The Greeks of Eritrea in the 1880s
(Excerpt from the book ‘The Greeks in the horn of Africa’)
The first Greeks settled in Masawa of Eritrea in 1875, when the city was under the Egyptian rule. On 21/4/1886, 6,000 people lived in Masawa. Apart from the Somalis, the Arabs and the Ethiopians, there were also several hundred Greeks who controlled the commercial activity of the harbour, exporting mainly ivory. Climate conditions were very difficult due to the heat and humidity. There was only one hotel in the city that belonged to a Greek.
(Excerpt from the book ‘The Greeks in the horn of Africa’)
The first Greeks settled in Masawa of Eritrea in 1875, when the city was under the Egyptian rule. On 21/4/1886, 6,000 people lived in Masawa. Apart from the Somalis, the Arabs and the Ethiopians, there were also several hundred Greeks who controlled the commercial activity of the harbour, exporting mainly ivory. Climate conditions were very difficult due to the heat and humidity. There was only one hotel in the city that belonged to a Greek.
