Eritrea’s worldwide Independence Week celebrations kicked-off this week in earnest. This year, in 2015, the first wave of Independence Week celebrations started in the South Pacific by the Eritrean Community of Melbourne, Australia and moved West through the Indian Ocean before reaching the Swiss city of Bern and Italian cities of Milano, Parma and Catania in Europe and continuing onto North America through the Atlantic Ocean and reaching the Canadian city of London, Ontario and American city of Atlanta, Georgia.
As usual, Eritrean communities around the world are enjoying music, children’s activities, great food and a wonderful Eritrean-style atmosphere in celebration of that glorious day in May of 1991 when Yikealo rolled his tanks into Asmara and Assab.
Eritreans in the City of Atlanta were reportedly treated to a concert by the electrifying Helen Meles. Meanwhile, Eri-TV has already started broadcasting live-transmitted ceremonies from municipalities across Eritrea with street performances, parades, concerts and traditional ceremonies. As usual, Eri-TV’s programming during this special month is interspersed with documentaries from the armed struggle to remind us of the heavy sacrifice that went into creating the Eritrean State.
This year’s theme “development through resilience” is indeed a very fitting one. If there is one thing Eritrea and Eritreans are known for is for their resilience, fortitude and a sense of delayed gratification.
So spend sometime this weekend visiting your local Eritrean Community to partake in the celebration of the one thing that unites Eritreans from all walks of life: a sovereign and independent Eritrea given to us by our martyrs.
Happy Independence Week!
Zelealemwi Zikhri Nswuatna!
Received on Wed May 20 2015 - 18:49:09 EDT