Introduction
Eritrea is among the youngest countries in the world. Having acquired independence from Ethiopia in 1993, the county has endeavored to carve out a distinct identity as one of the handful of countries that comprise the horn of Africa.
In this brief essay, I will highlight some features of the entire country relative to demographics, topography, climate and flora and fauna. I will then describe the capital city of Asmara, including its architectural features and culinary specialties.
The Country: Demographics, Topography, Climate, and Flora and Fauna
In the aftermath of Ethiopia’s civil war, Eritrea emerged as a victor of sorts, claiming the bulk of its border as the shoreline with the Red Sea. The country is home to 6.4 million people. More than 60% are the age of 24 or younger with a median age of 19 (World Factbook, 2014). There are three official languages and include: Tigrinya, English and Arabic. The Tigrinya are the predominant ethnic group (55%) followed by Tigre (30%). About 50% of the population identify as Christian and 48% of the population identify as Muslim.
Eritrea is slightly larger than the State of Pennsylvania. The landscape of Eritrea can be divided into three broad areas. The western part is semiarid, whereas the central part defined by highlands and are wet and cool. As the topography descends towards the coastline, the terrain is desert and is hot and dry (World Factbook, 2014).
Because of its varied topography and climate, Eritrea is home to a range of flora and fauna. Some notable flora include baobabs, acacias, olive trees, eucalyptus, Doum Palm, and Sisal, the latter of which hold comparatively high economic value in the country’s economy (Eritrea Ministry of Information, 2014). Among the big five game animals, Eritrea is home to the lion, elephant, leopard and buffalo. There are also a range of deer, crocodiles, hyenas and other herbivores and carnivores.
The City: History, Architecture and Cuisine
The capital city, Asmara, is located 60 kilometers from the sea. Its population is just over 700,000 and sits at about 2,300 metres above sea level. The city has a lengthy history dating back more than 2,000 years. In more modern times the city was occupied by Italy. From the late 19th century and up until World War II, the Italian occupation left a mark on the city’s architecture. It acquired the name Piccola Roma (Little Rome), and the city is home to piazzas, villas and other Italian designs. Among the most impressive buildings are the National Museum, the Opera House, the Cinema Impero, and the Governor’s Palace. There are also impressive cathedrals and churches throughout the city. The neo-Romaneseque Catholic Church competes with structures that belong to the Orthodox Church, of which the latter faith has a larger following. There are also innumerable coffee shops and pizzerias with Italian cuisine having made inroads into the cultural identity of Eritrea (Wikipedia, 2014).
Overall, the cuisine is quite eclectic. As there are nine distinct ethnic groups, each has its own distinct dishes. Among the most common Eritrean dishes, injera, the flat spongy sour dough bread is found nearly everywhere in the country. Stews are another staple, and include goat, beef and chicken varieties. There is a tendency to use hot spices in the food such as berbere.
References
Eritrea Ministry of Information (2014). Flora and Fauna: Retrieved from: http://www.shabait.com/about-eritrea/erina/16558-eritreas-fauna-and-flora
Wikipedia (2014). Eritrea. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritrea
World Factbook (2014). Eritrea. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved from: http://www.cia.gov/Eritrea
