Last month, when maere, a TV series which run for six-months in the Eritrean TV was ended, the author’s name has been a household word. Viewers of various ages and backgrounds were seen discussing on the issues brought by the series. As the protagonist, Teklit Solomon, (played as Tedros) said, the response to the film was overwhelming; apart from the general encouraging words he received, a dozen viewers approached him and said that maere has really changed their partners’ way of thinking: families should live in their own means.

 

Born in 1971 in Dekemhare, Debesai Weldu, he first appeared in drama staged in his elementary school semester closure. The drama involved simple educational theme, it meant to transmit disciplinary messages to students and the role of families on the educational well being of their children. “Apart my passion on it, the influence of my elder brother, Kidane Weldu, a teacher and play writer, was apparent,” he noted. Also during late seventies, when he was at the school, he used to act in plays presented on the occasion of September 1, Women’s day, Labors day among others presented in his paternal village Deqi TsinuA, as it was under the control of EPLF.   This had an impact on involving on serious themes beside educational one, he said.

 

 During his studies in Halay Junior and Secondary School in 1987, he wrote his first literary work- a poem that he presented to fellow students. The encouragement he received from the school community fuelled his passion further and co-wrote his first drama with Negassi Sultan in 1988. The drama was performed in Barka Secondary School hall and the response was overwhelming, he recalled. During late 1980^th any art material was sent for censor to the then Ministry of Information of the ruling Dergue junta. “A script written by a student went to the ministry for censoring, had an immense positive impact on my art career. And it was then that I begun to contemplate if I took the career seriously, I would excel in it.”

 

The first drama he wrote during the first weeks of the Eritrean independence thought him a lot. The drama, involved the subjugation of the Ethiopian regimes’ on the Eritrean people, was stuffed with lots of themes that would be ‘dramas’. With eager, he went to the then Cultural Affairs of the EPLF at Cinema Asmara. Members of the office Yishak Yared and Biniam Yosief, after they read the script, they gave him a recommendation which, Debesai recalled to be “a corner stone on my career.” They told him that his drama was embedded with lots of themes that would have been cross sectioned to many and since then he begun to take care of his style, he said.

 

The drama, he co-wrote with Nastnet Tesfamikael, was performed in major Eritrean cities for 6 months and the income went to the fund established to launch Eritrean TV. Among the many, his assignment to the Radio of the Broad Masses on April 1992 paved the way to further exploit his passion on literature as he was a host for light programs- ‘Sunday With Dimtsi Hafash’ and Youths’ Program.

 

Then, not only did he write dramas, but at the same time, he was a member of Nakfa Theatre Association. The association was one of the leading theatre clubs in Asmara:  his membership was simply an ‘informal study’ in college in all aspects, he added. “Then, with limited resources we were only aiming for the fulfillment of our passion and the responses, as any one can recall, were encouraging.”

 

His radio dramas series started with Fetene, aired on 12 Sundays in 1997. This drama, focused on family maters in general and the relationship of mother-in-law with her daughter-in-law in particular, was educational and it had deep effect on audience’s lives. The responses, especially the 150 plus messages he received from them was tremendous and elevated his vigor. At the same time, it shouldered him the responsibility that he should work more, he noted. Prior to Fetene, he wrote Enkfat, a radio series that aired on 4 Sundays.

 

Sawa really helped me in digging out and study about drama, says Debesai. A member of 9^th round, during his training, he had plenty of time to read, share experiences and write drama. There, he wrote a radio drama, Weyzzero Teibe. The drama which involved the issue of the messy aspect of remittance to the harmony and tolerance among family members, it touched the life of many families. “The response was direct. From the day it aired up to the subsequent 14 Sundays, the constant people’s reactions had manifested that the drama reflected their lives.” In Segeneyti, for instance, despite elders’ advice, a woman used to snub her husband. When they told her that the villagers are relating her with Weyzzero Teibe, a wicked protagonist at the drama, the woman immediately made her mind up and returned to her husband, he recalled

 

Aside from being an editor of the social, economic desk of the Eritrean Voice of Broad Masses, as of 2006 he is still presenting a weekly critique radio drama of corrective in nature. He also presents a weekly comic series Sdra and Bgahdi program on the Eritrean TV.

 

In addition to his involvement on art, he is a member of the Zoba Maekel People’s Assembly as coordinator of culture and values. “With a hectic schedule, I always try to use every minute of my time. Either, I should stay late night or wake up early in the morning: by doing so, utilize three up to four hours per day.” For a career that you like most and pursue, time is plenty, added Debesai.

But I am very cautious on attending social obligations. It will be an irony to fail attending to my social obligation while claiming I am writing drama’s that reflects my society’s lives, he noted.

 

As the saying has it, life in itself is a theatrical stage. By the same token, issues of life to be entertained are many and varied, he said. You just need a well researched theme and carefully designed plot. At the same time, if a writer wants to win the minds and hearts of the society, he should immerse him self in the lives of the people. Besides, people’s feedbacks must be heeded so as to keep the writer on a better position, Debesai pointed out. 

 

The reason for keeping my self up on the field is the constant encouragement, backing and constructive criticisms I receive from my audiences and viewers, he said. And the credit of my success goes to them and I, hence, owe them a lot, Debesai Weldu concluded.

 

Some of Debesai Weldu’s works

Name	Type	Air Time (Sundays)	Year
Enkfat	Radio Drama	4 episodes	1995
Fetene	=	12 episodes	1997
Weyzero Teibe	=	14 episodes	2001
Serbi	=	12 episodes	2002
Kidan	=	4 episodes	2002
Zaezaeta	=	25 episodes	2003
Gubtish	=	23 episodes	2003
Tsilalot	=	16 episodes	2004
Senselet	=	20 episodes	2005
Gorbi	=	32 episodes	2006
Hagez	=	33 episodes	2007
Wuden	=	33 episodes	2008
Hilna	=	25 episodes	2009
Quana	TV Serials	20 episode	2003
Hareg	=	20 episode	2006
Maere	=	25 episode	2008
Hubue Miskir	Film	2 hours	2004
Nbur Kiftin	=	=	2003
Surna	=	40 minutes	2007
Mieraf	=	35 minutes	2007
QaQito	Stage drama	-	1992
Hadgey	=	-	2002
Newih Emru Fikri	=	-	1998