#colonizersbackup

[yonas47]

Day # 28 Nafae Utman was an Eritrean intellect, philosopher, and historian. Referred to as "Eritrea's Albert Einstein." Utman was responsible for documenting the Tigre language oral tradition dating back to 1907. Utman was from a small village named Gheleb, approximately 30 miles away from my small village of Keren. He was a brilliant mind from a very young age and excelled in his studies. People took notice of Utman's eagerness for education and his shear passion to learn. So focused on his progression, the idea of him attending a Catholic elementary school, even though he was Muslim never troubled him. Through the admiration of the missionaries at his school, Utman was invited to Sweden to study essentially as a roadscholar. That was right when Italy was invading Eritrea, so that move naturally made sense. In his studies much of his focus was in political theory, moral philosophy and indigenous literature. Utman is still the leading name in Tigre studies. His early work was in the philosophy of language, and its influence carries relevant until this day. Utman's works created the ‘Golden Era’ in the history and development of the Tigre language. In just three years his writings were published in Holland, then translated into German and English. Along with the help of German scholar Eno Littman; Utman completed eight volumes on the subject. Which included everything from cultural taboos, war cries, as well as curses and blessings. There are also 717 traditional songs with 1400 stanzas. Utman was also the man behind the Tigre-English-German dictionary in 1962.This 740-page book is one of the biggest works Utman contributed to the culture and language of the Tigre society. Thanks to Utman, even during colonial military advances wouldn't deter his passion & love for Eritrea. He successfully documented and preserved one of Africa's(humankinds) of the oldest languages. #BHMChallenge2020 #blackhistorymonth #blackpower #blackexcellence #staywoke #powertothePeople #blackandproud #blackisbeautiful #legend #nafaeutman #eritrea #africa #revolution #geniuses #colonizersbackup (at Gheleb, Eritrea) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9HTes-BeWP/?igshid=17obt5933y07s