Date: Friday, 14 July 2017
Turning a historical page A charming quiet city comes of age Asmara is listed as a World Heritage Come, visit, and discover a cultural stage. Asmara outlived extended unjust subjugation Colonisation, federation, annexation, occupation Balancing integrity with measured integration Valiant and dignified, without hesitation. Arba’te’s women seeking friendship and peace Met four feuding Chiefs each with her piece Cemented ties with her eloquent pleas Asmara, named to honour Arba’te women’s potency. Cutting edge design in futuristic architecture Experimental and pioneering infrastructure Built to suit Italian love for life, style and nurture Alas, the Campo Cintato is their exclusive enclosure. Ambitious colonial utopia was shortly crushed Asmara emerged tall, free, not embittered From long years of hurt unbridled To own, live in, and to restore the fractured. Asmara evolves to embrace her iconic facade To merge and to manage the human complexity inside To include, not exclude or leave anyone aside Nor to forget memories when elders were dehumanised. World Heritage inscription is not in tribute, nor to venerate It is for Asmara to lead, educate and celebrate A positive message that heritage can regenerate And be the bridge joining local and global in aggregate. Asmara, the African city of culture and stature Clean, artistic, pretty as a picture Leaving bygones to stand in upright posture A milestone reached; now on the next phase to a bright future.
Seble Ephrem