Eritrea - Ministry of Information

Conflict is a sign of life. The only place you don’t find conflict is probably the grave where everybody lies in eternal quiet and calm undisturbed by the noise and clamor of the surrounding world.

The 1st millennium B.C. is an important period to understand changes in settlement, technology and economies that gave rise to the development of complex societies in various regions of the African continent. The Horn of Africa saw the development of extensive highland agro-pastoralist village communities as well as elite ritual centers in highland Eritrea and northern Ethiopia. The expansion of cultural exchanges and interaction patterns during the epoch had significant impacts on the development of agro-pastoralism, permanent village settlement and continuation of ritual manifestations.

Each year, starting from the month of April until June, history tends to repeat itself in Eritrea. This time of the year correlates with regular misgivings and assiduous external adversity to Eritrea and its diplomacy.

What does the earth need to start quaking, for the elements to unleash their wrath? According to tradition, the main ingredient that activates the doomsday machine is our sin which comes in many shapes, sizes and colors.

Xom Arba’a or the Lent as it is known is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. The ancient church that wrote, collected, canonized, and propagated the New Testament also observed Lent, believing it to be a commandment from the apostles.
As to the scriptures, “There is a time for everything” Ecc 3:1. In the Orthodox and Catholic Church there are seasons set for fasting. One of these seasons is the Great fast; also known as “Abi Xom”.

Rock arts are manmade images marked on caves and rock shelters commonly perceived as the visual language of the prehistoric societies. The art is a library that provides us information about the past and the natural environment. Images that had been depicted on rock surfaces convey important cultural heritage information and the cognitive ability of the prehistoric people. Rock art occurred before the advent of writing, and constitutes a wider testimony of early peoples’ expression of themselves and their world view.