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4th Eritrean Festival 4th
Reportage
Dear readers, my last reportage tried to walk you through the summary of
the main activities of the festival on Saturday, June 23rd,
2007. I have summarized up to the point where the representative of
ENSF presented the official organizational solidarity message and his
own moving personal remarks about the need of working together to get
rid of Isayas and his tyranny.
In that process, members of EDP acknowledged their attendance. They
conveyed their solidarity and congratulations of a very successful
festival through the coordinator of the festival, Alem Yohannes. They
did not take stage for the sake of time saving.
The Eritrean Youth Renascence representative could not be at the
festival for personal reasons. Nharnet will post the letter of
solidarity the association sent to the festival.
At this point, the full day presentations, panel discussions, solidarity
messages, and key note speech came to a conclusion. It is the variety
and quality of views and the forward looking speeches that kept the
audience alert. Otherwise, it was a day long phenomenon. An event of
fund raising for EDA projects like the Wedi Sharifey School and the War
Disabled Veterans was conducted for a very short time. Habtemariam
Kifle gave a brief account and reminded the audience that we should not
forget those who do not have what those of us living in the west have.
Tesfai Woldemichael (Degiga) who took the stage next gave a very open
and concrete account of what the financial need is. Attendees
volunteered to donate what ever they could and collected a good amount
of fund.
This concluded the business aspect of the day and it was announced that
it was time for dinner. The vibrant musicians and singers started fine
tuning their instruments and audio speakers. All the announced singers
and musicians and singers were there except Ghere Shumhalal (due to
health issues) and Tewolde Bahta (AKA Wedi Bahta) because of work
related issues. Tewolde sent a letter addressing the audience which was
read on Sunday at the members’ seminar. He explained the situation
which did not allow him to attend and entertain the audience. His
letter was very motivating and encouraging and his best wishes for a
very successful festival. He promised that he will pay back the missed
opportunity at a later time. That shows his character and his devotion
to the struggle for a democratic change in our country.
It was then time for the cultural guayla to start. It was very warm
entertainment. The singers took turn singing various diverse folk tales
in a number of Eritrean languages. Asmelash the veteran handicap from
the armed struggle recounted the heroic actions. Beraki Mussie, who
joined the struggle in his very youth entertained with vigor and energy.
Abdulmunim who is a master of the organ gave the music echo and warmth.
Saleh Muselem is not only a singer but an activist and a mobilizer. He
has ways with the words with the languages like Tigre and Tigrinia. He
truly entertained and played from the heart. Teklit used his
traditional wata, an instrument original to Eritrea and Ethiopia, to
give a flavor to the moving evening. Many times, it was pleasant to see
them singing together while playing their own instruments at the same
time. The guayla ended around 1:00 a.m. The members had a busy day
that morning on Sunday the 24th. The bus was ready to take
those who did not drive or did not share the ride on vans and cars back
to the hotel.
It was time for a members’ seminar on Sunday afternoon. Tesfai (Degiga),
vice chairman of the Executive Committee, briefed the members on various
topics which pertain to the organization. As usual, the briefing was
open and transparent which updated members on every important topic.
Menghis then updated the members on the status of the efforts of working
with the other organizations and the relations with neighboring
countries. Amanuel (AKA Menghistu) then addressed the members on the
state of the organization pertaining to the USA. He expressed his
confidence on the unity and cohesion of the organization to be
excellent. He pointed out some weaknesses which need to be addressed.
The seminar continued until the evening in which almost every question
and every suggestion was addressed. It was a seminar focused on how we
proceed forward and what to improve in the future. It was great to see
some well rounded educated new personalities join the organization.
Every one who could and did not have to leave the city that evening was
invited to the house of one of the members in Chicago. The bus which
was chartered to take attendees between the hotel and the hall was
summoned to take members to the house. Many also drove in cars and
vans. It was a great opportunity for members to joke, hold discussions,
and exchange ideas. It was truly a sense of a big family having fun.
It was late at night (actually Monday a.m.) before people started
leaving.
Any one who witnessed that event would be able to tell that the cohesion
of the members and the health state of ELF-RC as an organization.
Monday was a day in which a lot of the festival attendees left back to
their respective destinations.
The festival was successful beyond every one’s expectations and the
preparatory committee already set a date for an evaluation meeting to
see areas where there were weaknesses so that they can be improved for
the future. Nharnet will try to bring a more detail account of the
activities and individual speeches and presentations as they were
delivered when ever possible in the near future. The speech of our key
note speaker has already been posted in English and Tigrinia.
Thanks for Reading,
Nharnet Representative
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