Keren Lover Reunion!
8th Keren high school
2023 reunion
Image of Natural Keren June 30 -July 2, 2023
By Bahlibi Tekle
The more anticipated Keren High School Reunion also known as Sweet Keren has come and gone leaving nostalgic moments for the participants. The people of Keren and its suburbs known for their diversity and tolerance found their exact image at this reunion. Happiness and brotherhood were the main key points shown at this reunion. Keren High School reunion started in July 2008 at Seneca College Toronto. After having reunions every two years and after interruption for three years because of COVID 19, the 8 th reunion came back where it started.
The following is the summary of the three-day event.
Friday June 30 2023: As many of our members reserved the Seneca residence as a hotel, it was a day of checking in, welcoming, registration, and socializing. At 6;00 p.m. dinner offered by the host city was served for all guests and everyone who participated for the evening. Abdelminim was ready with his music equipment to entertain the guests but as everyone was so much involved in socializing, we had a light music to refresh our minds. Slide show of pictures of old Keren was prepared by the preparatory committee showing all the different sport clubs and others involved in Keren.
Saturday July 1st 2023: This was a day everyone was waiting for. Even though our plan was to start early, people took some time to relax and socialize. The opening ceremony led by Bahlibi Tekle was to remember all our martyrs and the students of Keren high school who are not with us. A candle commemorating all the martyrs of Eritrea for independence was lit by our noted speaker Woldesus Ammar. The former Keren high school students who passed away were remembered and candle was lit by Medhin Ferdinando Dirar, a pioneer student. Every body who participated in the last seven reunions at least once but unfortunately who passed away were remembered and candle was lit for their honor by Tewelde Yohannes, Dehab Yacob, and Brot Tekle who never missed any one out of the 8 reunions. After the opening ceremony, Hassen Ferej. a Toronto committee member welcomed the participants. Abraha Zerai, our board chair, gave a brief history and the main objectives of the Keren High School reunion. Shewit Mesghina read the congratulatory letter from Dr. Demsas Habtu.
After all these opening ceremonies, time came to start with our first speaker whom people were waiting very eagerly. Woldesus Ammar and his spouse Leteab Tewelde came all the way from Switzerland . Many people were eager to see who Woldesus Ammar is as he has been a figure head during his studies at high school and University and revolution for independence. Woldesus was introduced by Amanda Bahlibi. Woldesus Ammar spoke highly about the History of Education in Keren and the History of the city of Keren. Participants were so much concentrated on listening as it was a topic you could never afford to miss. Our Reunion spirit was uplifted by the presence of Woldesus. The lecture of Woldesus in Tigrinya and English put in a booklet was distributed to the participants.
After Woldesus’s speech, the Keren High School reunion honored Tewelde Yohannes and Dehab Yacob for their 60 years of wedding anniversary. They were presented with a pluck by Jemil Petros ,Welday Abbe, and Michael Zergaber who were part of the wedding guests 60 years ago. Our next guest speaker was Fetsum Tecle a famous visual artist who came all the way from Edmonton, Alberta. He was introduced by Dr. Woldemariam. Fetsum had arts show which started on Friday which gave our reunion a big boost. Fetsum spoke about importance of arts and his voyage to arrive at the point he is in now at. His speech was listened by the participants eagerly without any disturbing voice or movement.
Following Fetsum,a young activist Marwan Mahmoud and a former student of UNESCO school Jimmy Arey gave a brief description of the school and the need of fundraising for the continuation of the school After the morning session lunch was served by the host city. Everyone sat down together and enjoyed the delicious food while socializing.
The afternoon session started with an important topic of mental illness led by Araya Gebreselasie,Yohannes Ferdinando,and Michael Embaye. As everyone is involved somehow with the topics discussed, people were curious to listen. Araya continued with his motivational speech. He also called a separate meeting for the youth to explain them about the dangers of addiction.
After officially finishing with all the speeches,Tesfagabir Messghina collected the answers for the trivia questions about Keren he prepared. Tesfagaber awarded the winner with special cultural hand made stick. The winner was Gemil Petros and was presented with the stick by Woldesus Ammar. Dr Woldemariam read a poem prepared by Woldesilasie Tesfai which was unfortunate that his plane was cancelled due to weather conditions. The serious part of the day finished here and Zeinab Warah and Fickak Ebtes took over to entertain people with jokes and old stories.
Dinner was served again and participants had time to socialize. Music and entertainment could not start until 9:00 p.m. as participants were deeply involved in socializing. Live singers Dashim Mesghina and Temano Hizbay with keyboard player Binyam and guitarists Elias and Abdelminim brightened the spirit of the people playing all the songs of Keren. Sirak a young son of parents from Keren did one song in Tigrinya.
Sunday July 2nd 2023: This was a day of picnic and BBQ at Seaton Park,73 Thorncliffe Park Drive A real image of Keren was shown here. People remembered the old days of Mariam Deari festivities where Christians and Muslims enjoyed the day as one people hand to hand. I have never seen for so long people enjoying a company of each other. Hotdogs, Burgers, and meat was served throughout the day. Many children enjoying the day. In addition to the shelter of the city, thanks to the local mosque, we had tents and chairs. BBQ was served by a professional Siraj who has up to date machinery. The day was concluded by taking a group picture and every one singing,”Wlad Keren Harayr(Belayn) - egeyso enbel babur wo mekayn” and “Welet Keren Tsaada tigis kemrada”
Thanks to Memhir Gezae Abraha,who transmitted live in Facebook the evening of Friday ,Saturday evening and the picnic and BBQ at the park on Sunday. Thanks also to the few women from Toronto who were so dedicated to feed every one for the three-day event. Thank you for our daughters and young children who successfully sold souvenirs for three days. Thank you for the ladies who tirelessly did the registration for the event. Thank you every one who contributed for the success of the special event. All the three-day event was captured by videographer Idris.
The 8th reunion overall was one of the best if not the best so far. On the three-day event, close to 1000 people attended. Many participants came from USA, and some from Europe, and Saudi Arabia. Every one was so happy and thankful to the organizers. Even though the board members are working tirelessly for many years, they are looking to add more members specially from the new generation who can represent the actual Keren and its surroundings. The board will decide soon the interval and the location of the next reunion. Stay tuned.