Being a professional artist is one thing but incorporating a whole story within a work of art is a real gift. Selamawit Misghina is an 18 years old girl and 11th grader artist. In her sculpture work, she explained a story of a woman who had a role during the armed struggle.

During the days of the struggle for independence when Eritrea was under the Dergue regime Ms. Mihret Beraki Adala saw a fighter die in front of her. His comrades, not knowing where to hide him, got an offer from Ms. Mihret. Those days were so harsh that the people of Eritrea let alone bury a fighter, used to fear even to mention their names ‘tegadelti’ which means fighters.

Ms. Mihret and the martyred fighter’s comrades buried him at her back yard and since then she lights a candle and pray everyday for the day of Independence. Suspicious of her activities, Ethiopian soldiers used to trouble Ms. Mihret and ask her what she was hiding for the bandits ‘wenbedewoch’, a name they use to call Eritrean fighters. She used to somehow fake a story to make them believe that there was nothing hidden in her compound.

When Eritrea won its independence in 1991, Ms. Mihret went to her area’s administrative office and explained every detail to them. They exhumed the corpse and buried him at the Martyrs Cemetery.

The sculpture designed in a woman on her knees and bowing was one of the many attractions presented during Eritrean Festival 2009 at the expo grounds. The word ‘hibinti iye’ I am proud, is frequently said by Ms. Mihret who is now 64 years old is given to the sculpture as a title. Selamawit explaining why she gives the title said that being proud of their martyred children is every Eritrean mother’s personality. She said, “The word represents every Eritrean mother.”

The lady on the sculpture bowing and the candle in her hand shows the times Ms. Mihret used to bow her head and pray infront of the grave of the fighter. The cloth around her waist painted in Eritrean flag color represents the courage of Eritrean women. The box infront of her represent the fighter’s grave with the flag painted on it to show that he lost his life for his country.

Selamawit Misghina a student in Keren Secondary School came up with the idea after she heard the story from her grandmother. Contacting the woman in the story in person and getting the story directly from her, Selamawit started to think about sculpting it in a certain design. Getting motivations from her family and friends, she presented her final work at the Anseba Education Pavilion at the expo grounds during the festival week where it earned admiration from visitors.

Selamawit Misghna said, “There are many histories which are yet to be told. The youth has to know about Eritrean history through many ways and art work is one.”