Recently, national media outlets reported that Eritreans from across the country, alongside nationals residing in countries around the world, extended financial support to Eritrea’s National Martyrs Trust Fund, as well as the National Association of Eritrean War Disabled Veterans. Rather than being a one-off event, these supportive initiatives (and others like them) have been a constant thread stretching across the decades within Eritrea. They attest to the deeply embedded values of solidarity and generosity within Eritrean culture, while serving to underscore the Eritrean people’s long-standing commitment to uplifting their neighbors and those faced with challenges. The following paragraphs shine further light on these issues.
Solidarity, support, and generosity are deeply rooted
In Eritrea, demonstrations of solidarity, generosity, giving, and extending support to others are defining characteristics of society and deeply rooted. In fact, they reflect some of the most beautiful aspects about the country. One prominent factor is faith and religion. Eritrea is a highly religious country and the nation’s major faiths, Christianity and Islam, call upon their followers to be generous and give help to the less fortunate. (The Christian tradition has considered giving a key religious practice, while for Muslims, giving [“Zakat”] is one of the five pillars of Islam.)
Furthermore, the country’s various ethno-linguistic groups assign considerable value and significance upon the concepts of group and community. While the cult of the individual has taken root in many parts of the world, in Eritrea the latter continue to be regarded as the basic units and fundamental building blocks of society. From early on, children come to learn, understand, and appreciate that while communities and groups are comprised of individuals, there can be no individuals without the broader support, backing, and platform of groups and communities. An excellent example of this came recently during the graduation season. Almost invariably, student representatives of the graduating classes expressed their gratitude and appreciation to their families, communities, and the nation for the support and opportunities to learn and excel.
Demonstrations of the mutual support and generosity
Notably, an array of social traditions and popular proverbs attest to the great value and significance Eritrean society places upon generosity, sharing, giving, and supporting others. When one is sitting for a meal, for example, they will often say, “nkdem” in the presence of others, thus inviting them to share in the meal. Other common sayings include, “idey, idka, n’harmaz twedq” (roughly translated as hand in hand, we can bring down an elephant), “beyneka belae, beyneka moh’ut” (roughly translated as those who eat alone, die alone), “enqae nzeyfelt, habo men almedo” (those who do not know how to give, cannot know how to receive).
Every single day, in villages and communities across the length and breadth of the country, individuals and groups readily demonstrate their solidarity and generosity. A couple of years ago, representatives from the United Nations Development Program in Eritrea explained how the strong sense and value of community in the country, coupled with generosity and solidarity, played an important role in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. As well, since last April, Eritrean individuals and communities, as well as the government, have been quietly supporting numerous people that have fled the conflict in Sudan.
Beyond the above, numerous other examples are available. For instance, when they come together to support each other in the grieving and mourning of someone who has passed away, Eritreans will offer not only sympathy and condolences, but also food, financial support, and other resources to families who have lost a loved one. Friends, relatives, and neighbors of those grieving will remain by their side for an extended period to ensure they are supported and do not feel alone.
In a similar vein, during the celebration of a marriage, graduation, birth, or baptism, neighbors, colleagues, and coworkers will offer financial support or give their time and energy to cook food, arrange tents, and prepare areas for celebrations. There is also a popular tradition in many communities where groups of women regularly contribute savings, with the distribution of collections being regularly rotated among group members. In urban areas, young people and neighbors regularly help pay bills, go shopping, and deliver groceries or medicines for the sick, elderly, or otherwise physically immobile, while within rural areas, where farms predominate, people work cooperatively to meet the needs of everyone in the community: collectively working the fields, planting seeds, and harvesting crops. Neighbors and community members also devote their time and pool their resources and efforts to construct homes or develop community projects.
A sense of duty and obligation
Along with the motivations outlined above, another one of the key drivers of generosity, giving, and support in Eritrea is the strong sense of duty and obligation. On one level, as humans and neighbors, many regard it as a basic duty and obligation to support one another and help the less fortunate: it is only right and appropriate. However, the sense of duty and obligation also applies to and is particularly evident in the support extended to veterans, contributions to families of those who have fallen, and contributions to the country from nationals living abroad.
Over the years, many Eritreans shed blood and gave life or limb, making great sacrifices in order to bring independence, protect sovereignty, and defend the territorial integrity of the nation. As the saying goes, freedom is not free. Eritreans paid a huge price. Thus, it is a special duty and basic obligation for us all to demonstrate our appreciation for the fallen, preserve their legacy, and support the disabled or families of martyrs in any way possible.
