The Eritrean Woman Fighter

Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front fighters raise their Kalashnikovs in celebration, 1991 - Credit: Dan Connell

The Eritrean Woman Fighter

By Haile Bokure

In the traditional agrarian society of Eritrea, women were and still are looked upon as umbilical cords of two or more peasant folks who live in scattered hamlets and small towns. Their marital union could settle
inter-families feuds as a last resort in resolving a vendetta or a cycle of conflict. That is why, to date, the institute of marriage is highly valued in a closely-knit society such as ours.

However, this ascribed role was shaken in the aftermath of Eritrean liberation struggle in which women took active part as combatants and care takers. Furthermore, it was complicated by the desire to have children in war zones in spite of the adversity and unpredictable life events. Some of them refused to have children on account of their mission for which they stood for, and that is: National liberation from oppressive
rule. As one author said in her book: “ናጽነት ሓድገይ ኢዩ” meaning “freedom” is something that I cherish to leave behind suggesting her commitment to Eritrean people by way of sacrificing her youthful life.

But the mother-nature is strong too that no one could resist. For this, some combatants admitted the lost opportunity as long as the national liberation is concerned. It was really a hard choice for them, but at
last, their ability to resolve the conflict based upon their mission, realistic appraisal and boldness as seen in accepting what they could not change dramatize the tenacity of Eritrean women who stood not only in
combating human domination, but also the traditional mores of our society as well.

All in all, their resolve in facing life’s dilemma shows their virility as in the words of Hegel: No man is strong enough unless he bears within his character strong marked opposites.

Sponsored Ads