The prisoners of Nakura 19.2.01 Aida Kidane Many Eritreans have heard of the prison Island of Nakura, especially in old songs and proverbs. This prison is situated in Dahlak archipelago. While standing on the main land of Dahlak Kebir, by the beautiful and only hotel, it is about 1 km away. It took me over one hour motor boat ride from Massawa in 2000, in courtesy of Eritrean Shipping Lines. There are three big war ships sunk by the Russians near it, and was a military station by the Derg. I was not allowed to visit the prison, but another visitor saw it and explained how horrible it was. There are rooms underground, in this scorching heat and long nails protruding on both sides of the tiny wall that the prisoner could not rest on either side. There were numerous chains too. In 26 august 1994, I was talking to a very knowledgable elderly man in Segeneiti, Aboi Keshi Tesfamariam Habtezgi. He was so keen to share his historical notes that this was an unexpected finding to me. He asked me to share it with all Eritreans, remember our heroes. He had hidden many documents at Derg time and let me copy names of the prisoners of Nakura. I have audio recorded many valuable history from him too. These following list of prisoners' names is derived from an Amhric book called Ye Tarik Deset. Timing is pre 1900.political prisoners of the Eritrean elites too dangerous for the Italians to freely administrate Eritrea. The names found are 1 Kentiba Nasheh W Mikel, Hamassien 2, Kentiba Hagos 3, Kentiba Medhin 4, Kentiba Hayelom 5, Kentiba Gere Mikel Iyesus 6, Dejazmach Mengesha Asgedom 7, Kentiba Hamed, Shum of Habab, son of Kentiba Hassen 8, Chika Shum Tsefu' W Haimanot 9, Haneta Temelso Goshu 10, Ato Mesfin W Mikel 11, Ato W Mikel Kaleb 12, Beremberas Hagos Andemikel 13, Kegnazmach Welde Kidan G Sadek 14, Dejazmach Hadgembes Gulwet 15, Kentiba Arey 16 Kentiba Kifleyesus Gofar 17, Kegnazmach Tesfatsion Habteselasie 18, Blatta Tesfu Nebaray 19, Dej Welde mikel 20, Grazmach Gizaw Wendafrash 21, Balambaras Kifle Weldeyesus 22, Dej. Abraha Haile 23, Balambaras Meshasha Negusie 24, Ato Hagos wedi Abdera 25, Lij Asfaha Gebreab 26, Ato Adgoi Kahsai 27, Lij Ekubazgi 28, Ato Ikud wedi Zemat 29, Dej Negusie G Meskel 30, Lij Tesfai Gebreab 31, Lij Abraha Hagos 32, Lij Habte Selus Hailu 33, Lij Embaye Wendaferash 34, Lij Beyene Biru 35, Kegnaz. Fiseha Mogos 36, Lij Alula Godefa, of Gura' 37, Lij Kahsai Godefa, of Gura' 38, Kentiba Emnetu 39, Lij Berhanu Hailu 40, Kentiba Gidei 41, Kegnz Hagos 42, Lij Asfaha, Segeneiti (kentiba La'lewy) 43, Bahr Negasi Fantaye 44, Kentiba Eman 45, Dej Tesema 46, Blata Tesfai Kahsu 47, Blata Tesfai Netseraab 48, Kentiba Haylu Gebrai 49, Lij Tedla Haylu 50, She'ka Girmai 51, Keshi Semere Mehari 52, Keshi Gebreab 53, Lij Khasai Abey -neyru 54, Kentiba Araya Weldai 55, Blatta Gerezgher Gilai 56, Graz. Yigzaw Yohannes 57, Lij Geremedhin Ekubazgi, Segeneiti 58, Bashai Tesfai Berhane 59, Beshai Habtom 60, Dej. Mehrai 61, Bahr Negasi 'Cherom. There were numerous more in that prison, some from Methat and Saho areas. One, Musa is still remembered for his daring and bravery to escape and cross to land. Source from another book, in Tigrina "Kedamot jeganu Eritrean bahlena" by Isak Yosef, Eritrea, 1997, page 51 titled Name lists of the prisoners of Nakura. These name lists to follow were 1, Taken from Asmera or their villages and claimed to be held prisoners in Nakura but had disappeared. 2, Those taken to Italy and never returned, 3, Those executed or died of illness in Nakura 4, Those who escaped from Nakura prison and live in exile, 5, and those who made ammendments with the Italians and returned as civilians in their land. We should not doubt that there more names whose we could not find. Because, elders of Eritrea have narrated that the Nakura prisoners were over 300. Notice, in Nakura those who lost their lives in its sands, pained by bites of snakes or scorpions, those who were wounded and bled to death, those killed by hanging, shot and killed, those crippled by sickness of Rih, those who died of thrust and hunger, are not only the above numbered 300 only. Hopefully, other researchers will find the other names and add to the Eritrean heroes. Some names or villages may not rightly written or voiced and we hope the reader will adjust it. These prisoners were administrators, religious persons, supporters, etc.... Because of this the Italian colonizer was extremely disturbed. He was mistrustful and disliking the Eritreans. The Italian officers were constantly receiving telegrams, military commands, oral tegsats from Italy. At last, it was said, "From now on, a prison for Eritreans in that hot area, near the harbour must be rebuilt with care". This way, hundreds of Eritreans for many years were liquidated in this new prison of Assab as replacement of Nakura, was opened. Several of the 240 named prisoners are Name Village Province 1,Dej Mesfin Dej W Mikel Hazega Hamassien 2, Dej Mahray Hagos Wegera Akele Guzai 3, Dej Hadgembes Gelwet Adi Teklezan Hamassien 4, Dej Tesemma Imam Tseazega Hamassien 5, Dej Negusie Gebre Tsadek Areza Serae 6, Dej Kifleyesus Gofar Dekuno Reda' Hamassien 7, Kentiba Arey wedi Weldu 'Kushet Hamassien 8, Kentiba Hamid Hidad Habab Sahel 9, Kentiba Hailu Gebrai Hazega Hamassien 10, Kentiba Hayelom 11, Kentiba Manna Idiley Deki Shehai Anseba 12, Kentiba Bahta Ferzun Dukuno Reda' Hamassien 13, Kentiba Habtyes Habte Selasie Anseba Hamassien 14, Kentiba Teku' Deki Shehai Hamassien 15, Kentiba Nasheh Lijam Adi Teklezan Hamassien 16, Kentiba Aman 17, Kentiba Gebre Mikel Melezenai Hamassien 18, Kentiba Kidane 'Ukbit Debre Sina Hamassien 19, Kentiba W Giorgis Teklai 'Arato Akele Guzai 20, Kentiba Debas Hailu Hazega Hamassien 21, Kentiba Hedad Hassen Habab Bet Asgede 22, Kentiba Medhin Sahle Meshal Akele Guzai 23, memhir W Giorgis (Abemnet) Gedam Debre Sina Hamassien 24, Keshi Tequabo 25, Sheik Osman Naib Base' Semhar 26, Sheik Ibrahim 'Chira Kurkure 27, Sheik Idris Nur Keren Bet Asgede 28, Sheik Abubaker Ali Bet Keren Adi Tekleyes 29, Sheik Idris Mohammed Habab Bet Asgede 30, Sheik Fekak Ali Keren Habab 31, Bahr Negasie 'Churum Adi Gehad Akele Guzai 32, Blata G Zghair Gilai Tsada Kristian Hamassien 33, Blatta Bachena 34, Blata Tesfa Nesereab Hemberti Hamassien 35, Blatta Men Ameno Tesfai Tseazega Hamassien 36, Mrs Tsa'du Menameno Hemberti Hamassien 37, Fitwerari Habte Sion Sebhatu Hemberti Hamassien 38, Fit Debalkaw Baryagabir Ha'ley 39, Fit Gurmu Adyabo Tigrai 40, Fit Sebhat Bekhit Afdeyu Hamassien 41, Fit Selomon 42, Fit Meles Gebrezgi 43, Fit Zerefa Tesfazgi 44, Kegnazmach Gebre Tsadik Ekubazgi 45, Kegn Gebre Yohannes Demoz 46, Kegn Welde Kidan 47, Grazmach Manna Gaim 48, Graz Tesfamikel 49, Graz Gebreyesus 50, Graz Hagos 51, Graz Hadgu Tesfa Mariam 52, Graz Tekle Goshu 53, Graz Abraha Gebre Negus 54, Belamberas Yilma Dej K Yesus Dembelas Serae 55, Balmb Tek'e Weldu 56, Balmb Gagna Hailu Tselot Hamassien 57, Balmb Zerai Ekubazgi Afelba Akele Guzai 74, Ato Mohammed Haji Akordet Akordet 75, Ato Mohammed Ali Osman Buri Denkel Denkel 76, Ato Mohammed Said Abdella Inda Lalish Serae 77, Ato Mosazgi Sebhatu Adi Nehbai Serae 78, Ato Mohammed Nur Mantai Base' Semhar 79, Ato Hambir Adi Gebrai Hamassien 80, Ato Selomon Kifle Tseazega Hamassien 81, Ato Birre Hailai Da'ro 'Paulos Hamassien 82, Ato Tesfa Da'ro Kune'at Serae 90, Ato Eyob Getahun Adwa Tigrai 91, Ato Abdella Lehat 92, Ato Hamed 'A'ka 'Umer 97, Ato Abo Zaul Zaul Hamassien 110, Ato G Medhin Ekubazgi Segeneiti Akele Guzai 128, Ato Tewelde Medhin Gebrai Debre Sina Hamassien 134, Ato Adgoi Kinfe Imba Derho Hamassien 161, Ato Adgoi Gurja Deda Hamassien 162, Ato Asgedom G Dengil Habela Hamassien 163, Ato Ahmed Elos Bet Elos Keren 164, Ato Izaz Ali Bet Adi Tekleyes Keren 165, Ato Idris Abubaker 166, Ato Gilaizgi 167, Ato Garza TsigeYohannes Habela Hamassien 168, Ato W Mikel Kelb Anseba Hamassien 169, Ato W Mikel Fiseha Awhene 'Arato Akele Guzai 170, Ato Zemat Ikut Methat 171, Ato Debesai Haileyesus Habel Hamassien 172, Ato Fetaw Mer'u Berakit Akele Guzai 173, Ato Mohammed Mahmud Habab Keren 174, Ato Hibret Ekubazgi Bet Asgede Habab 201 Ato Abebe Welotai from Wello Ethiopia 230, Ato Semere Kidane 237, Ato Beyene Tesfa 238, Ato Berhe Gebre Amlak 239, Haleka Tekle Sa'ol 240, Ato Meles Eshetu E N D