By Devaa Ramalingam – Art in Tanzania intern
Asmara is the capital city of Eritrea, a country located at the northern tip of the Ethiopian Plateau in the Northeastern part of the Continent. It is naturally elevated and is at a height of 7628 feet. It is the sixth-highest capital in the world. In 2017, it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. With a population of nearly one million people, it is one of the cleanest and well-planned cities on the continent.
The city of Asmara is also known as the African City of Women because it has a significantly higher population of women compared to men. There are three times as many women as men in this city.
According to Eritrean oral tradition, the history of Asmara goes back to 800 BCE. It states that there were initially four clans ruling Asmara. The women suggested that these four clans come together and unite to fight against the opposing clans, which pose a threat. From this point on, the name “Asmara” originated, which typically means that “They all came together to unite”.
Asmara was formerly colonised by the Italians, who used it to attack nearby countries such as Ethiopia and Somalia. Later, it was passed on to the British Empire. It was fully recognised as the city of Asmara in 1993, after it gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1991.
To this day, the official languages spoken in Asmara are Tigrinya, English and Arabic. Due to the Italian colonisation, Italian Architecture gifted the city, and there are about 95% Christians and 5% Muslims.
The primary mode of transportation in this city is the bus, although there are also cabs. You need an Archaeological permit to visit the National Museum, the city’s famous tourist spot. The second recommended place is City Park, which is known for being a popular spot for relaxation.
The Eritrean economy is one of the strongest economies in the African continent. It stands at sixth place among the top ten currencies of this continent. Eritrean Nakfa is the currency which, compared to the U.S dollar, is 1USD=15ERN. The major manufacturing sectors of this economy are agriculture, meat, and dairy products. As far as exports are concerned, minerals such as gold, copper, granite, potash, etc are mined. As the city is a UNESCO-registered world heritage site, tourists majorly contribute to its revenue.
