Prof. Gianfrancesco Luisini is an Italian
scholar who has been to Eritrea
a number of times since independence. He has recently been to where he gave
trainings on cataloguing and interpreting the Eritrean Geez and Islamic
manuscripts. He gave an interview to Shaebia.org on his researches and the
detailed purposes of his visit to Eritrea. Excerpts:
Could you introduce
us with your self?
I am an Associate Professor at the Universita of Napoli “L’Orientale,”
dealing with the history, philology and linguistics of the horn of Africa and particularly
the Eritrea
region since 20 years. I can say I am the representative of the Italian schools
of studies of this subject, schools that date back to the end of the 19th
century.
Why did you become
interested in this region?
When I started researching on this region some 20 years
ago, I found it very fascinating. Everything about this region is so special:
the language, the remnants, the manuscripts and many other things which could
help in the reconstruction of the history of the region. For example in the
case of languages, the relation between Geez and the
widely spoken Tigrigna and Tigre languages.
What is it exactly
that you are trying to accomplish?
In short, my main task at the moment is the reconstruction
of the history of this region based up on the philological data that can be
extracted from very old manuscripts and inscriptions.
How many times have
you been to Eritrea?
What are your impressions?
I have been in Eritrea in 1992, 2001, 2006 and
2008. In my first visit, I came with two colleagues to conduct a research on
the monasteries in what was then the Seraye region. I
remember the country celebrating their newfound independence. Everyday was a
celebration. The people’s faith in a never ending peace about to start
was evident. But now the country is forced to go into an attitude of a country
engaged in war.
But still, what I found surprising was that the Eritrean
community is strongly committed to maintain its dignity despite what is being
said in the outside. This is a very beautiful experience for me. I can see that
Eritrea’s
stance against all odds is sooner or later going to reverse the international
community’s misperception of the country.
Could you share some
of your findings with us?
I would like to mention that there are many explanatory
remnants and astonishing manuscripts in Eritrea. The Geez
manuscripts for instance indicate that the people of this region (Eritrea) have
always been subjected to external threats.
You had conducted a
seminar in Asmara.
What was it all about?
I have presented three research papers. The first
discussed the linguistic approach to the ancient history of Eritrea while the second talked about the
philological approach to the medieval history of Eritrea. The third paper was sort
of the synthesis of the first two presentations and was devoted to the
historical relationship of Eritrea
and the Red Sea as well as the importance of Eritrea
as a passageway for civilizations and influences coming through the
Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and the horn of Africa.
The research clearly indicates that Eritrea
was the door to all activities in the Red Sea
at that time.
I found the audience ready to understand and capable to
receive.
What else have you
been doing while in Eritrea?
I gave members of the Eritrean Research and Documentation Center trainings on cataloguing and the
interpretation of Eritrean Geez and Islamic
manuscripts. During the one week of trainings, I found the trainees to be very
attentive and eager to know more of the worldwide accepted criteria and
techniques in this kind of intellectual operation. I am confident that with the
potential they have, the trainees will efficiently carry out the tasks required
of them.
Any last
words…
I intend to return to this country soon and I am always
ready to give trainings related to my profession any time any where in Eritrea.
Thank you
