By Exiled writer and literary translator Daniel Semere Tesfai has won the PEN Eritrea Freedom of Expression Award 2024. Daniel has been selected as a winner for his outstanding contributions to Tigrinya Literature, for the magnum opus, ‘Halaw Eta Werqawit Ghereb’ and other insightful books including ‘Debdabetat Seitan’, ‘ Eti Enchquilit Leul’, ‘Inanna’ and ‘Qireqhre’, where the author’s defiant and independent voice is evident.
Daniel Samere Tesfai, a distinguished writer, has made an indelible mark on the Eritrean literary landscape since 2008. His works transcend political, socio-cultural, and religious boundaries, and have captivated critics and readers alike. He challenges the status quo, offering inclusive perspectives that resonate universally.
In a context where knowledge production is often controlled by the state, creating a constrained discursive environment, Tesfai’s writings stand out as courageous and independent.
Halaw Eta Werqawit Ghereb, a novel based on historical and personal accounts of the Eritrean revolution and the author’s experience offers a counter-narrative and corrective justice to the overwhelming monochromatic knowledge production by the state [Eritra]. The novel doesn’t only critique the dominant narrative but also bridges the divide, significantly contributing to a more profound, nuanced and pluralistic discourse. It challenges the dominant discourse and provides a vital counterpoint to the state’s efforts to monopolise and muffle other voices, offering hope and empowerment to those who seek to challenge all forms of the status quo.
His translation of Mark Twain’s Letters from the Earth, titled ‘Debdabietat Seitan’, is a provocative book and critically examines divine injustices. It suggests that these injustices serve as the blueprint for oppression and dominance often practised by dictators and systems of power.
Another translation, Inanna, celebrates femininity and sexual freedoms as powerful sources of love and fertility. The book also challenges women in conservative societies to reclaim their sexual and intellectual autonomy and aspire to the level of liberation embodied by the ancient historical figure Inanna. The book strives to liberate and rehabilitate the language of sexuality from the restrictive norms prevalent in conservative societies including the Eritrean society.
Daniel’s works showcase his mastery of the Tigrinya language, and deep understanding of the Eritrean culture and its psychological aspects. He has introduced a unique approach to language, creating his own wordplay and linguistic expression style that defies the conventional limitations of writing in Tigrinya.
Daniel was born and raised in Asmara. He studied law at Qedamawi Haileslase University, referred to as QH University, in Addis Ababa from 1969 to 1974 before joining the Eritrean Liberation Front towards the End of 1974. Since 1992, he has lived in exile in Germany.
The chair of the 2024 Award committee Issayas Beyene commented: ‘Daniel’s book Halaw Eta Werqawit Ghereb, in addition to documenting and recounting the accounts of the revolution, plays a vital role in documenting and researching Eritrean culture, way of living, religious beliefs and values’
The PEN Eritrea Freedom of Expression Award was established in 2019 by PEN Eritrea in Exile to recognise an individual, a group, or an institution with outstanding merits for advancing literature and freedom of expression in an Eritrean context. The Award is announced every year on September 18th to signify the date of the assault on freedom of expression and to champion the courageous journalists, writers and government critics languishing in inhumane conditions in Eritrean prisons since September 2001.
Daniel will receive the Award at a ceremony hosted by PEN Eritrea on October 11 in Oslo, Norway. The event will coincide with the organisation’s 10th anniversary and annual meeting, which will take place from October 11th to 14th.
Former winners of the PEN Eritrea Freedom of Expression Award: Kassahun Checole (2023), Abrar Osman (2022), Ghirmai Negash (2021), Saleh Gadi Johar (2020), and Yirgalem Fisseha (2019).
