“We were warriors once.
“We lived in the desert, by the Red sea and the Gulf of Aden. Or so the white man calls them.
“All the tribes feared us, the Amharinya, the Tigrinya, the Erythreans, the Somali. We were warriors. We were the Danakils.
“To marry the young maiden of our choice we had to fight and kill an enemy, cut his balls off, and offer them to the girl, so she could wear them proudly. Sorry about the gory details. Just tradition. Nothing personal. The other guy would have done the same.
“From the Wabe-Shebelle to the sea, all feared the name of the Danakil warriors.
“Then came ‘progress’. Machine guns. Endless killings. Warlords. No purpose. No honour. Just greed.
“Some nuts said we should bring in tourists. Show them the desert on our camels. What’s a tourist?
“The tourists never came. The warlords went away. To Somalia. Or just killed each other. We stayed.
“Me? The desert is my home. It rained last night. It’s been years since I’ve seen rain. The desert has gone green. For a few days. The camels will feast on the new grass. The younguns talk about ‘global warming’. I don’t know what that is. We were warriors once.”
The inspiration for this sketch is a poster that was on my student wall for a while. I’d bought it in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, where I finished high school. Sounds strange to say: “Me? I did Senior High at the Franco-Ethiopian Lycée Guebre Mariam in Ethiopia.” Another century, another world. The poster was from the Ethiopian Tourist Organization. Their slogan was: “Thirteen months of sunshine.” The Ethiopian – Christian – calendar has 13 months. It is a Coptic calendar with 12 months of 30 days, adding a 13th month of 5 or 6 days at the end of the year. The camel driver on the poster and the sketch is most probably a Danakil, who were a tribe of feared warriors.
Final note: 50 years later, a deposed and executed last Emperor, Haile Selassié, 30 something years of a left-wing military junta, endless civil war, Ethiopia had finally known a few years of relative peace and stability, some of my old classmates even went home to Addis. The older sister of one of my classmates, an Amharinya, was actually elected President of Ethiopia. No power, just a symbol. And pride for the alumni of the Lycée. Strange as it may be, we keep in touch. Sadly, she has no power, the Prime Minister has it all. Alas, the old ethnic demons are tearing Ethiopia apart. Again. The Tigrinya forces are marching on the heart of Amharinya region and capital of Ethiopia: Addis-Ababa. Some say the city where I finished High school might fall in a matter of days or weeks. I hope my old classmates and the Ethiopian people can be spared from more years of massacre and tyranny. 🙏🏻
Ezrestelin, thank you, for visiting and reading.
Equinoxio 
Oh! That’s some final note. 😮 It’s like stuff from nightmares which you know it’s true. The Prime Minister has all the power. Good luck to your friend, and the nation.
🙏🏻
Beautifully rendered sketch and story, Brieuc. How sad the nation is once again a mess.
Sad indeed. UNfortunately it is practically the whole African continent that is a mess.
Yeah… I hear you 😦
You’re right
Thank you.
🙂
Hello Brian. I’m wondering where and how the girls wore the precious albeit now defunct gifts their lover brought them. 🙂 What happens in Ethiopia these days is somehow totally out of my sight and consiousness. I hope there will be no bloodshed and that your former classmates are save. Tot ziens!
I think they wore it on the forehead…
I can imagine Ethiopia to be very far away. It is. One of the sad things is that they have so much potential… Squandered away in endless civil war.
Tot ziens.
I read this post with a great deal of interest. I hadn’t heard of the Danakils before.
The tribe still exists. From what I saw on the ‘Net, they seem to have become quite fashionable. Fancy clothes and colours…
Interesting . . .
I was looking for images of Danakil to complete the sketch/painting, and I found many where the young men were very elegantly dressed.
Thanks for the history lesson and update regarding the current state of Ethiopia. I was clueless about the country’s current plight. Here’s hoping that cooler heads will prevail. Sadly, it seems impossible to eradicate man’s penchant for warfare, even when you cut off balls to hang around your fiancé’s neck.
Ethiopia was doing fairly well until recently. But yes, I am beginning to think that (hu)man(un)kind’s sole destiny is war…
I haven’t come to the conclusion that it’s the sole destiny because too many people achieve phenomenally positive objectives. Sadly, a minority of bad eggs can really screwy things up.
It’s not really a conclusion. Yet. I just remember the first half of the 80’s when I was in the Defense industry, privy to a lot of things, in particular the Soviet threat. We came very close to WWIII a coupla times. Then the Wall fell, and I thought: “Okay it’s over”. But it’s not. People forget what war is. And the few bad eggs find an easy following. And much passivity. That is what frightens me. If I were to do (again, 35 years later) an assessment of threat, I would say the threat has risen again. Fingers crossed.
(Your text by Camus about the Spirit vs the Sword is brilliant. We all may have to resort to the Sword again to save the Spirit)
Times are indeed worrying. Sadly, I think you may be right but I’m still holding out hope that reason will prevail. Thanks for your comments.
You do well. To hold to hope and reason. Again throughout the 80’s there was much fear. Then Gorbatchow happened. (And the Pope)
Well I didn’t know “The desert is my home.”…been thinking about home a lot these days…and fun to see the art process as well Brian…☺️🤓💫sending joy hedy 🕊
Thank you Hedy. Joy back.
The endless tearing apart of the Horn of Africa. A bit like the Great Rift itself which is widening little by little.
Good point Memsahib. Maybe that great rift valley that was our birthplace put a permanent rift in our genes. Throwing us all against others.
All well, I hope.
All well, thank you. Hope it is with you too.
👍🏻
The world, by which I mean the media I read, seems to be too caught up in the next stage of the pandemic to notice Ethiopia unravelling. As you say, Brian, a country that has not known much peace for far too long.
I remember some of your earlier posts. Axum was it? It is a fascinating country. Sad really. And like I said many of my classmates had “fled” Ethiopia to France and the US. Settled there. Some have gone back. I hope they will be all right.
I went several times for work, years ago now. I really loved the country but even then there were protests against an anti-democratic government crackdown. Nothing like as bad as this though. It’s reminiscent of the fall of the Derg.
Fingers crossed. I’m in direct contact with a former classmate. He lives in DC. He says he might actually go to Addis for Christmas. As a support gesture for Ethiopia…
It never ends, does it…it just goes on and on…killing each other, and everything around us. Insanity. I hope the people you know will be safe. I know nothing of the places you wrote about. Unfortunately, most Americans are geographically impaired. So many traditions are ugly, as well as deadly.
Inasnity indeed. Impaired? LOL. Just a needed change in geography lessons. Ethiopia is at the North-east corner of Africa.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ethiopia_in_Africa_(-mini_map_-rivers).svg
There are such terrible things happening in so many regions of the world. I’ve been watching an ongoing story about an American woman whose traveled to Ethiopia to live with her fiancé. Nothing is mentioned of the underbelly of the country. I hope your friend and all the innocents will be ok. Brian you are an excellent artist. 💞
A few years ago I did a sort of “recount” of all the countries I’d lived in or travelled “significantly”. 8 or 9 out of 10 had fallen to military coups, famine, civil war, even genocide. I wondered whether I was “responsible”, a bad luck carrier, but of course not. It’s just the state of the world. We’re in the bad part of a cycle… Hopefully we as humankind will rise again, but I am concerned.
Artist? Thank you. I’m just an amateur. Who enjoys this “found again” exercise. Drawing and painting literally cleans my mind… 🙏🏻🌹💕
We are definitely on a downward spiral . Such an ugly time to be living in. Yet, I’m sure when the the world wars were going on people felt the sane. I do love your art and travel. A bright spot. 💞
Yeah. I remember my mother’s stories of the war. She came close to big danger a few times. But she made it. Never lost hope I guess. I just read a letter Camus wrote in 1943. Fabulous. Not just hope. Drive.
And thank you for your comment. You know I find Art a respite in the crazyness. It’s nice when one can put it in pencil and paint (Didn’t you say you painted with acrylics?) or words. Your words, your poetry, amazes me many times. A different look at the world. (And believe me I’m not a huge poetry fan) So, viel dank to you Coeur de Feu. 🙏🏻💕
I admire brave souls who endured the great wars, I suppose it will make or break. Painting is a beautiful escape, I enjoy your artwork very much. I haven’t painted in a long time. Big virtual hugs dear Brian. 🤗💕
Yes, make or break… You are right. (Your father was in the military, right?)
I enjoy your poetry very much. Big hugs back Meine liebe Holly. 💕
My father was in the military. Thank you Brian. Hopefully no more wars. Yet that is the history of the world. Hugs back Liebe!
It’s like a cycle, right? After each slaughter, everybody swears: “that was too close. has to be the last one…” and after enough years, everybody forgets…
Anyway. Be safe. 🌹
It’s a cycle that’s been going on since civilization began. Greed and power! Old men sending young men off to die. Will it ever end…I don’t think so. Sending many hugs! 🌹
Exactly. My brothers and I were practically the first men in the family to not go to war. (Though I did my military service in the Army. Fortunately no war around then).
Now? I don’t know what’s going to happen. Anyway. Hugs back. And Happy December.
It seems things are escalating with Russia. Some time I think msn was not meant to live in peace. Happy December dear Brian.
U 2. Are you taking some time off at the end of the year?
I don’t see it in the cards. 🔮🌸
Warriors – (dark) story of humanity… Aliens will never let us reach for the stars for fear we might destroy other worlds besides our own.
Nicely drawn. Hopefully your ex-classmates will remain safe through this yet another turmoil.
Ha. No risk. We shall destroy this one before we reach the stars.
Thanks. This drawing gave me trouble. But it was a nice challenge.
And yes, I hope the alumni form the Lycée will be all right. Problem is they’re mostly Amharinya. The advancing troops are Tigrinya. Ethnic issues are always bad.
Au revoir.
Oh, evil is capabile of multitasking. 😉
Was it the eyes again? Not yours – the warrior’s. 🙂
And my opinion, generally, is that such issues do not arise from the discontent or other bad feelings of the entirety (or major part at least) of a whole people – be it tribe, nation, whatever – but from only one person or a handful of people at most, which have their own personal interests against another people. And even that handful of people may be cleverly manipulated by yet other person or group for the interests of the latter.
So in this case I wonder what would be the real interests of the Tigrinya leaders for waging war against the Amharinya. Or is it really their interests…?
Well, I could always be wrong. We’ll see – or at least someone will hopefully see the end of it.
Be well, mon ami! 🙂
yes, Evil a great multitasker… 🏴☠️
Curiously, not so much the eyes, the skin colour. The original photo was very dark, so the warrior’s face was almost hidden in the shadow, I had to do several layers of brown… (Ethnicity, right? 😉)
And yes, left on their own most people don’t care whether the other is dark, white, blue or green. In Africa, with the “right” people, on both sides, skin colour was irrelevant. But, there always are some eager to exploit the tiniest difference to pitch people against people. The Tigriniya and Amharinya are very similar. Take the French and the English? Extremely similar. But if things go on like now, we might have serious trouble soon… C’est comme ça.
You too. Be well. Au revoir.
Maybe there are other photos online to offer good hints on the correct skin color/tone. After all we wouldn’t want to misled the public and – heavens forbid! – fall into some racial dispute. 🙄
You understand why “the few some” are so desperate not to let the majority of the people get properly educated. Those tribes might wake up and say “fuck no; what, are we crazy or stupid!? we won’t fight and kill our brothers for the sole benefit of a handful of wankers!” Actually all Earth’s “tribes” might wake up and settle the world right as is should’ve been all along.
So no proper education – or none whatsoever – but instead fear and terror in any way, shape or form to ensure total submission. Get it – the terran world is but a slave market. Either we change it as we, the people, want/need it, or – as you said somewhere around – leave for Mars or whatever other planet in whatever other galaxy. But I’m afraid it’s too late. 😦
Enjoy the week-end, while there still is one. 😉
I will. At least this week-end looks like it’s going to make it till monday. 🤣
The never ending story, I often wonder where lies the circuit breaker for such rhythms?
Circuit breaker. That is a very powerful choice of words Paul. Thank you. it reminds me of an image of two little kids exchanging blows at the schoolyard, with the teacher (in another century) grabbing each one by the ear or the coat and saying: “Enough! You will spend the rest of break perfectly still at one and another corner of the yard. And the rest of the day in detention.”
I guess those were circuit breakers…
Stay safe.
How interesting.
What was the name of the 13th month?
Don’t know. I speak but a few words of Amarinhya. Only stayed a year there. But not the 13th month. Lemme look.
All well, Lumi? Getting ready for Christmas?
Oh, fine, thanks. The kids’ first words as they woke up this morning was “Advent calendar!” That pretty much sums it up! And you?
LOL. Kids always know their priorities.
We’re fine thanks. Probably going to the countryside this week-end for some warmth. I know it’s absurd to tell you that but Mexico city is a bit “chilly” right now. around 10C. Au revoir Lumi.
Hah!
Bon week-end. 😉
Ha. found it. in the Ethiopian calendar: የኢትዮጲያ ዘመን ኣቆጣጠር (I’m such a snob. That is the Amharinya word for calendar. They have a pretty alphabet) the 13th month is called ‘pagume’ which comes from the Greek. Lots of Greek influence in the religion and probably some of the traditions. The Amarinhya are Chrsitians. A Coptic rite.
The letters look like hieroglyphs. Very pretty indeed, and they also look ancient.
Greek influence is a bit of a surprise to me!
Ethiopia has been Christian since 800 or 900 AD. (I should check). I think it was Egyptian Coptic missionaries (with a heavy Greek Orthodox influence) who evangelized the country at that time.
Strike all that. (Always do research even if you think you know.) Frumentius was a Syrian of Greek culture who went down the Nile and founded the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia in 332. Then of course, with Islam taking over all the South of the mediterranean, the Ethiopian church was isolated until the 18th century.
So the writing is perhaps more Greek than hieroglyphic, in fact!
Actually (continuing my research) it comes from Ge’ez, which in turn comes from Sabaean alphabet, (Queen of SAba?) which was an alphabet from South Arabia, across the red sea. In turn, Sabaean could come from the Byblos alphabet. Middle east in other words. The Phoenicians, who if I recall, was one of the first alphabets and was copied and treansformed by the peoples around the Mediterranean. Ouf. Fin de la leçon d’histoire… 😉
Merci pour la leçon! How amazing to think of the first person who thought about writing and reading. How did he get the idea? Surely cave paintings have always told stories but an alphabet is so much more organised
I understand (I’ve always been fascinated by History) that the origin of writing was accounting and the agricultural revolution. Since there were inventories, of grain, flour, wine, etc. accountants were designated to keep track of stocks. And then the story begins…
Oh, that’s surprising!
So accounting which is very boring (trust me) has had its utility for civilization.
Yes, I know it’s boring, it was obligatory at business uni 😵💫 Accounting feels quite petty as an idea: this is mine, don’t touch it. But good to know that it led to useful things! I would’ve though writing came into existence through traveling: to communicate to other wanderers from your tribe with notes that were left. Or something.
At the beginning it really was book-keeping. Then of course, the myths and legends, and the celebration of the “night great leaders” had to be put in writing. And here we are, chatting across the Atlantic, across many, many hours of flight.
Writing is magic.
🤩 and here we are!
Et ouais. A bientôt Lumi. ❄️
Ciao!
Awww… The jig’s up! You’re BUSTED as my benefactor! In reviewing comments here on my way down to leaving you my new site address I stumbled across one containing your very distinctive first name!! Hahaha!
Speaking of warriors, I believe I may have shaken my stalkers at last — it’s taken five (count ‘em) cities, a new online identity, e-mail, phone, and website, plus the disablement of my gypsy cart’s power ports (Remember that mysterious battery drain? GPS tracker.)
Here’s a link to the first post at the new site:
https://veritasinverse.poetry.blog/2021/12/02/your-present-choice/
Hope you didn’t send to the old address because I can’t open it without being rehacked.
Bright blessings to you and all of yours,
Ana
LOL. I’ve been made. 🤣 You had no idea right?
The freakin’ battery drain was a GPS tracker? Jesus. When is the next ship to Mars? I’m outta here. I sent you a first half of an answer to your mail. Is that gone too? I’ll hop to your new site…
Au revoir.
Yes, you have!
No, I had no clue — and neither did any of the mechanics or even auto electric people I talked to. It took piecing little bits of information together from all of them plus a sleazy home spy store guy and considerable online searching before I figured it out myself.
Think I have it disabled while I seek out a people’s mechanic for removal. Certainly am in the final stages of shedding this ultra creepy asshole and his buddies (forgive le francais) — looking forward to calming down.
Though I have certainly been at wit’s end, I figure after this last year I’ve got every justification to be hanging upside down naked from the tree branches, quoting deconstructionist gibberish 🤣
See you ‘round bro
No-one in his or her right mind could figure out the tracker. I was wondering how the guy(s) could follow you from one city to the other. Well done.
Glad you deconstructioned your tracker.
What I was saying was, did you get my mail or should I send it again?
Bye.
Still in process, but think I do see the light at the end of this tunnel. Stand by for oh god i hope liftoff 🤞
Not opening old accounts at all, so resend by all means — or we can just begin all afresh… 🙏
Wrote it already. So might as well re-send it. Gimme a few days.
No hurry at all
There will be a further delay. Hope to be back soon. Send prayers.
🙏🏻
It is hard to watch, is it not, especially if one has friends or loved ones in dangerous situations, be it war, be it natural disasters.
It is a bit disappointing that we still “need” war to solve conflicts. By now we should have risen above that,
Yes, we should be above that. And God, do germany and France know it, but it seems like there is no “collective” memory, as Jung thought there was a “collective unconscious”. I’m more of a Freudian myself, so I have my doubts about that.
What is absolutely certain is that there exists a collective stupidity. LOL.
I love the drawing, not easy!
The camel was the hardest. I don’t like camels. 😉
A pity, they are very useful in a desert. 😉
Maybe I don’t want to go to the desert? 🐪 Actually, I would be interested. A very old friend of mine once did a 10 days “méharée” (ride/walk with camels) in the Sahara. he did come back a bit off base. Too much time alone with himself, the sand and the sun?
The Moslems say, when you are traveling in the desert, you can encounter God. (If you are open for it.) Maybe your friend did. 🙂
I’m not sure whether he did. I think he encountered himself and has not recovered since… 😉 (45 years later we’re still friends…)
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That was really beautiful, in a way. Maybe not the ending part. The world will keep turning. Hopefully, some of us people will show some common sense here and there
Thank you. That image has been with me a long time. I actually still have the poster. Rolled up, a bit scarred, but still there. I took a picture tyo serve as a model…
And for common sense, we’ll see. Times of crisis do make new people emerge. Good or bad. But at least different. The common French election has already produced 2 or 3 major surprises. Hopefully, the good one will emerge.
Tschüß
PS. Don’t hate me, I just realize I forgot your name. I’ts not Birgit or Brigitte, it’s like a French name, right? Jeanine? (No! No! Please don’t hit me!!!)
(Got it on the tip of my tongue…)
No worries Bruce 🙂
These things happen + it’s a lot easier with people who use their names on their blog. Jeanine is right. You even remembered the funny spelling!
“Bruce”? (I also use Bruno Martinez here when I book a table at a restaurant. Or used to book. Easier for the locals. Happy New Year, Jeanine. (This comment was hidden by WP’s evil garden gnomes…)
I really like the way you’ve written this micro story, and the evolution of the drawing. It’s so sad and dispiriting the way people solve their differences with violence and war…I guess because other ways to change the situation are unavailable. It’s a warning to democracies like ours that when people feel powerless to achieve change by other means, they turn to fighting
Thank you. Glad you liked it. I agree with you totally. Not sure where you live (will check in a minute) but democracies in the Western world are new affairs. In France I would say 1944, when women finally got the right to vote! And I i’ve lived in enough countries to see how easy Tyranny creeps in or back…
And yes, there is a serious risk right now.
Take care.
The way you use local references and talk about your place n people , it really makes me feel sad as well as smile. Sad because of what has happened to your land, smile because of the way you write about it . Really good piece. Keep writing !
🙏🏻
How did the girls wear the prize? Earrings? 😳
You have the most fascinating memories and friends, Mzungu.
Thank you for sharing your stories and art. Bises.
Earrings would not have been a bad idea. No. They wore them on the forehead… 😳
I don’t think you’re falling short on memories and friends my dear Julie… (I still remember your N.Korea trip…)
Bises back.
Un peu dur à porter le collier de fiançailles 🙂
LOL.
Que triste….:(
Sipi. Africa, the Africa of my childhood has become a burning Hell. No matter what some say…
Fin da piccola ricordo questa terra sempre travagliata… 😦
“Travagliata” = troublée? Conosci l’Abissinia?
How many schools did you attend? Do you think adventurous moving around is what gives you wanderlust? I enjoyed learning from your post.
How many schools? I didn’t go to school, except for that last year of Senior High. (Forgot the British equivalent). There were no French schools in the far away places we were posted. Home schooled. I had to learn to organize myself early to tell my Mom: “I’m finished, can I go and swim in the sea?”
Definitely gave me Wanderlust…
Glad you learnt something. I just talked to one of my former classmates in Addis. Situation is bad…
Home schooling isn’t as popular in the UK as it is in the States and the resources are not as comprehensive. Your parents were obviously very skilled and talented to be able to home school you. I prefer teacher led training, at the moment I have a brilliant sign language coach we do lessons online, a language teacher solo lessons in preparation for examination and group practice sessions in German, I wish she’d run one in Italian and French too. I also continue with professional vocal teaching and coaching. We call secondary schools High Schools too. I’m sad that places like Addis are in such turmoil I don’t understand who benefits from it to keep it going? Is there gold or other important resources there?
I would guess it is good to have a bit of movement in childhood, it can make you very wary and cautious if you only ever live where you grow up.
Home schooling is actually frowned upon in France, but living in africa… My sister and I actually followed long-distance (by mail) classes from the French Ministry of Education. We’d get a fortnight’s worth of classes my mother would make sure we “took” and did the exercises. Then in Secondary school we had private teachers for science disciplines.
So I guess that would be teacher led?
You are very busy learning and learning… And yes, I imagine Italian and French would be a must for you…
(On peut toujours continuer en Français… 😉) Italiano parlo un po…
Addis? It’s the position. North-east of Africa. Djibuti is a tiny independent speck that controls the entrance to the Red sea. So Americans and China are competing for control form what I heard. Sad.
Last but not least: “Les voyages forment la jeunesse”. (an old saying)
Keep moving.
photog, writer, historian, memoirist — & painter! I am much impressed. also saddened by the reminder of how things can change so quickly. we take peace for granted, forget that we might keep constant vigilance over it
LOL. I’m a jack of all trades. aa generalist. Not very good at anything but touch many subjects… 😉
And yes, I agree. Maybe it’s “age” (in my case. You’re too young) but current changes are not for the best… Sadly. And peace is under great threat. Anywhere. Stay safe.
as far as I can see, you are very good at many things 🙂
You are too nice. The trick is to focus on what you do reasonably well. I suck at tennis. Dropped it. 😉
there are only so many hours in a day…
Indeed. And I seem to be late on everything lately… Oh well.
in my case, it’s always a case of wanting to squeeze too much into my time lol
Don’t we all?
Have a great week.
🙂