A cultural show marking the opening of the Festival Eritrea 2008 was staged at the Cinema Odeon Friday evening August 1, 2008.After a minute of remembrance of martyrs, the show started with a symphony by the Zara Band and Sibrit National Cultural Troupe, featuring three musical pieces: two instrumental songs and one in Kunama, the latter accompanied by dancing.

What followed was an entertaining program by the Fujian Cultural Trope, a Chinese group who is presently in Eritrea for the festival.

A Chinese entertainer presented a solo performance of Saba Sabina, a well-known local love song, to the acclaim of the audience. Three Chinese artists also presented a puppet show, along with Chinese music, which really impressed guests at the cinema hall.

After a standing ovation, the Chinese group left the stage for a Tigre musical. Entitled “Men Bahar eb Kilho,” roughly translated as “A drop from the ocean,” the drama narrates the story about a hero from the upper lowlands of the country who resisted colonial oppression during the Italian regime and how his fellow countrymen conspired with the Italians to capture him.

Another musical drama in Tigrigna was also presented during the event. This one revolves around an old legend and was entirely played by women. It recounts about the traditional songs that women get to sing to a mother who just had a baby.

Also in the evening, cultural groups from the Central and Anseba regions presented a variation of a Tigrigna traditional dance and Quas (also a traditional dance) respectively.

The Zara Band and Sibrit National Cultural Troupe had yet another three performances during the course of the show: two musical pieces with colorful dancing and a Tigre song by Zahra Ali.

An impressive part of the show was a dance routine entitled peace and development, performed to the tune of selected pieces of classical music. All dressed in white with the boys holding effigies of leafy branches, the dancers had a vibrant performance which earned them great appreciation from the audience. The music and choreography were arranged by Chinese professionals.

The evening’s program was concluded with a new Tigrigna song by Aklilu Mebrahtu.

Speaking to invited guests at the cinema hall, Mr. Gidewon Fessehaie, Head of the National Holidays Coordinating Committee, noted that the annual Eritrean festival served as one means of preserving Eritrean national values and provided ground for strengthening educational and cultural capacities of the nation.

“We should all contribute a hand towards our culture’s revitalization,” he said.

This year’s festival, which will be officially opened at the Expo grounds today Saturday August 02, 2008, will remain open to the public until August 10, 2008.