Little is known about the history of Wejerat(ወጀራት) in written form apart from religious books before the 16th century. It is believed, however, that the original settlers of the area had settled in the present land of Wejerat long before the introduction of Orthodox Christianity in the 4th century.

Wejerat had achieved an extensive political and socio-cultural cohesion in the period between the 16th to 20th centuries. Prior to this period, Wejerat were closed societies who live creating their own world.

Wejerat is now the sub-Wereda of Hintalo-Wejerat Wered, and located in South–East Tigray, Ethiopia (picture circled on the wrong overview Tigray map that has Eritrean and Amhara territories).

Formerly, it was one of the ten weredas of Enderta Awraja. It used to constitute twenty villages termed as “Isra-Adi‟.

Nowadays, the former 20 physical and administrative units of Wejerat are set into eight “kebeles/tabias‟ 10 namely: Sebebera, Gonka, Sen‟ale, Genti, Adi-keyh, Tsehafty, Adi-mesno and Bahri –Hatsey (the former Wereda and today sub- Wereda capital of Wejerat).

The region is characterised by varied topography, much of it rugged terrain intersected by valleys, rivers and ravines. The total population of Wejerat is estimated to be above 70,000.

The Wejerat people are agro-pastoralist. They produce a variety of crops. The most important crops that are grown in the area are cereals and pulses. The cactus tree is common in most parts of the area which serve as food for both people and animals in the land of Wejerat, including the neighbouring Afar communities. Particularly, when there is a severe drought, the Wejerat people share the cactus with their neighbouring Afar unselfishly.

The cactus tree feeds animals the whole year while it serves as a food for more than six months for human beings. Unfortunately, it is destroyed today by an insect termed as Chuchineal, which is introduced by irresponsible government bodies without assessment of environmental impact and the consent and knowledge of the society.

Contemporarily the area is one of the most heavily affected areas of successive drought. Population growth, environmental degradation, lack of adequate land for cultivation, and scarce grazing land for cattle population are some of the fundamental factors that threatened the life of study people.

Consequently, the youth are migrating to Middle East countries without having the necessary skill and knowledge. This, in turn, brought about tragedy outcomes on the social values of the community as a whole beyond the loss of life and the financial crisis of the outgoing individuals.

The technology of the production is archaic and straightforward. It does not encourage the expansion of modern farming. Infrastructure developments and social services like roads, transportations, electricity, communications, health centres, schools and water supply are poorly developed in Wejerat.

Pack animals especially, donkeys, mules, camels and the like, are the dominant mode of transport. Previously, there was a promise to enhance access to education with the involvement of Wejerat Development Association (WDA) in collaboration with other stakeholders. Yet, the study area lagged about the expansion of modern infrastructures compared to other places.

In the early times, the account of Wejerat is mostly associated with the history of self-governance and self-defence.

Raids and campaigns against external powers that tried to intervene in their internal affairs were the modes of their culture, too.

It is not uncommon in the land of Wejerat to chat and revisit nostalgically to a time they were enjoying an independent socio-cultural and self-governance than they do now.

Source: Eritrean Press 7 May 2020 G.C