Though my focus this last year has been on West African events, all are welcome! A former student of mine is now active in the local Eritrean diaspora. She saw some of our events and asked if she could get in on the fun! Thus, a celebration was held at the Joe Celestin Center on May 25th celebrating “Eritrean Independence Day.”
Eritrea is a northeast African country on the Red Sea coast. It is home to over 3 million people and shares borders with Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti. The capital city, Asmara, is known for its Italian colonial buildings, like St. Joseph’s Cathedral, as well as art deco structures. Italian, Egyptian and Turkish architecture in Massawa reflect the port city’s colorful history. Notable buildings here include St. Mariam Cathedral and the Imperial Palace. It’s history is significant. Human remains found in Eritrea have been hundreds of thousands years old and anthropological research indicates that the area may contain significant records related to the evolution of humans.
It was fun to meet new friends and learn of their work. Of course, the food…always my favorite…was outstanding. Here’s the language from the Proclamation from the Mayor and City Council that I delivered.