What's up with the name “project: TAPE SHIFTA”?
If you're Eritrean, Tigrinya or Amharic-speaking, you might be wondering why I chose to use the term "shifta" for this project. Some older Eritreans might even take offense to my name choice, especially since "shifta" can be roughly translated as "bandit" or "outlaw" into English. However, the answer to this lies between the lines of Eritrean history. During Eritrea's occupation by Ethiopian forces under Emperor Haile Selassie I, early Eritrean independence fighters were dismissed as "shifta." The term is derogatory and disparaging, but I believe there's room to reclaim it. It was the people of Eritrea, the so-called bandits and outlaws, who managed to free a country that had survived the colonial and fascist presence of the Ottomans, Italians, British, Ethiopian Empire, and the DERG, with little to no help from outsiders.
It's only logical to reclaim the term "shifta" and remember the tradition and ideological influences of Eritrean freedom fighters (Tegaldelti in Tigrinya), whose legacy is found in the tapes and records they left behind for us - not the current regime ruling the country with an iron fist.
In conclusion, the term "shifta" carries a complex history and connotation for Eritreans, but it's important to remember and honor the contributions of the Eritrean freedom fighters who risked everything to secure the country's independence. Through project: TAPE SHIFTA, for instance, we can hear their voices, their struggles, and their triumphs, and keep their legacy alive for future generations. As we continue to navigate the complexities of Eritrean history and identity, let us not forget the power of music and culture to unite and inspire us.
SOURCES:
Woldemariam, Michael.
“The Eritrean Liberation Front: Jebha in Action, 1960–1982.”
Insurgent Fragmentation in the Horn of Africa: Rebellion and Its Discontents, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2020, p. 91