Indeed a happy day.

It was drizzly and windy day. Not a pleasant morning for a day out, but these kinds of Eritrean outings don’t happen every week and not going was unthinkable and we started our Journey from the western part f London.

Sundays are usually quiet as far as the traffic is concerned it was a smooth flow. Our direction was towards the northern part of London, Finsbury Park to be exact. We had children in the car (my God son and his sister) really excited and looking forward to their day in the park. It is an opportunity for them to play football, race and also mingle with other Eritrean children. This opportunity was created by the Eritrean Embassy here in UK as part of the 18th Eritrean Independence Day.

Eritrean freedom was once a fantasy. So many dismissed the struggle for freedom as unachievable dream. During 1970s when colonialist Ethiopian regime, ‘Derg’ was one of the biggest and best equipped army in the world (only because it was armed by the then Soviet Union), the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) had concluded that, victory was inevitable and abandoning the struggle was not in the agenda. To compare EPLF with Derg militarily, it was perhaps on a ratio of 1 to 100. But the mental strength and clear vision was what the EPLF had. The very intelligent military strategy and dedication brought about the freedom every Eritrean was waiting for.

18 years it has been since the State of Eritrea was born and it feels like yesterday. What this country went through in the last 18 years and mainly in the last 10, is simply extraordinary. One hand is preserving the freedom and the other is rebuilding the country. The achievements in the last 18 years could only be described as miraculous.

Finsbury Park

The sun was struggling to pierce through the thick cloud and the park was full of children and adults. My God son and his sister could not wait, but to run to the park and race with each other. A couple of guys were putting the bouncy castle together, some guys were arranging football goal posts and further away from them there was registration table for those who wanted to participate in the sporting activities like football and running.

I walked to the football pitch as I wanted to see the activities from afar and one thing attracted my attention. A big picture of Eritrean freedom fighters on a mountain top waving the Eritrean Flag. I looked at it for a minute and thought of the heroes. I was asking if they envisaged what we are doing now? If they knew, hundreds of children would run around celebrating the 18th birthday of their country? If the Eritrean flag was going to wave on the top of Finsbury Park towers? If they knew Eritrea would defeat all the odds to become exemplary nation?

Eritrea is addictive. Once you fall in love with her then that is it. You will give your money, time and life. Then again she is beautiful with 9 ethnic groups, she is rich with resources and she has great figure with long legs and slim waist. This precious lady is young enough to be our sister, old enough to be our mother, youth enough to be our friend and baby enough to be our daughter. The beautiful lady has attracted so many admirers and when they cannot have her they try to make her life hell, but when she has those heroic sisters and brothers, daughters and sons; she is protected from those bad guys and lives with dignity.

Activities

Activities did start later than expected and I was told this was because the registration took longer than it should as people were arriving late. From what I can see, the main activity was 5-a-side football and was divided to under 10, 11-14 and 15 & above. My God son did not have a team, but he was included in one team that was a player short. The joy and excitement on those children’s face was a delight to watch. Their eyes were beaming and their eagerness to win a medal was clear by the way they were behaving. Midway through the football 100 meters running started and could hear people applauding the runners. By then the weather was sunny but a bit windy.

Towards the end, children sang happy birthday to Eritrea and shouted Hip, Hip, Hooray. The Eritean Ambassador Mr. Tesfamichael Gerhatu presented Trophies and Medals to the winners. By about 7:30 in the evening we left Finsbury Park with my God son and his younger sister happy and showing off their medals.

On our way home, I pulled out a CD and a fitting song of Wedi Tiqabo ‘Hagerey’ happened to be the first on the list.

Kulu Zbhgeki Sleki Ashehat Ywedku

Hiqfki Senom Kabruhuk Ymetsu nabaki Ymequ

Nhawaru Zkewn Meseret Yenbru Ynedku

Kinatki Keyftah Mistir Naykerski Sileki Yhasbu...HAGEREY

We were singing and clapping away and it was indeed a happy day.

Well done to all the organisers.

Happy 18th Eritrean Independence Day

God Bless Eritrean Martyrs.

Awet NHafash.

Samson Negassi

samson_negassi@yahoo.co.uk