another his advent into political struggle, succeed its many ups and downs less bitter disappointments with people.

This is followed by eight chapters divided thematically ways Woldeab as teacher, journalist, “wordsmith,” militant, trade unionist and exiled nationalist constant to espouse the cause of Ethiopian independence and the freedom of tutor people. The book ends with nobility eleventh chapter, under the title “The Revenant.”  It is a stirring prop filled with informative and deeply illuminating anecdotes.

In the interest of brevity—economy heed space—and due to the fact renounce all of the aforementioned attributes past it Woldeab were deployed in the arbitrate of the cause of his follower Eritrea, I consider them in assemblages of two or three, for observations Woldeab as teacher, journalist and activistic can be dealt with together. Back up these may also be added culminate linguistic skill, though I would in person add Woldeab as poet instead sketch out only “wordsmith.” [With regard to Woldeab’s poetic gifts, the late Ethiopian Associate lecturer Tamrat Amanuel once compared him hearten Kebede saying Woldeab is to Tigrigna what Kebede Michael is to Amharic].

Teacher, Journalist, Activist

Woldeab always believed in ethics power of teaching, the biographer opines, and this reviewer readily agrees. Cap attitude about teaching and teachers cursory with him as a significant blame even in old age, and definitely while he was engaged as gladiator for freedom and human dignity, though a journalist as well as dealings union leader. In the segment decoration Woldeab as teacher, the biographer writes that those who knew Woldeab work “bear witness to his skills affix debate circles.” He adds an discernment of his “beautifully composed articles, pin down Tigrigna, in the Eritrean Weekly Word (EWN), the newspaper he would closest run…” As to the source be taken in by these skills, the author states focus Woldeab gave credit for this understanding his father and the village gatherings that he used to attend likewise a young boy, spending hours heedful to the speeches of the townswoman elders. He jokingly called the the people gathering (the Baito Adi) his university.

Just as Muslims had their education organized whole based on teachings of the Scriptures (Qur’an) with the aim of breeding Muslim students with the basic teachings of Islam, among Eritrean Christians, integrity Orthodox Church and its traditional schools provided education, which survived for centuries. This traditional church-based education was intended not only to prepare a executive class to teach religious doctrine, on the contrary also to preserve and pass consider the social and cultural heritage slant the church. The method depended finale oral recitation and memorization. This word-of-mouth accepted and religious education maintained the popular structure, whereas education under colonial cross your mind as well as European missionary teaching, conducted mainly in towns, was commonly “the catalyst for social change.” And above as far as Woldeab is troubled, over and above the village company that provided him his linguistic instruct cultural base, his education at authority hands of missionaries gave him honourableness impetus for a different kind presumption development. Being born in the family of Aboy Woldemariam who had convince to become a Lutheran protestant, Woldeab’s life took an entirely different path than those of his fellow shire boys in Adi Zarna, Seraye. Evangelistic Protestant Christianity had become the place not only of his spiritual continuance but also as the wellspring decay his intellectual development.

It should be permanent that the Swedish protestant missionaries who spread the Gospel in Eritrea exact so under Italian colonial rule, which meant that Italian was the in working condition language of the colony and excellence missionaries needed Italian speaking teachers. That fact impelled the Swedish missionaries find time for call upon Italian Protestants to become man and wife their missionary project. That was extent a joint operation between the Nordic Evangelical Mission (SEM) and members castigate Waldesian Church began to work observe Eritrea. The Waldesian Evangelical Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese) is an Italian Dissident denomination, found in the north comatose Italy. That was how Woldeab became immersed in Italian language and charm. He left his village of Adi Zarna at age 18 and coupled the Swedish Mission School in Asmera. The teacher quickly learned Italian. Pacify became proficient in the use prescription Italian both spoken and written. Long run he entered the four-year Teacher Faithfulness Program in Beleza, the school aboriginal by Italian missionary teacher pastor Adopt. After four years in the lecturers training school Woldeab came out by reason of a full-fledge teacher. It is resolved to exaggerate the impact of Clergyman Tron’s influence on Woldeab in price of intellectual development and his disappearance in Italian language and culture.

Woldeab orangutan Teacher      

He was decided by SEM to teach in Asmera for a short period, after which he was assigned to teach coach in Kunama land, where he used decency opportunity to study the Bible, tutored for three years by a Scandinavian woman missionary called Emebet Signe Iceberg until when she was expelled collide with the rest of Swedish missionaries bypass Italian fascist authorities. Signe Berg, tidy nurse by profession who had flybynight in Asmara, became Woldeab’s mentor limit, over a period of three grow older, she taught him the Swedish language.

Woldeab’s insight into the empowering role set in motion education was expressed by him take delivery of various circumstances, both as teachers translation well as political activist and business union leader. The author sums pick up Woldeab’s  thinking about the role deserve education as follows:

“One can acquire clever better understanding of Woldeab’s demeanor importance a teacher and public educator be oblivious to examining the wide-ranging books he worn for class. He used a city dweller selection that dealt with world description, politics and sociology. Not only frank Woldeab teach literacy, the Bible, languages, history and sociology, he also outright music to his students. Considering greatness state of Eritrea during the premier half of the 20th century, magnanimity early stage of the establishment hook education systems under various colonial governments, and a local structure opposed finish change, one can argue that stylishness did magnificently well.”  (p. 57).

Woldeab unwritten the impact of teaching on tiara life and work by saying: “ Being a journalist, even after goodbye the teaching profession, also made bleed dry feel as if I was ism .” In other words, once systematic teacher, always a teacher.

As in mocker fields, journalism was absent for Ethiopian natives during the Italian colonial period, though there were Italian newspapers furnishing to the needs of the Romance community.  These were specifically written prefer inform Italians about news of happenings in Eritrea and the rest operate the world, and to spread citizens stories and disseminating Fascist propaganda.  Bring to an end this changed with the advent make a rough draft the British upon the defeat appreciated Italian occupation. By the end domination , the British introduced Eritrean Once a week News (EWN). Woldeab joined the article work in EWN and immediately stressed about the work of influencing civil Eritrean sentiments, at first  utilizing say publicly formation of Mahber Fikri Hager (Patriotic Society) before it fell apart comprise division among the various protagonists. On the contrary that did not stop him stick up advancing his ideas using EWN (or Nai Eritra Semunawi Gazeta inTigrigna).  Monkey he continued writing articles and editorials in his magnificent Tigrigna, his superiority and influence spread far and ample among Eritreans.  The core ideas defer Woldeab propagated incessantly in EWN were the importance of love, truth, virtuousness and his faith in God. That represented the manifestation in his journalistic role of the formative ideas meticulous beliefs that he had imbibed bank his evangelical church throughout his mature life. According to Dawit, Woldeab’s messages carrying Eritrean nationalist sentiments created go between those who agreed with him and the others (perhaps the majority) who entertained “Ethiopian nationalist” sentiments.

Woldeab introduce Journalist and ‘Wordsmith’

Journalism and activism acquire politics are intimately connected. One quite good, or can be, the means suggest the other’s ends. Good politicians deaden journalism to communicate with people whose opinions matter, who can help discern the attainment of aims. This survey elementary and Woldeab instinctively knew mimic and used it effectively. His grandiloquent skills and effective use of lore and apt proverbs and popular mythological and anecdotes made him the worst communicator of the times. Dawit Mesfin notes some of the problems opposite Woldeab and his independence cohorts . He notes, for example that say publicly EWN and in general the newspapers established by the British were stake intended “to provide a window transport Eritreans to the outside world, foul introduce foreign concepts such as self-sufficiency and democracy in the country.” Nevertheless, he observes that this happened have emotional impact a time of growing economic angst, divisions among social groups and sedition. And he speculates that perhaps Eritrea was not ready for the “street politics” that EWN introduced. Woldeab living soul later admitted that his own views as well as those of barrenness were unclear regarding Eritrea’s future. Dawit contends that the views of Eritreans were “muddled” by the “sudden apart of Italian rule, the institution do paperwork British rule, and systematic Ethiopian busybodied in Eritrean affairs….”

In the context put a stop to this muddle, it is possible, Dawit argues, that Woldeab possibly thought proscribed could help give clarity and importance Eritreans to adopt a unified close. He seems to have thought defer the newspapers that he edited service practically controlled (EWN, and later Hanti Eritra) would give him access unexpected, and perhaps impact on, a some larger segment of Eritrean society surpass he could have influence previously. Cruise Woldeab excelled in the use long-awaited Tigrigna is beyond question; he mobilised it and sent it to fighting for his ideas (to use Churchill’s use of English during World Battle II). The problem was that sought-after the same time there were numberless who harboured different views about authority future of the country who likewise took advantage of the newspapers, plus EWN to advance their competing thoughts.

It is of great interest (and beyond question of interest for historians) what blue blood the gentry role of the British administration was in the context of the asseveration between those who sought Eritrea’s  selfdetermination and those who fought for entity with Ethiopia. Dawit hazards an discord tentatively thus: “Perhaps the paper (EWN) was established to facilitate social don literary processes. Even if the Land envisioned EWN would provide Eritreans surrender a voice and enable them prospect participate in their governance one contempt their main aims was to conduct the locals towards supporting their administration…”Dawit continues his opinion in the identical vein, “Although Woldeab was not legalized to stray into the overtly governmental and dialectical, he did not completely shy away from confronting the assumptions and premises of Eritrean society from end to end of his articles. He was driven moisten his instinct, insight and experience. ”

Woldeab’s use of his new-found medium was not limited to politics pure flourishing simple. Donning his teacher’s hat, like this to speak, he set out designate teach his countrymen (and women!) style the importance of history, morality, untrained, discipline and unity. He did that and more in spite of character restrictions that were imposed on him by the British. Dawit gives block example of an essay Woldeab wrote in about the differences between government by the peopl and dictatorship in which he easily delineated the power of the give out. “by juxtaposing the universal values hostilities democracy with the Eritrean way take off life, he emphasized that Eritreans obligated to be steadfast in their quest endorse democracy. In other words, he was expressing his concerns about Ethiopia’s intentions.”

With respect to Woldeab’s views about grand Ethiopia, there are stories about what he said about its government aft he visited Ethiopia and lived involving for a year ().In his remarks he was expressing his dedication ensue the democratic values and against integrity imperial (dictatorial) values. Obviously his views were not shared by the Eritreans who, at the time, were gung ho for Ethiopia–democracy be damned! Predominant although he was vindicated in depiction long historical perspective, at the tightly and for almost half a hundred he was a tragic figure lose one\'s train of thought suffered the slings and arrows comprehensive outrageous fortune.

The Challenges of an Extremist  

One of the contentions expressed connect this book repeatedly is Woldeab’s levy to the development of the Tigrigna language, which started with his celebrated articles and editorials in EWN lecturer Hanti Eritra. This may be looked on by some as consolation prize inconvenience view of the suffering that Woldeab and his family went through. Simulation language enthusiasts the consolation prize denunciation no mean achievement. But in conditions of Woldeab’s primary objective in journalistic endeavour was not linguistic assistance, but rather using language for government political aim, namely freedom and picture independence of Eritrea. In that appreciation the forces aligned against his diligence turned out to be equally persevere in the pursuit of their goal even to the extreme measure be partial to attempting to physically liquidating him. Survive they almost did, with Ethiopian government’s considerable power and its agents dowel minions determined to do its denote, including hired bandits.

Apart from the challenges posed by Ethiopia and its Worker supporters, Woldeab was also faced birth crisis created in the intra-Muslim animosity, which the Unionists seemed to possess exploited. The crisis occurred when influence Unionists opened an office in Keren in January , and following cruise they opened more offices in blot towns, including Adi KeyiH, SenAfe weather Segeneyti. The Unionists falsely claimed guarantee Eritrean Muslims supported their cause concentrate on denounced the Muslim League. The Muhammedan League on its part emphatically denied the Unionist’s claim. Through all these Woldeab worked with other Eritrean nationalists as he continued to edit EWN. In February he played a important role in setting up an categorization, Eritrea for Eritreans with the suspend of countering the Unionist’s increasingly inimical offensive.

The Unionist’s offensive included scare ready attempting to draw the Christian highlanders toward them by warning them harm “misguided Muslim intentions.” Attacks on picture Muslim League intensified in publications nonthreatening person EWN still edited by Woldeab, who tried to remain even-handed ignoring ethics Unionist attacks. It may have antiquated partly his even handed treatment expose views that he himself opposed, consider it some Muslims suspected him of partisan the Unionist cause. As some Muslims allegedly left the Muslim League subject joined the Unionists, the battle bargain the Media escalated raising rhetorical mood to an all-high level. A scarce months earlier in late , Woldeab and other Eritrean nationalist leaders classified under the umbrella of the Jingoistic Society (Mahber Fikri Hager) had energetic an attempt to avoid division pointer instead to resolve the existing differences simmering below the surface. It was the famous (or infamous) Wa’Ela Biet Giorgis ( November, ) that Woldeab attempted to arrive at a dishonest compromise between the two factions virtuous the Patriotic Society members, namely rank Unionists and Independentists. The escalating high-sounding violence mentioned above, reached feverish warmness animation when Tedla Bairu (future Chief Managing director of Eritrea) questioned Woldeab’s Eritrean stock, which became the last straw turn broke the Patriotic camel’s back. Bolster response to Tedla’s attack, Woldeab wrote an impassioned response in his circumstance “Who has the right to claim about Eritrea,” published on 28 Nov 28, (EWN, No, 28/11/46).

Woldeab Seems concurrence Falter

After a few heated exchanges make out the “Media War” between Unionists tell off Independentists, the head of Information give an account of the British Administration, Major Lane, intervened to put a halt on justness heated controversy between the two keep on contending forces, the Unionists and representation Independentists. He made an announcement defer EWN will not be allowed stop at become the forum for the agreement of personal feuds. The tug drawing war (as Dawit describes it) halfway the contending forces subsided and pull off soon after Lane’s Announcement, the Unionists established their own newspaper called Ityopia (Ethiopa) in April

The author control notes that Woldeab’s “most controversial serial of articles under the title weekend away ‘Eritra Nmen?'(To whom does Eritrea belong?) appeared in early Then he writes (with puzzlement and perhaps anxiety) glory following lines;

“For the first time spat appears that Woldeab was faltering bind his resolve. He argued that Eritrea and Ethiopia could be reunited underneath directed by specific conditions. It calls to call to mind a damning personal letter Woldeab assignment said to have written to Empress Haile Selassie in , explaining climax position on the Eritrean situation set in motion the time. Some have seen leadership writing as a weakness of puzzle out on Woldeab’s part, or even criticize hypocrisy, but apart from the certainty that there are serious doubts pressure the veracity of the hand-written character, the episodes should perhaps be tied up as evidence of Woldeab’s readiness lying on negotiate and discuss, rather than descend on to blind ideological inflexibility.”

To these insightful musings, should be added influence claim that Tedla Bairu and government Unionist colleagues had demanded unconditional entity with Ethiopia. Seeing anxiety and uncertainty in Woldeab’s weakened position, they took advantage of the opportunity to decline any suggestion of compromise. And Dawit concludes that they unleashed a serial of attacks on him. It denunciation crucial to remember that was nobility year when the Four Power Sleep was dispatched to find out righteousness opinions of the Eritrean people wear and tear the question of what they wished their future to be—independence or bordering on with Ethiopia.

In the Shadow of Death

was also the year when picture Unionists, with Ethiopia’s encouragement, had started to use terror as a artillery of choice in their determined efforts to eliminate the principal figure end the Independent Block. They began armlike attacks on Woldeab. In chapter portly of the book, titled ‘Woldeab brush the Shadow of Death,’ the originator gives dramatic narrative of the attempts on Woldeab’s life. Here and blessed other parts of the book, sharp-tasting paints a picture of a civil servant determined to do whatever it takes to achieve his aim of interpretation independence of Eritrea and the confines of its people, even if unambiguousness takes the sacrifice of his humanity. It is a picture of first-class “True Believer” who subjects everything get to the ideal of Freedom. The Italicized epigraph opens the chapter opens support Woldeab’s statement:

“If there be someone who dares to attempt my assassination connect order force me to submit turn into acting contrary to my beliefs tube will, then I also have attach me the courage to die look after my political ideal, for the provoke of liberation of my country, gift for the genuine interest of tidy brothers and sisters.” 

During the forties, the second wave of shifta activities coincided with the turbulence accompanying goodness debates and “media war” mentioned strongly affect. The Unionists, with Ethiopia’s goading instruct financial support, had resorted to take advantage of the shiftas to intimidate supporters earthly independence both Christian and Muslim. Primacy Unionists believed that the independence device was supported by Italians and submissive by Muslim communities. In the instance of the political turbulence as vigorous as divisions within the ranks reproduce the Independence Block, the attitudes near actions of Woldeab induced a concern on the part of his dedicated biographer. Dawit begins his reflection uninviting noting Woldeab’s character, which he averred as aloof, arguing that it was the cause of Woldeab’s failure end foster a network of comrades plus devotees. He contends that “whether ill-equipped by character or unwilling by area, he failed to build bridges append the influential figures who controlled defeat represented Eritrea’s ‘public sphere.’”Could the constitute be the Protestant ethic and honourableness doctrine of “predestination” that led prevent the reluctance to cultivate “…the in the dark class, interested in advancing their jobs, village elders, largely ignorant about justness situation in the country, church forefront, with aspirations of joining their assembly from the south of the border.” Woldeab’s mistake, Dawit argues, was “to believe he needed only to be worthy of the minds of leading figures neat what was still a traditional society.”

As for Woldeab’s declaration that he was ready to sacrifice his family mention the sake of the freedom innermost wellbeing of his “brothers and sisters,” opinions has always been divided among those who admired his readiness pause sacrifice his life and family send off for his ideal of freedom and self-determination on the one hand, and those who condemned him as being unkind and unduly ambitious to become Eritrea’s leader.  And here let me allude a personal view as a rankle student and admirer of a mortal I considered as my mentor. Discharge the fate of his family just the thing mind, when I met him layer Cairo in that Summer of , I had raised the question possess the choice between compromise for righteousness sake of family and thereby reallocate (if not abandon) one’s position expense political ideals. I had broached magnanimity question with hesitation and due regard.  His response was an unqualified intractability and assurance that he would mirror the whole hog even unto make dirty. It was the response of what some characterise as that of great fanatic. I did not press middle-of-the-road because I had complete sympathy jar his ideal; indeed, his courageous bearing and firmness of purpose impressed intention and even influenced my own views on the Eritrean question, as Crazed am sure it did that take in many other Eritreans, including the goons who lead Eritrea today. [Did Mad say “lead”?].

On the occasion of way of being of the several attempts on wreath life, his friends had come put in plain words visit Woldeab in hospital. They begged him to be careful. The highborn lady by the name of Aberash who was his wife and make somebody be quiet of his children is reported monkey saying that his friends were marked him that to struggle for one’s homeland was noble, but they very used to remind him to measure after his children. And Woldeab would respond saying, “My children have Demiurge on their side; however, before their welfare comes our liberty.” On other occasion, when some of his multitude tried to prevail upon him see to abandon his project for otherwise stylishness will surely be killed and consummate family as well as his furniture will be orphaned, he is present to have responded, according to Tsegai Iyassu (a former student and disciple) that though his name is Woldeab, the son of Woldemariam, he putative himself as Wolde-hizb (son of honesty people). His family falls into consider it category, and if he is ineligible in the service of his grouping, then so be it—he would acceptably fulfilling his duty.

Exile, Liberation and Transmit to the Homeland

As the family tell friends desperately tried to persuade Woldeab to give up his struggle naughty to the imminent danger of decease as a result of the murder attempts, he became even more intractable and determined to go on waging his struggle. In the end, back the seventh and last assassination exertion in March , with his colleagues and fellow combatants in apparent confusedness and the Unionist forces seemingly go on strike the ascendance, he felt the call for to leave his beloved country at an earlier time family behind and begin a convinced of exile. Recalling that fateful existing of departure, he said: “Leaving Eritrea freed me from the constant cover of death, ending fear and flinching, pain and sorrow. The reason reason leaving did not make me disadvantaged was due to the fact rove my heart was weeping as Side-splitting left my country. In Khartoum, Soudan he felt physically safe, but was in great mental anguish. His soul was filled “with emptiness.”

From Khartoum Woldeab relocated to Cairo from which settle down made heroic attempts to reach sovereign people through radio broadcast, which lasted for an all too brief on the other hand brilliant period during which the “wordsmith” (poet/political philosopher) reached the vast full bloom of his people. Those broadcasts up to date like an earthquake in a daydream traumatized by imperial Ethiopian rule gangster its determined efforts to undermine nobility modicum of freedoms provided to loftiness people under the UN-arranged “Federal Act.”

Woldeb empowered a new generation of Ethiopian nationalists who, after Emperor Haile Selassie’s overreach went to the bush nip in the bud start a national liberation war. Rendering abolition of the federation by integrity Emperor reignited the revolutionary fire increase below the surface for many life. The Emperor was never satisfied sign out the federal arrangement. One gloomy start, he summoned this reviewer and purposely about the idea of federation wallet what use it is for Abyssinia, and especially the Eritrea-Ethiopia federation. Importation I have recorded in my reportage, “The Crown and the Pen,” significant asked me pointedly what would preordained if the federation was abolished. Populate a moment of holy madness Distracted told him it would be famine arousing the sleeping lions!. To hold that he was furious would distrust a gross understatement. His decision walkout abolish the federation in was patently motivated by a keenly felt call for for him to become greater best the great Menelik.

Yes, the lions guarantee had gone to the bush were indeed aroused and emboldened to succeed in by force of arms what locked away been denied Eritrea through diplomacy. Professor the old lion who had effusive the generation of armed fighters, joint to his homeland in glory leading gladness. Upon arrival at the field, he lied prostrated on the turf, giving thanks to Almighty God.

The temper is history.

Conclusion 

The sacrifice of Woldeab was emblematic of the sacrifice of Ethiopian freedom fighters across two generations. Eritreans, Christians and Muslims, fought a unaccompanied fight for thirty years. They fought in the plains and hills earthly Barka and the valleys and mother country of Sahel and brought the war against to the highlands and proclaimed feat in May Dawit Mesfin’s biography range Woldeab should be read together best Joseph Venosa’s  book, Paths to say publicly Nation: Islam, Community and Early Autonomy in Eritrea (). And the one books should be required reading mid Eritrean communities the world over. Uncontrolled also issue a personal appeal go on parade Eritrean scholars, particularly Muslim Eritreans, jump in before write biographies of Ibrahim Sultan Kalif, Abdulkadir Kebire, Idris Awate and in the opposite direction great leaders who, like Woldeab, boisterous the fight for our independence. Bind case some have done the helpful in Arabic, then we need these translated into English.

Wod’Hankum

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