ዓቢ ደራሲ ታሪኽ ኤርትራ ኣለምሰገድ ተስፋይ፡ መመረቕታ መጽሓፍ፡ ኦክላንድ - 1ይ ክፋል | Alemseged Tesfai's Book Launch in Oakland

ዓቢ ደራሲ ታሪኽ ኤርትራ ኣለምሰገድ ተስፋይ፡ መመረቕታ ሓዳስ መጽሓፉ ኣብ ኦክላንድ፡ 14 ሰነ/June 2025 (1ይ ክፋል)

Alemseged Tesfai's Book Launch of his latest book, "An African People's Quest for Freedom and Justice: A Political History of Eritrea, 1941-1962", in Oakland, 14 June 2025

Alemseged Tesfai stands as a towering figure in Eritrea's historical literature. He is a lawyer by profession, freedom fighter by choice, a prolific author, and a public intellectual. After earning his Legum Baccalaureus (LLB) from Haile Selassie University in Ethiopia and a Master's in Comparative Law from the University of Illinois, Alemseged was on track to complete his PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before a higher calling redirected his path.

In 1974, while conducting field research in Eritrea, he made a pivotal decision to join the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) as a combatant. This decision was significant as it allowed him to gain a first-hand understanding of the struggle he so intimately documented in his writing. His writing is characterized by authenticity, conviction, and a lived understanding of the Eritrean struggle. With each publication, he not only preserves Eritrean history but also inspires new generations to reflect, learn, and carry the torch of justice forward.

Alemseged Tesfai's literary and historical contributions have become cornerstones of Eritrean historical literature. His landmark book, “An African People's Quest for Freedom and Justice: A Political History of Eritrea, 1941-1962”, meticulously chronicles Eritrea's political journey from the 1940s to the 1960s. The work covers the British Military Administration following Italian colonial defeat, the Federation of Eritrea with Ethiopia in 1952, and Ethiopia's systematic dismantling of the federation leading to the annexation of Eritrea in 1962. This comprehensive account lays bare the historical and legal injustices that ignited Eritrea's three decades long struggle for independence.

Besides his groundbreaking historical work, Alemseged Tesfai has penned a variety of influential publications in both English and Tigrinya. These include “Two Weeks in the Trenches”, the acclaimed play “The Other War”, and several historical novels and anthologies such as “Wedi Hadera: kab Badme nab Sahel” (The Son of Hadera: From Badme to Sahl), “Luul”, “Lbi Tegadalai” (The Heart of a Freedom Fighter) “Gitano” (based on the American movie The Brave One), “seleste a'EruK: TmTm a Gejeret” (Three Friends: Wrestling in Gejeret) and the “Aynfelale” trilogy: Aynfelale: 1941-1950”, “Federation of Eritrea with Ethiopia: From Matienzo to Tedla (1951-1955)”, and “Eritrea From Federation to Annexation” and Armed Struggle (1956-1962)”. He has also co-edited “Post-Conflict Eritrea: Prospects for Reconstruction and Development”, a critical resource addressing the nation's post-war challenges for development. Alemseged Tesfai's body of work has and will have a profound impact on Eritrean history, as it has helped to preserve and celebrate the unique identity of the Eritrean people. His writings bridge the gap between academic rigor and lived experience, making Eritrean history accessible to broad audiences. Through his works, he has ensured that future generations inherit an unbroken record of the Eritrean people's resilience, sacrifices, and vision. He reminds us that history is not just about events, but also about identity and survival, thereby creating a sense of continuity and connection with the past. His ability to capture both the rigor and the truth of Eritrea's past will undoubtedly make his writings desirable to scholars, educators, and students of Eritrean history.

#Eritrea #History #Africa