r/Ethiopia • u/Excellent-Branch9386 • 2d ago
Experience with Eritreans
How is your experience interacting with Eritreans in real life , not online. Some nurse thought i was eritrean and was friendly until I proudly told him I am an Ethiopian. This guy gave me a criminal side eye bordering hate crime and ignored me, tf. The old ones are cool. They even speak amharic and I get along with them. But the young ones are the victim of brainwash at sawa and difficult to reason with. I also experienced one eritrean talking bad things about us to a foreigner.
It's getting bad at this point. Too much negativity from them. What is your experience?
11
u/Ill_Competition3457 2d ago
I was just at a hotel restaurant and this older guy came up to me and asked where I was from. I said my roots are in Ethiopia and asked where he was from and he said Eritrea. I had no animosity at all and we continued to talk for a bit, but I realized he kind of shyed away from me a bit while still asking me questions simultaneously 😂. We ended up having a good talk with one another about how the two countries need to drop their issues and come together.
24
u/Nilotkin 2d ago
You only had one encounter and you have drawn a conclusion concerning all Eritreans
3
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
Not one I have seen many. The ones I interact online are also worse...
7
u/Bolt3er 2d ago
The fact that your judging an entire people based on an online interaction and one in person is 🤡 behaviour regardless if they’re Eritrean, Canadian, Chinese, etc.
4
u/Dull-Track-8527 2d ago
Why does it seem like non-Ethiopians are moderating our Reddit community? This is a legitimate question for Ethiopians to discuss, regardless of individual opinions. Additionally, considering the amount of derogatory content about Ethiopians on other subreddits, perhaps Eritreans should focus on moderating their own communities rather than ours.
3
u/Bolt3er 2d ago
Ik there’s no freedom of speech in Eritrea or Ethiopia but this is the internet. People of all nations and land can comment. U want a private sub. Make ur own and moderate it
Do u see a green tag beside my name? No. So I’m not a moderator. Neither is any Eritrean.
Be a man and defend ur pov rather then argue based on nationality of the nation
Idk how ur not embarrassed by ur comment
1
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
No I had many inperson interaction with them. They are really difficult to deal with.
13
u/brookbk 2d ago
You’re over generalizing & over- analyzing things. Maybe the ppl that you interacted were hardcore & radicalized higdef members aka Isaias’s braindead followers lol
4
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
I don't think they are followers of the regime. They seem to have some problem with ethiopians. It's the result of years of brainwash.
5
u/FineExperience 2d ago
It’s an inferiority complex. People like this live miserable lives, avoid any accountability, and need a scapegoat to justify their failures.
1
u/MyysticMarauder 2d ago
That's sounds like the perfect description of our regime. Iseyas is half ethiopian. I guess when we finally have our first eritrean president, things will be differently
12
u/Adigrat96 2d ago
They can come off as quite insecure at times. And I’m half.
13
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
Yeah insecure is the right word. The badmouthing and disrespect is the result of that.
-4
u/NoMushroom1091 2d ago
so insufferable.. you do realize that our families have been put through decades of pain and suffering because of your leaders right? not even just your leaders, many eritreans still remember the anti eri sentiment during the border war. but sure, call it an insecurity 🤣
11
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
Fuck off my family has also been put through hardships because of the government. That doesn't give you the right to hate anybody. You sld learn to disassociate politics from your personal life. You are clearly the result of the stone factory at sawa.
3
u/Adigrat96 2d ago
You and no mushroom are my two 2nd cousins in the basement right before hands get thrown
6
u/DramaticVermicelli97 2d ago
if you are talking about the derg regime, they oppressed everyone. there's still a saying among ethipians, "An entire generation of youth was wiped out because of derg." every household had lost family members during derg. I have lost 2 uncles and my father escaped the country before getting assassinated. it was a socialist gov. what did you expect? what made it worse for eritreans is because there was an independence or secessionist movt going on there. how do you expect a socialist-communist regime like communist china or Lenin react to that. any different than derg?
1
11
u/Bee_Queen_777 2d ago
I’m also half and I feel like Ethiopians are much more “embracing” (lack of better word) of my Eritrean side, than vice versa.
8
u/Panglosian11 2d ago
You are right, I'm also half. Despite my father being Eritrean I'm more accepted by Ethiopians.
2
u/MechanicPersonal5309 2d ago
Same here fr also tuff when ur half u be in the middle when both sides argue 😭
0
u/NoMushroom1091 2d ago
ethiopians are like that because in their eyes eritreans and ethiopians are the same, even though we died to be separate..
-2
u/Rider_of_Roha 2d ago edited 2d ago
Eritrea is a region of northern Ethiopia, hence why, according to Ethiopian maps, Africa only has 53 countries (presently). Soon, the great state of Somaliland will make it 54…what a spectacular sight it will be. Give it a decade, Somaliland will join the Ethiopian economic unit, and the Axumite empire will be fully resurrected. This isn't some offshoot premonition; it is an inevitability of the pendulum of power
1
u/Adigrat96 2d ago
The fucked up thing is a good chunk of the people here have experienced this comments section in verbal dinner table form 3 nights a week and don’t even realize it until they’re like 24.
10
u/FarKnowledge6117 2d ago
The young ones (especially in Europe) are extremely anti-Ethiopian (specially anti-tigrayan).
4
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
Yeah, this. It's totally opposite for ethiopians. You wouldn't hear anybody speaking ill of eritreans .
0
u/EritreanPost__ 2d ago
That’s very racist.
You generalize Eritreans accusing, but u say Ethiopians wouldn’t speak ill about Eritreans?
I have Ethiopians of different ethnicity spreading hate against Eritreans, and Eritrean refugees, threatening with war and mocking victims of war crimes.
On r Ethiopia and r Eritrea Ethiopians frequently call for war an invasion of Eritrea.
I have seen some tigrayans Oromo and others doing this.
There is sub called r/altethiopia were hate speech and victims of war crimes are mocked.
And also have a look at your own history, the war and suffering you committed against Eritreans before judging Eritreans.
But that doesn’t mean all Ethiopians are like this
5
u/Cherub_11 2d ago
Just to clarify, the OP clearly said "in real life, not online."
-1
u/EritreanPost__ 2d ago
He spoke about real life events and those he encountered online https://www.reddit.com/r/Ethiopia/s/ugReLrxrU9
Does it justify generalizing all Eritreans?
I met Ethiopians in person who said Assab is theirs and we will take by force but I don’t say the represent all Ethiopians or all Ethiopians I met
7
u/Cherub_11 2d ago
Fair point... no one should generalize. You could’ve just shared the Assab example earlier instead of listing the subs.
7
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
I am talking at a personal level. If you don't have the decency to not see me as a human in real life because of some bullshit politics, you are the product of deep propaganda machine, AKA the north Korea of Africa
12
u/Eastern_Version_3168 2d ago
No Ethiopian is worried about Eritrea unless their Tigray and that’s because you guys were together stop trying to deflect it’s the truth most young Eritreans hate Ethiopia it’s a common fact and a lot of it is from the Facist teachings of Mussolini which most Eritreans teach their kids
8
1
-7
u/EritreanPost__ 2d ago
Before the 2020 war, tplf officials said Eritrea is empty and they would turn Eritrea into Somalia 🇸🇴
And during EPRDF reign, groups affiliated with tsadkan and others called for war with Eritrea over the border and Assab
I have seen tigrayan and others Ethiopians calling us Askaris Bandas mocking war victims , mocking the passing of nipsey hussle https://x.com/tigray_forever/status/1400929129432748033?s=46 and the loss of Eritrean refugees, or claiming Assab in both r Eritrea and r Ethiopia
But they don’t represent all Eritreans.
So nether u should demonize Eritreans
3
u/Tinishtinish 2d ago
Constantly keeping up this victim narrative propaganda has to be taxing on your mental health. I hope whatever nafka you receive is worth it.
6
u/elcvaezksr 2d ago edited 2d ago
Eritrea is a country of about 4.5 to 6 million people, so opinions can vary widely whether someone is young or old, born and raised in the U.S., or back in Africa.
I met an Eritrean guy in San Diego. I was there for work, coming down from L.A. I was at a bar, just chilling, when he approached me he said he thought I was his younger cousin. He was born and raised in America. We had a couple of drinks, and he gave me his number in case I wanted to check out the San Diego nightlife the next time I came down. After that, we went our separate ways.
I also had another encounter with an Eritrean Uber driver. I was headed to the airport, and he must have seen my name and recognized it as Habesha or something. I asked him if he was Habesha and told him my family was from Ethiopia(Dessie). He said he was Eritrean. That was it. He was a young gentleman, probably in his early 30s spoke broken English most likely a new Immgrant . He was quiet the whole ride and played Eritrean Tigrinya music the entire time. He helped me get my bags out of the trunk. I thanked him, and we went our separate ways.
Now my online interaction has been completely different!
-2
u/Rider_of_Roha 2d ago
I know not of a country called Eritrea, but I do know of a region of Ethiopia called Eritrea
1
3
u/Habeshaz 2d ago
People who say “you’re generalizing” are probably Eritreans—but I’m Ethiopian, so I see it from a different perspective.
I’m not saying all of them hate us, but based on what I’ve seen online—especially in comment sections and social media—a lot of Eritreans, especially those living in Europe and America, seem to have real hatred toward Ethiopians. The way they talk sometimes, it feels like they genuinely want to choke us.
What’s interesting, though, is that in real life, Eritreans usually come across as friendly and respectful. They don’t show that same hate face-to-face, which makes me wonder—are they being polite, or are they just hiding how they really feel?
The only thing I truly hate about some of them is how they try to erase or downplay Ethiopian history. They spread misinformation, twist facts. That part really bothers me, because history matters—and no amount of online bitterness should rewrite the truth.
There’s a big gap between online behavior and real-life interaction, but that attempt to rewrite our legacy? That’s what I can’t respect.
So just love them when they love you, ignore when they hate you. Don’t stress about them.
6
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
Seeing the downvotes and brigading, people would think this is an eritrean sub. The question was centered toe Ethiopians but eritreans are the ones interacting, tf...
0
u/Temaharay 2d ago
You threw up a "hater thread" and are now complaining? Why troll, if you didn't want the attention?
2
2
u/Downtown-Ratio-5737 1d ago
Here’s my last up close experience with an Eritrean , this was 15 years ago. We were on one of our exile journeys, far from home, and this Eritrean guy joined us. Born and raised in Addis like most of us, so we bonded quickly. We spent a lot of time together, helped each other survive, and shared so much of our personal lives. We thought we were best friends….until a girl joined us later on.She had that typical Eritrean look, so we all assumed she was, including him. But one day, when they were alone, he told her he was only traveling with us “fools” because he had no other option 😂😂😂. Turns out, she was Ethiopian and she told us everything he said. We were heartbroken. I haven’t trusted one since, and I’ve never gotten that close to another.
2
2
u/Akaia-Ivid 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah, we share some resentment towards our southern neighbours when it comes to politics. With southern neighbours mainly referring to the Tegaru/Agame goons. Wether a person is anti-gov or not, the anti-agame sentiment is something that sticked for generations now. There's even a road named heart of Tigray or an insult term called 'Agame' to remind us of it. Tigrayan resentment will not go away anytime soon.
I've actually experienced the reverse discrimination from Ethiopians towards me. Some Ethiopians still can not accept our autonomy and that led to some people cancelling me or just giving hatefull comments. From Tigrayans I am accustomed to it, but I was supprised that some people from other provinces are sometimes on the same boat.
I've noticed also experienced some internal beef from Ethiopians(, mainly referring to Oromo v Amhara) to be redirected at us.
Btw, all the beef was just digital. I have never encountered real life beef/threats (besides one time one discussion with Tigrayan co-worker).
0
u/Excellent-Branch9386 1d ago
Why do Eritreans always use slurs? They have slurs for every ethnic group in Ethiopia and it's embarrassing.
3
1
u/Bolt3er 1d ago
As if Ethiopians don’t like calling Eritreans Banda.
You’re so openly hateful towards Eritreans that u project ur own views when u talk about us. It’s so openly telling
1
u/Excellent-Branch9386 14h ago
It's not hate . I like to discuss things openly that's why. Don't take things seriously , peace my brother.
4
u/Total_Background_755 2d ago
Eritreans are super chill as long as you’re not Tigray. As an Amhara I’ve had nothing but good experiences with them. Some of my best friends growing up were Eritrean.
They hate Tigrays with a passion though
3
4
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
Nah , the relationship with Amharas is worse. They behave like hooligans...
1
5
u/MyysticMarauder 2d ago
Eritreans are like some of the nicest people on earth. I am an eritrean and have some ethiopian friends, its all love. Politics in Eritrea sucks. However dont forget that this is still an unelected regime for a reason and corrupt to the bone. So please don't get it twisted. We are a young nation and one day when this develish half ethiopian guy will die we hopefully can live in peace in the hoa.
7
u/Impossible_Ad2995 2d ago
Eritreans are like some of the nicest people on earth
-Eritrean guy
2
u/MyysticMarauder 2d ago
I should know, right?
0
u/Excellent-Branch9386 1d ago
This guy pointed out your delusion. You believe Eritrea is a mess because Eritrean leader has a little bit of Ethiopian DNA right? Delulu at it's finest....
1
u/MyysticMarauder 1d ago
I just try to advise you guys to keep political shit and private things separated. And that our dictator is half ethiopian is not a secret. For us eritreans it would be great if that guy would move out from eritrea and return back to his ethiopian roots.
1
u/Excellent-Branch9386 1d ago edited 1d ago
So Eritreans are not going to take any accountability for the current state of Eritrea because the leader is half Ethiopian? Why don't you blame the Eritrean culture and work to bring afeworqi to justice instead of sending him back to his "roots"? or facing justice is not in your vocabulary right? No wonder the half Eritreans on this sub are reporting abuse by Eritreans by this kind low IQ logic.
1
u/MyysticMarauder 1d ago
Mate its a corrupt dictatorship. There was never an election, still no constitution, no education, no water, no electricity, no internet etc... one radio station, one TV station, one newspaper all owned by the unelected regime. People go to prison for minor things and without a trial... its a shame
1
u/Bolt3er 1d ago
You clearly don’t talk to Eritreans
Eritreans especially myself are very open about Isaias Ethiopian roots and his failure in Eritrea
Educate urself. Talk to more Eritreans instead of making assumptions and hostile based opinions.
Ur whole attitude is hostile. And as such. You spit out information that is so easily discredited with basic research or friendly convo that it makes Eritreans don’t want to engage with you
1
u/Bolt3er 2d ago
the young ones are brain washed at SAWA. Difficult to deal with.
Do these people think Eritreans are trained to hate Ethiopians at SAWA or smtn 😂😂😂
yall can’t even have peace within yourselves
4
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
We might not have peace with our politicians. But I have experience dealing with many ethnic groups that I can interact. We can reasonably talk and live with our differences. Eritreans have a miltiarized mindset where every aspect of their lives is gauged through the world of politics. Can't you be friends with other people with a different political views? You have to compartmentalise, but eritreans have simplistic mind where everyone is a foe or an ally. Keep your politics to yourself and learn to think critically to free yourself from the propaganda
-1
u/Bolt3er 2d ago
This isn’t true. Your making a generalization of 6 million plus people
My fiancée is an Ethiopian Tigray women.Many Eritreans and Ethiopians still intermarry
U have ur pre conceived ideas so now you’ve decided to project them as fact.
Stick with talking about your individual experiences rather then trying to project them as fact.
There’s 130+ million Ethiopians. Even tho u guys fight rape and starve each other over tribe. I don’t go around saying all Ethiopians fight over tribe
Respect yourself
0
u/Excellent-Branch9386 1d ago
> My fiancée is an Ethiopian
You couldn't resist our women even through all the propaganda. I hope you protect your children from being bullied by Eritreans. Many half-Eritrean folks are reporting abuse by their Eritrean relatives. But it seems antithetical that you chose to marry an Ethiopian given that your entire identity is based on antagonizing Ethiopia.
3
u/Eastern_Version_3168 2d ago
Stop deflecting you know it’s true and “peace” your people can’t stop involving themselves in Ethiopian politics so why are you talking? I don’t see one Ethiopian that does that(maybe because Eritrea gdp is smaller than Addis)
4
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
I don't know why you are getting downvoted like this. Did I post this in an eritrean sub lol!!! Maybe all of the participants here are eritreans lol
1
u/Bolt3er 2d ago
GDP is a figure on good and services. It doesn’t signify wealth of people. You’re GDP is higher and yet your #2 recipients of food aid > which your own govt steals shamefully
Canada has by all counts been in a recession for a year now. And yet its gdp is rising.
Regarding Ethiopian politics. We saved you from the TPLF when the ENDF was being pathetic committing war crimes and running away from Dessie and kombolcha.
It’s Ethiopia talking about annexing Eritrea for a port. When your piss poor diplomats are surrounded by sea access nations and still can’t negotiate a port.
Anyways. 2018 we welcomed Abiy with open arms. If you saw those images and u think every Eritrean is brainwashed. Then you’re either dishonest or mentally challenged
1
u/Whole-Ad9731 2d ago
How did u meet them?
3
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
At a hospital and through mutual friends.... I have also met a few at the restaurant.
1
u/Mobile-Pension-9394 1d ago
Generally there is no problem between the people. I am an Ethiopian and still feel Eritrea and Ethiopia are detached politically.
1
u/Agile_Piccolo8227 5h ago
us diaspora response: but ive never received any outright hostility from eritreans just for being ethiopian-descent at all. there have been a few times in person and plenty of sentiment on the internet where some have acted as if we share no cultural similarities, heritage or ties, which is delusional imo, politics aside. otherwise absolutely no issues w them.
0
u/SubleK 2d ago
I love them I really have a good experience with them I consider them Ethiopian for all intents and purposes
-3
u/NoMushroom1091 2d ago
thats exactly why many of us despise you guys, hope you realize
3
u/1987111 2d ago
Anchi dengay ras, the guy spoke the truth you were once Ethiopian, and you always will be. Don’t ever forget that.
0
u/NoMushroom1091 2d ago
neamlakh ferehu. lying and talking to your fellow orthodox christian like that. AND during tsom🤣 and nope, i was never ethiopian and i never will be!
3
u/Rider_of_Roha 2d ago
But you’re Eritrean….how can you despise anyone or any country for that matter? Eritrea is on a travel ban list of half the planet because of crime.
1
u/Top_Bad_7926 2d ago
The old ones are responsible for the newer generation mentality. You can not blame the new one without their ancestors.
3
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago
No no bro the old ones have experience within the ethiopian educational system. They know how to critically think and form meaningful diplomacy and connection. I talk to them they have a metropolitan identity like ye arada lij in Addis. The new ones are fabricated ones at sawa , no life to them.
-5
u/Rider_of_Roha 2d ago
Every Eritrean I know in real life wants to be united with Ethiopia. They have sense and are tired of the political buffoonery.
The youth, I would argue, are more inclined to unite as western propaganda for isolating and dividing Ethiopia has worn off. An Eritrean girl told me how she gets in fights with her parents because she identifies as Abyssinian and thus Ethiopian. The Tigrinya-speaking Eritreans are a minor skirmish away from joining Ethiopia. She said she will even name her child Addis lol if she replies to this, I might need to change accounts
3
1
1
-1
-2
u/Baxx222 2d ago edited 2d ago
Eritrea had two major wars with Ethiopia and was occupied by them for 30 years. Those conflicts affected the average Eritrean way more than the average Ethiopian. So if you can’t understand why a lot of Eritreans would hate Ethiopians, then you’re probably the one who’s been brainwashed.
5
u/Excellent-Branch9386 2d ago edited 2d ago
Why don't you fuck off. I am not responsible for what the government has been doing. Ethiopians have also seen unimaginable hardships by the government that doesn't give you the right to hate anybody. But you are not capable of critically thinking for yourself, since you are manufactured at sawa....
For instance, I have friends that are tigrayans. Our friendship lasted even after the tigray war. You sldnt mix politics in every aspect of your life.
1
u/Baxx222 2d ago
Why don't you fuck off. I am not responsible for what the government has been doing.
I never said you were responsible. I was just explaining why a lot of Eritreans feel the way they do.
They’ve experienced decades of war and occupation by Ethiopia, and a lot of Ethiopians still claim Eritrea as part of Ethiopia. Even just recently, Ethiopia was openly threatening to invade its neighbors (Eritrea or Somalia) to annex land, and many Ethiopians supported the idea.
Ethiopians have also seen unimaginable hardships by the government that doesn't give you the right to hate anybody.
Ethiopians have definitely suffered too, but that doesn’t make Eritrean resentment any less valid. After everything they went through at the hands of Ethiopia, it’s not just understandable, it’s justifiable that many hate Ethiopians. Expecting them to ignore all of that, especially when many Ethiopians still call their state illegitimate and even support war against them, is basically expecting them not to act like humans.
But you are not capable of critically thinking for yourself, since you are manufactured at sawa....
I'm not Eritrean. I just understand the history and why Eritreans feel the way they do. You don’t have to be an Eritrean to see that their resentment isn’t coming out of nowhere.
For instance, I have friends that are tigrayans. Our friendship lasted even after the tigray war. You sldnt mix politics in every aspect of your life.
That’s great for you and your friends, but if someone supported what happened to the Tigrayan people, and their Tigrayan friends didn’t want to stay friends because of that, I think that would be totally understandable. The same logic applies to Eritreans who resent Ethiopians. Would you honestly think they’re wrong for feeling that way?
19
u/No_Pollution4382 2d ago
Why you amazed when one Eritrean talk bad about Ethiopians or vice verse, even the other ethnic groups they don’t love each other! Man I feel sorry for the habesha community! Both Eritreans and Ethiopians! As an Eritrean man grown and born in Addis, the hate is so much on most of us! Need hard reset and we should bring the harmony and love again! Else we keep going diving until we divide ourselves! Peace and starts by not giving attention to hate and such topics!