Early Eritrean societies developed various types of handcrafts that enabled them carry out different social activities. Eritrea, being one of the African countries with ancient civilizations, inherited a rich heritage, including diverse traditional handcrafts.

Remains of such ancient civilizations have, for instance, brought to light different items made of ivory, clay, bronze, stone and other materials used by inhabitants in the Qohayto area, one of the largest ancient sites in the continent which hasn’t been properly explored so far. And the creativity and artistic experience has now been inherited by many communities.

Back in those days, women had a central role in making materials for both domestic and farming purposes. One of the main tasks that women had was pit-fired pottery. Functional wares like cooking pots, round and flat surface for baking injera, coffee pots, jars for fetching and storing water, etc. were used for domestic purposes.

Ceramic works, for example, was common among the nine ethnic groups of Eritrea. Women exerted maximum creativity on handcrafts, mostly in order to show their talents and receive acknowledgement from their communities. In some areas of the country, marriage was once arranged based on girls’ skills.

Women believed that the beauty was in the clay and, they used to produce important objects just by firing the clay. Such traditional activities continued to represent the art and the craft works of the Eritrean societies. Later on, attempts were made by individuals, organizations and government agencies to raise the artistic value of handcrafts’ traditional items. When fully developed, handcrafts could be used as a symbol of cultural identity and as a source of income for many people, especially women who have the responsibility of rearing their children.

Recent initiatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the National Union of Eritrean Women, Cappuccini Sisters, the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students and others have enabled many people to improve their capacity in upgrading traditional items with modern designs and thereby make a living. These institutions have also been providing advanced trainings to interested citizens. One of the aims of such initiatives is to produce objects that represent Eritrean cultural identity at large and for local and foreign markets.

The training has changed the lives of many people; and the style of Eritrean handcrafts has taken a new dimension.

“I had a personal interest on handcrafts before I joined the armed struggle in 1978. There, I was assigned to teach pregnant fighters how to knit sweaters, socks and hats for their children,” said artist Negisti Gebremeskel who has now specialized on handcrafts following a nine months professional training she received in 2006. Negisti was able to arrange a handcrafts exhibition recently at the Albergo Italia in Asmara, in addition to a larger one she had in 2007.

“I took the training with the help of the NUEW. Our grandmothers did not consider handcrafts as an art. Despite the long experience, the type and quality remained the same. Its role as an art hadn’t been exploited till recent times,” she said. What Negisti plans to do is to open handcrafts school for women and the youth.

People who took different trainings on handcrafts are now seen presenting their products to the public both for display and sale. Although a lot is yet to be done in developing the initiative at a national level, what has been achieved so far is encouraging. Our people have not yet developed the habit of buying such items for gifts, perhaps owing this to the lack of awareness.

The raw materials for all the handcrafts are locally available in different parts of the country. And every ethnic group is identified with its unique style, thus bringing beauty in diversity.

Recently, products of dried palm leaf, leather and beads such as shoes, mobile holders, bags, belt and different types of ornaments are being produced in a more artistic design for sale. The creativity employed in making such items demonstrates the potential of their producers who are mainly youngsters. No doubt, when the traditional products are upgraded and advanced trainings are regularly given, they will attract the attention of large foreign markets. There is no doubt that it couldn’t be a source of hard currency and tourist attraction.

Hand bags and baskets, table mats, gift items, hand woven clothing and hats of different designs are now becoming commonly produced items. And extensive media coverage is needed in order to introduce all these handcrafts which reflect Eritrean cultural diversity to national and international markets.

And most of all, such activity has enabled many women avoid dependency and improve their livelihood through what they produce.

One of the goals of the NUEW is not only to provide training in order to develop the handcraft business in Eritrea, but also various techniques, support services and at the same time solicit income-generating schemes for Eritrean women with low economic standards.

The beneficiaries of such activities are Eritrean women who are of low economic status. And helping a woman is helping a society.