It is rare to hear unique personalities from Awraja Senhit, now Zoba Anseba. This is not without purpose. It is a design to silence contribution of the people who stood for their rights and make Eritreans proud of their own history.
Today, let me bring these two GREAT people from Awraja Senhit. They are originally from Sheib-Seleba, a small village near Debre Sinna Monastry. Both of them lived in different generations. But, their shared values is for the same mission – to be who they are.
- Abba Teklemariam Semharay –
One of the early Catholic Priest(Priesthood – 1893) who refused Latinization of Eritrean Catholic Church. Instead, he worked whole his priesthood life to develop Ge’ez Rite, which is now embraced by Eritrean and Ethiopian Catholic Church.
It is shameful for the Eritrean Catholic Church not to remember him for his role for establishing and developing Ge’ez Rite and Ge’ezTheological College in Vatican as he deserve while commerating 100 years Anniversary of the Eritreo-Ethiopian College found in Vatican Holy City.
During his life time, he was also a victim of discrimination by the then in favour of the Italian colonizers in Etitrea, the Cappuccini brothers. And, they seem they have this enemity until now.
Abba Teklemariam was a Lazarist. And, his Order is from France. In 1894, the Lazarist and Cappuccini brothers had a conflict of interest as one was in favour France and the other was for Italian mission in the Horn of Africa.
- Petros Yohannes Adgoi
Great Revolutionary – co-founder and leading figure of North American Eritrean Student Association, a fearless debator, great writerand ideologist(Socialist).
Petros dropped from his PhD studies in Canada and decided to join the Armed struggle. He went to Sahel by respecting the call. Unfortunately, he was reported dead.
His tragedic death, as revealed by Yemane Teklegergish book – was plotted by Isaias, Yemane Monkey and Girma Asmerom. Yemane and Girma were members of the North American Student movement before joining the armed struggle.
Other revolutionaries, like Ambassador Andebrhan Weldegiorgis, were also with Petros in the student movement.
Before going to Sahel, Petros had a number of issues, mainly, about the Victims of Menkae Movement (1973) – the death of his friend Mussie Tesfamichale, a leading figure in Menkae Movement, and later assassinated by shabia for his role. Petros was defending about the democratic questions Menkae had and the assassination of those who were part of the movement.
