The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay
May 2016 back issue
by Stefan Boness
“A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine. Fabulous!”
Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker
A spooky silence has descended on one of the most isolated countries in the world: Eritrea.
Once glorified as a beacon of hope for Africa, this small country in the Horn of Africa is now only seen as a militarized
state ruled by an authoritarian regime. Eritrea is situated in a troubled neighbourhood and has had uneasy and often
violent relations with all its neighbours. It nowadays only makes it into the western media with news about the mass
exodus of its young people and a violator of human rights.
But there is also another side to Eritrea that goes largely unreported. Based on strong principles of self-reliance and
social justice, Eritrea will meet many of the UN Millennium Development, especially those in the fields of education and
health.
Cyclists during a street race in front of the cinema Roma influenced by Italian avant-garde architecture in Asmara,
Eritrea. Cycling, influenced by the Italian colonial power since 1936, is the most popular sport in Eritrea.
Street scene in front of the building of the cinema Kino Africa in Asmara. The building is influenced by Italian avant-garde
architecture in Asmara, Eritrea. Asmara is a treasure trove of Art Deco architecture and UNESCO is considering making
the city a World Heritage Site in recognition of its outstanding Modernist architecture.
Eritrean Women during a victory celebration after a street race in front of the cinema Roma.
People in a crowed bus in Asmara, Eritrea.
Woman worker with child at the metalwork market Medeber in Asmara, Eritrea. In this huge market, the centre of
Asmara’s recycling industry, metal is recycled in many different ways. The market is a symbol of how a country can be
built using only basic resources.
Worker with self-made welding protection mask at the metalwork market Medeber in Asmara, Eritrea.
Woman and man worker grind spices in a Berbere mill at the metalwork market Medeber in Asmara, Eritrea.
Railway worker, Horn of Africa.
Street scene with children playing football in Asmara, Eritrea.
Boy playing in a playground made from an aeroplane at the expo area in Asmara, Eritrea. The plane is a relic of the
liberation struggle.
Eritrean Refugees who fled the war, returning back to Eritrea after one year. Regugees in the village of Meskerem near
Tesseney. The repatriation programme is being organised by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR together with
the local authority.
Boy and girl fetching water from a waterhole in a small village near Tesseney.
Farmer at work near the village of Hagaz.
Bedouin transports wood on his camel at a dry river near Agordat.
Woman with baby at a literacy course at Himberti School.
Girls at the Sewra Elementary School in Asmara, Eritrea.
Girls of the Alnahda Elemantary School playing football in the playground.
Eritreans welcome the first convoy of Eritrean refugees back from over 30 years of exile, at the Talatasher border
crossing from Sudan to Eritrea. The Eritreans, many whom have taken refuge in Shagarab Camp in Sudan since the
late '60s, make up one of the oldest refugee communities in the world with the first camp established in 1967. The
repatriation programme is being organised by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR together with the local
authorities.
Huge poster showing Eritrean soldiers, in front of a military camp in Asmara, Eritrea.
