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PEN Eritrea in exile celebrated the 10th anniversary of its foundation at an event held in Oslo, Norway, on Friday evening 11th of October 2024. Attended by members and guests, the evening was celebrated with keynote speakers, poetry recital, remarks by this year’s PEN Eritrea’s Freedom of Expression Award winner and concluded with musical performances.
Welcoming the guests and members, PEN Eritrea in Exile executive director Awet Fissehaye underlined the significance of maintaining an association, like PEN Eritrea in the face of extreme press repression and stifled media-scape.
Representing the sister association PEN Norway, the centre’s general secretary, Jørgen Watne Frydnes highlighted the reason why PEN Norway has been steadfastly supporting PEN Eritrea in exile from its inception.
Ohio University Professor of African Literature Ghirmai Negash spoke on contemporary Eritrean writing. He took the stage to share his expertise on the state of contemporary Eritrean writers both inside the country and those who continue to write from exile.
Tedros Abraham, a former founding member of the executive committee and writer, discussed how the state of the press has been deteriorating with no sign of improvement since the ban on the press in 2001. He concluded his remarks by underlining the need to document and continue advocating for the causes of imprisoned Eritrean journalists.
Following the recorded solidarity video messages from PEN International’s executive director Romana Cacchioli and the Head of the Africa region Nduko o’Matigere, poets recited their work.
The event was followed by the award PEN Eritrea’s Freedom of Expression Award winner, Semere Daniel Tesfai, who received his award from PEN Norway’s former president, William Nygaard.
Guests were treated to traditional coffee and snacks and a musical performance by Eritrea’s legendary singer and 2022 PEN Eritrea’s Freedom of Expression Award recipient Abrar Osman. Abrar played with his band and later solo with his Kirar.
PEN Eritrea, which has been conducting its annual meeting in collaboration with PEN Norway, has continued with its annual meetings, which about 25 active members from across different countries of Europe, America, and Canada attended. The annual meeting, which includes annual reports, literary shows, and exchange work, concludes on Sunday.
One centre of PEN International, which has centres in more than 100 countries, PEN Eritrea in exile, was officially recognized at the 80th congress held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in September 2014.
