From Oblivion to Memory – A Tribute to Ethiopian Deportees on the Island of Asinara
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In a poignant effort to revive the silenced echoes of a dark historical period, an inspiring event is set to bring together descendants, researchers, artists, educators, and all who are committed to preserving memory and seeking justice. Between 1937 and 1939, over 300 Ethiopians – men, women, and children, including dignitaries, intellectuals, and their families – were forcefully removed from their homeland and deported to the remote island of Asinara in Italy by the Italian Fascist regime. Long buried in silence, this tragic chapter is now emerging to unite generations and build bridges between peoples.
The Event: A Journey of Remembrance and Reconnection
Title:
From Oblivion to Memory – Tribute to the Ethiopian Deportees on the Island of Asinara
Location:
Island of Asinara & Porto Torres, Sardinia, Italy
Dates:
August 6, 7, and 8, 2025
Organized by:
Cooperativa Sealand Asinara, with the support of Fondazione di Sardegna
In partnership with:
Parco Nazionale dell’Asinara, Municipality of Porto Torres, A.Gu.A (Association for the Protection of Guides of the Asinara National Park), and the Educando Asinara Business Network
Three Days to Honor, Reflect, and Celebrate
August 6 – Memory Walk on the Island of Asinara
This inaugural day invites participants to traverse the very grounds where the exiled Ethiopians once lived. The Memory Walk aims to honor the profound legacy of those who suffered, installing a symbol of recognition to transform silent scars into shared memory. This ritual of remembrance offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with the past and to ensure that the stories of resilience and injustice continue to inspire future generations.
August 7 – Conference “Memory and Transmission” in Porto Torres
A day dedicated to dialogue, reflection, and education, the conference will feature historical research and intimate testimonies from descendants. Through dynamic presentations and heartfelt narratives, participants will work together to lay the groundwork for a memory center that will serve as a beacon of truth and reconciliation—a living archive accessible to all who wish to learn and contribute.
August 8 – Concert “Spartiti tra le righe – Italo-Ethiopian Jazz Dialogue”
Celebrating the power of cultural exchange, the closing day of the event is set to transform sorrow into art. Featuring the acclaimed talents of Enzo Favata and Mulatu Astatke—the father of Ethio-jazz—this concert will blend Italian and Ethiopian musical traditions. It is an evocative celebration of resilience, symbolizing how music can bridge divides, foster understanding, and transform historical wounds into harmonious dialogue.
How You Can Participate
Join Us in Person:
Be part of this transformative experience. Whether you are a descendant, researcher, artist, or engaged citizen, your presence will add to the collective memory and inspire future action.
Propose Your Ideas:
• Rituals of Remembrance: Suggest ceremonies or symbolic acts that honor the deportees.
• Educational Workshops: Contribute to sessions that explore the historical, cultural, and social impacts of the deportations.
• Artistic Projects: Help create visual art, literature, or performance pieces that echo the voices of the past.
• Memory Trails & Publications: Develop guided tours or written works to document and disseminate the stories of those affected.
Contribute to the Archive:
Help gather testimonies, family documents, and memory objects that are critical to preserving this history. Your contributions can be financial, logistical, or through the support of institutional and media partners.
Spread the Word:
If you know any descendants of Ethiopian prisoners who were held on Asinara, please share this message with them. Encourage them to connect with us and join this meaningful journey. Contact details for further participation or information are as follows:
Contact:
Elfy Getachew Nouvellon
Email: yeps5@yahoo.com
Phone/WhatsApp: +33 6 13 45 67 69
A Call to Remembrance and Action
This campaign is not just an event—it is a movement to reclaim history from the shadows of silence. By coming together on the island of Asinara and in the historic streets of Porto Torres, we honor the suffering and resilience of those who endured unimaginable injustice. We invite you to join us in transforming oblivion into a vibrant, living memory—a beacon of hope and a reminder that the past, though painful, can pave the way for a more just and connected future.
Be part of this journey. Preserve the legacy. Build bridges across generations.
For further details and to propose your participation, please contact Elfy Getachew N. and help us keep the memory alive.
Behind him are his father, Tsehafi Tehezaz Wolde Meskel Tariku, Imperial Minister of the Pen, who received several Légions d’honneur and distinctions awarded by European countries, and his brother, Balambaras Mahteme Selassie, an agricultural engineer, a recognized writer, and a senior official under Emperor Haile Selassie.
Mahteme Selassie accompanied his brother Haile to the hospital and participated in his burial at the Sassari cemetery.
To the right stands Princess Romanework, daughter of Emperor Haile Selassie, together with her two children.
The background image evokes the collective memory of all the deportees — both anonymous and identified — such as Lij Seifu Mikael, whose face, originally in the background, was intentionally brought forward and placed to the left of the princess to highlight his place in this shared memory.
The individuals in the foreground are those whose stories are now known — especially those who are no longer with us — to honor their memory.
These are faces whose stories I know: their memory lives within me, and I wish to make it visible.
I am aware that there are still many stories to uncover, and I believe that, through the testimonies of descendants or recovered biographies, we will be able to bring visibility to all those who passed through Asinara.
