How did the Eritrean people live and work in the EPLF’s “liberated areas?” A report from the field in 1989

Introduction

I was fortunate enough to go into Eritrea with the EPLF twice: the first time was in 1979, when I represented the Labour Party at the first Congress of Eritrean Women. It was a moving experience, which climaxed with a singing of the Internationale in a specially constructed modest stadium under the stars. Most sang in Tigrinya, but international delegates sang in Spanish, Italian or French. I managed a verse in English.

The second time was for the BBC. In 1989 I went in to record life in Eritrea in the areas that the EPLF controlled – the “liberated areas”, including Nakfa. It was extraordinarily impressive. Everything from hospitals and schools to workshops and even a plant manufacturing saline solutions for the patients.

These are some photographs I took. Below is the programme I made.

Here is the full programme, which starts at about 30 seconds in.