The Tigrigna speaking Eritreans and Ethiopians are the same
people. Period. I saw a comment on a
facebook group that stated ‘Agame, Adwa
and Tembien* used to work in Eritrea like slaves and they speak Eritrean
Tigrigna so they think they speak the right Tigrigna’. This was as accurately
as I could remember it. It is not verbatim as the comment was deleted soon
after it was posted. It was obvious that some people were offended by it. The
person making the comment seems to be expressing that people from the names
mentioned above have the attitude/belief that their dialect is the right
dialect of Tigrigna. However he seems to disagree and states that, these
mentioned above are in fact using an Eritrean dialect. So I thought this is a
great opportunity to say something I always felt. When it comes to the
relationship between Eritrea and Tigray, sometimes I feel like some members of
our community (whether if that be our family or friends) have lack of
understanding on some of the basic simple facts…
Fact #1. The Tigrigna speaking Eritreans aka Tigrinya (as they
are referred in Eritrea) and the Tigrigna speaking Ethiopians aka Tegaru come
from the same Semitic family tree, along the likes of Amharic and Tigre
speaking ethnics. Of course over time it is inevitable that groups could grow
apart and even develop distinct difference in their culture and language as
well as other beliefs. This is true anywhere in the world. That is why we have
so many different ethnic groups, languages and religions (belief) all around the
world. Otherwise no matter if you believe in creation or evolution there weren’t
that many different groups at the beginning right? Distance and lack of
connectivity creates people to adopt and foster their own ways of life. Which are
both a blessing and a curse at the same time. It is a blessing, because it
allows people to have new perspective on things and choices. It is a curse
because this simple fact could be source of problems between the different
groups due to the lack of understanding and the gap of information between
them.
So one is neither superior nor inferior to the other, the
Eritreans and Tegaru along with their similarities and difference are just the same
family tree that could and might have grown to show a very very small signs of
difference between them here and there, this can be attributed to distance and
time in isolation from one another.
Fact #2. Geography and connectivity has a huge influence on
the spread of culture, language and religion or anything of that sort. Hence,
if the Tegaru residents of the Tigray region closer to the borders speak much
more similar Tigrigna dialect with their Tigrigna speaking Eritreans residing
across the boarder, this should be expected than the dialects of Tigrigna
speaking Ethiopians who live farther away. Why? Because humans interact with
other humans that reside in their close approximately, and their interactions
are not limited to buying and selling goods and services, but also borrowing
and lending culture, language, faith and other intangible fundamental things.
Therefore, it means the bond will remain fairly in tact. If one wants to argue
that, the relationship/bond was a a by product of Tegaru crossing to Eritrea
for economic reasons or the Eritreans crossing to Tigray, Ethiopia for economic
or other reasons, that is the natural flow of people across the glob. If our people
crossed the boarder for employment or trade reasons, that should not be a thing
to be ashamed of. It means people went seeking after their interests what ever
that is. Aren’t Ethiopians coming to America or Europe for one reason or
another? If there is one thing that we should learn from the Western countries
is the respect for work in a pursuit to better one’s life. That brings me to my last fact.
Fact #3. When Ethiopian and Eritreans used to cross the
boarders seeking for employment purpose, they were travelling with in their own
country, remember we were just one country Ethiopia, Eritrea as a state with in
Ethiopia, therefore people moving around with in their own boarder for
different opportunities is just a normal thing to do. To those who consider
that as a sign of superiority, pride, disdain or shame, please trust me when I
say that is just a sign of your ignorance reconsider your belief.
What should concern us is, for our people Ethiopians and
Eritreans not being able to cross each other’s boarder. In time when the world
is becoming a small village by the day with new treaties, it is being separated
that should alarm us from our neighbors not having a history of connectivity
and close relationship. Often times, I notice, Tegaru Ethiopians being offended
to hear an Eritrean/s stating or implying that people from “Agame” or “Tigray”
used to go to Eritrea for employment opportunities. So what?
Obama during his
speech at
Nelson Mandela memorial services today said, something so beautiful, there are
too many of us Obama echoed, “…there are too many of us, too many of us on the
sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be
heard.” When we see our fellow family and friends either being offended or
attempting to offend with such things, things that are not even offensive
things to begin with, we should discuss our differences and explain what we
think. We all have our moments when our ignorance gets the best of us, we
should jump on the opportunity to discuss and by that educate one another not
dismiss it and leave it covered. Because covering it is not a solution,
addressing it is. You can’t solve ignorance and the lack of knowledge by
burying it, its cure is exposing it to light by that I mean to the process of
learning.
*Agame, Adwa and Tembien (local names in Tigray Region of
Ethiopia who speak Tigrigna)
Cheers,
Daniel
I hope and pray that someday I will be blessed to marry a woman who will bear us a daughter who will in turn resemble fraction of you. I have heard of angels, but I have never seen them smile, walk or talk. I just know you Elf.nesh, the definition of humility, with a heart that of an innocent child. The closer I am to you, the joyous I am on this Earth. Your caressing fingertips reinvigorate life; your presence conquers the peace, you live love not in words but in silence. 
