Identity Jilted or Re/Imagining Identity: The Divergent Paths of the Eritrean & Tigrayan Nationalist Struggles

by Alemseged Abbay

In this bold study of modern ethno-regional nationalism, the author examines the divergent paths taken by the nationalist insurgencies in Tigray and Eritrea. The author argues that Tigrayans, south of the Mereb River, and Kebessa (highlands) Eritreans, north of the Mereb, are ethnically one people, tied by common history, political economy, myth, language and religion. Both fought against a common enemy, an oppressive Amhara ethnic state, for a period of seventeen and thirty years, respectively. In the process of the armed struggle, however, each evolved separate political identities and, after jointly marching to military victory in 1991, they followed separate political paths - Eritreans created the newest state in Africa and Tigrayans remained within the Ethiopian body politic.

Genres: Eritrea

Paperback

First published August 1, 1998

Reviews

[Axumite Tegaru · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great and well-referenced book. It's a must-read for studying the history of Tigrinya speakers across modern-day Tigray and Eritrea. The content of the book is also very relevant in understanding some of the reasons why the Tigray genocide that began on the 4th of November 2020 happened in the first place, especially for understanding some of the motives the Eritrean government had in participating so strongly in it (to this day) and why certain groups within Eritrea had deeper participation than others. Hopefully, more books based on this one will be made in the future, and hopefully, the relationship between Tigrayans and their kin the Tigrinya speakers in Eritrea will be reconciled one day and work together too.