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Since our sister website, Asmarino, broke the news that Eritrean artist Abraham Afewerki died on Saturday, October 7th in an accident, Gedab News has reported that the death occurred in the Dahlak Islands and that he was buried on Monday October 10th. Nonetheless, the circumstances of his death are still sketchy as the government media, particularly Shabait.com, the website of the Ministry of Information which generally reports even trivial accomplishments of the government, has taken a total blackout approach to the death of Abraham Afewerki. Awate will update its readers on information it receives on his death, periodically.
According to semi-official sources, Abraham Afewerki and keyboard player Robel Solomon were in Massawa to shoot a music video from Abrahams latest release, Semai. Accompanying them were foreigners (Caucaseans) who were presumably technicians and videographers. Abraham and Robel informed their companions that they were taking a boat to Dahlak to swim at the coast there. While swimming at Dahlak, Robel was caught in quicksand. Abraham attempted to save him, but he too was drawn to the quicksand. People in the scene then jumped in to rescue both; they managed to pull out Abraham Afewerki and rushed him to Asmara, but to no avail: he died shortly thereafter in Asmara. Some of our sources refute this explanation on the following grounds: (1) the beaches of Dahlak have lots of brilliant glittering sands, but no quicksand; (2) even if there was quicksand, this would indicate that the waters are shallow, not deep enough to drown people that quickly; (3) there are always people around the coast: how could two people drown with so many observing? (4) Why have the government media refused to provide any details on their death? |
