The 2008 Eritrean Festival of the Western United States was an astonishing display of Eritreans durable attachment to their identity.

The three day festival was held from August 15 through 18, 2008 in San Jose, California. During which thousand of Eritreans form California and the surrounding States participated.

The honoree guest of this year's festival, were: Dr. Wolday Fiture; Minister of National Development along with Ambassador Girmay G/ Mariam and Mr. Berhane G/Hiywet Solomon; Director of the office for Public and Community Affairs.


For the duration of the three day festival, people participated in deferent forums and seminars that were organized by locals and other organizations from Eritrea; as well as competition in different sports amongst the youth during the day and Guayla during the night.

Guayla is not considered a simple dance: people dance in a large group rather than in a pair. A group of four or five connects to other group of four or five forming a circle of harmonies rhythm with a serene human web. Eritreans have special attachment to it. It is the moral fiber of the Eritrean spirit. There is something about guayla …. It has an instant ability to gravitate people towards. It is rather a symbol of people bonding in large group and convey their solidarity.

As all festivals have their own uniqueness this year's festival has its own, the youth: This is mostly second generation born and grown up here in the U.S. with deep understanding of the West. Who found wisdom in uplifting their root rather than put-down.

Recognition of their root is not spontaneous, but a continuation of graciousness of the first generation immigrant to the US - who have contributed and played a larger role in the liberation of Eritrea.

Having Born to a privileges of access to massive wealth and limitless education they have the ability to sift through the twisted negative propaganda and disinformation put out in the mass media about Africa. Their apparent conscious about the trash talk and distorted cliché that portray Africa as a "continent of disease and mass starvation" is the firewall that can't be broken.


In this festival it is apparent that the transition from the elders to the youth is in progress. In this digital age of global world the role the youth will play is essential in transferring wealth and information. That will help Eritrea in particular and Africa in general to break out of the imperial yoke. The youth is set to build the nation that their elders liberate and have chosen not to participate in exporting chaos and destruction.

Awet N'Hafash

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