Eritrean Literature And The Arts

Literature and the arts are important aspects of Eritrea's culture, customs, and etiquette. Folktales, legends, and traditional poems were the first works of Eritrean literature to be published. Between the fourth and eleventh centuries, the majority of the country's literature was written in Ge'ez. Later on, literature in Tigrinya was produced. It was heavily influenced by Christian missionaries from various European countries. During the Italian colonial period in the early twentieth century, the country's literature and culture were suppressed. However, under British rule, the country's culture was revitalized.

Thus, the first novels in Tigrinya were published in the second half of the twentieth century. In Eritrea, the most common paintings depict religious themes and fables in "storyboard" forms on a canvas, skin, or parchment base. Country churches are typically adorned with vibrant and dramatic murals. Ceramics are one of Eritrea's oldest crafts. Weaving and basket-making, jewelry-making, leather-work, wood carving, and other traditional crafts are also popular in the country.