IP2016Hanze

1. Eritrea

2. ERITREA the nation in East Africa

3. Introduction
Location North East Africa
Area (sq.km) About 125,000 km2
Coastline (km) About 2,234 km
Population Around 6 million
Capital Asmara
Major Language Tigrigna, Tigre, Arabic,
English
Major Religion Christianity & Islam
Society 9 Ethnic groups

4. The Nine Ethnic Groups

5. Tigrigna
This is the largest ethnic group in Eritrea and it occupies southern,
central and northern highlands of the country. Tigrinya speaks Tigrinya
language and they are mostly farmers.
TIGRIYNA LADY
COFFEE CEREMONY
TIGRIYNA DANCE

6. Tigre
The Tigre are traditionally nomadic shepherds who occupy only part of
the north Eastern Eritrea. Majority of them are Muslims.
TIGRE LADY
TIGRE FAMILY
TIGRE DANCE

7. Afar
The Afar people are found in the East African countries of Somalia, Djibouti,
Ethiopia and Eritrea. Just like the Tigre, most Afar people are nomads, with
milk and meat being the major components in their diet.
AFAR LADY
AFAR DANCE
AFAR MAN

8. Nara
The Nara depend on agriculture and farming for their existence. They live in the
north of Gash River, which is in the South Western part of Eritrea. They are
Muslim.
NARA LADY NARA MAN
NARA DANCE

9. Saho
They occupy the territory on the south-eastern slopes of the
highlands as far as the coastal plains south of Massawa. They are
small scale farmers who emphasize in bee-keeping. They are
Muslims and Christians.
SAHO LADY
SAHO DANCE
SAHO BOYS

10. Rashaida
The Rashaida, who originated from Saudi Arabia, have a living style
similar to the Arabians and most of them are Muslims. The dressing
code for women from a young age involves veils that cover their faces
so that men can not see them unless the men are their own husbands.
They are predominantly nomadic people who live along the Northern
Red Sea coast. They are Muslim.
RASHIDA LADY RASHIDA FAMILY

11. Kunama
The Kunama mainly reside in Gash Barka region in the border villages.
Their language has the same name as the tribe just like the other
communities except the Rashaida who speak Arabic.
KUNAMA MEN
KUNAMA DANCE
KUNAMA LADY

12. Bilen
The Bilen practice both Islam and Christianity. They have close ties with
the neighbouring Tigrinya with whom they intermingle freely.
BILEN LADY BILEN DANCE
BILEN FAMILY

13. Hidareb
Semi nomadic pastoralists specializing in raising camels and cattle.
They are found in the western lowlands.
HEDAREB LADY
HEDAREB BOY
HEDAREB DANCE

14. Climate and Weather
Eritrea can be classified into three major climatic
regions:
- The highlands(cooler and wetter)
- The coastal area of the Red Sea(hot and
dry desert strip)and,
- The western lowlands(semi-arid).
Asmara, in central Eritrea, has a pleasant climate
year-round, with an average annual temperature of
60°F (16°C), with most rain falling between June and
September.

15. Lifestyle
Agriculture and pastoralism are the main livelihoods for
80 per cent of Eritreans.
70 percent of the population lives in rural areas.
Most Eritreans live in an extended family that includes
parents, uncles, aunts, cousins and grandparents.
The elderly have a special place in Eritrean society,
where they are treated with great respect and often
asked for advice.
Family usually desire elders approval for any major
decisions. Elders also settle household conflicts.
In Eritrea, relatives and good friends visit each other
often and without invitation.

16. Food
The injera is commonly eaten in the rural areas.
It is a pancake-like bread that is eaten together
with a sause. The sause may be of a hot and
spicy meat variety,or vegetable based.
In the urban pasta is also served as the strong
influence of Italian cuisine from colonization.
In the lowlands a porridge made of sorghum is
mainly served.
All traditional foods are eaten using the right
hand only and without the use of silverware.
The left hand is considered impure.

17. To begin each meal, the oldest man
takes a piece of bread, blesses it, and
offers some to each person.
Food are eaten with the right hand
from a large communal tray set on a
low table. Each person eats only the
portion directly in front of him or her.
Porridge
Injera

18. Gender Roles
Rural Areas: Division of Labor by Gender,
-Men/Boys: Agricultureal tasks(plowing and
sowing) and animal herding.
- Women/girls: Fetching water and firewood
for the household
In urban areas they practice gender equality.

19. Marriage
Customary rules of marriage vary among the
ethnic groups. Generally, girls marry at an early
age, sometimes as young as fourteen.
A large share of the marriages in the rural areas
are still arranged by the family groups of
concern.
In cities, He/she will have completed secondary
school before getting married and he/ she can
choose him/her self whom to marry.

20. Health Care
Since independence in 1991, the Ministry of Health
(MOH) has made significant progress in ensuring access
to health care services.
Currently, the MOH is operating 27 hospitals, 55 health
centers, and 187 health stations.
The medical doctor population ratio is 1:16,000 while the
ratio between nurses and the population is about
1:3,500 and that of health assistants is 1:1,600.
An approximate of 75% of Eritreans now has an access
to healthcare provision with in 10km proximity.
(Source: Ministry of Health Eritrea 2014)

21. Maternity and child care are high priorities of the
Primary Health Care Programme (PHCP).
Eritrea has consistently reduced child mortality by
four per cent annually in the last decade.
The infant mortality rate (IMR) has dropped to 42
deaths per 1,000 live births in 2010 (a reduction
from 72/1000 live births in 1995), and under-five
mortality (U5MR) is 65 deaths per 1,000 live births
in 2010 (a reduction from136 /1000 live births in
1995). Source unicef report 2010

22. Safe drinking water
As with many other countries inside the Horn of
Africa, access to safe water in a major issue in
Eritrea, particularly in rural communities. The
country has only one river that flows all year, the
Setit River, so most are reliant on boreholes.
According to a 2011 national survey, 39 per cent of
the population remain without safe drinking water
access and,
72 per cent are without access to a basic sanitation
facility.

23. HIV/AIDS
Whilst AIDS infection rates in Eritrea are low
compared with other African countries, (0.8% of the
population, compared with 0.2% in the UK and 30%
in Lesotho).
one of the lowest in Africa, and records less than
500 new infections annually (UNAIDS 2013).
Condom

24. Education
Eritrea’s education system is rural areas is not yet
extensive, and few children are able to attend school. Of
those who do attend, less than one-quarter finish grade
six. Few graduate from secondary school. Nevertheless,
education is highly valued.
For the first several years, students are taught in their
native tongue but can study English and Arabic or
Tigrinya. From the sixth grade on, instruction is in
English.
Adult literacy and education classes are available for
adults who wish to finish elementary and secondary
school.

25. THANK YOU!