Asmara, 24 November 2025—PRESS AFRICA— Eritrea, a Horn of Africa country long isolated on the international stage, is now revealing a remarkable cultural potential that could appeal to international markets. Through traditional music, refined crafts and a distinctive cuisine, the Eritrean nation is establishing itself as a land where authenticity meets exportability.

Music and performing arts, a heritage to share

Eritrean music, shaped by African and Arab influences, offers unique sounds thanks to traditional instruments such as the krar, the washint and the kebero. These instruments, which accompany folk songs and dances, bear witness to an intangible heritage that already appeals to international festivals. Eritrean dance companies and musical groups are beginning to perform abroad, introducing international audiences to rhythms and performances that are still little known.

Crafts and textiles, treasures of authenticity
Eritrean crafts are another export lever. Traditional weaving, pottery and silver jewellery engraved with ancestral motifs find a potential market among enthusiasts of ethnic and sustainable products. The tibeb, a distinctive embroidery pattern, could become a signature of the Eritrean textile industry internationally, in the same way as certain African craft trends that are already being exported successfully.

Cuisine: new flavours for the world
Eritrean cuisine, notably its dishes based on injera (a fermented flatbread made from teff) and spicy sauces, has the potential to attract international markets. Local initiatives are beginning to develop restaurant concepts and ready-to-export food products, allowing foreign consumers to taste a cuisine that is still little represented beyond the country's borders.

Challenges and opportunities

Despite these assets, the promotion of Eritrean culture internationally remains held back by insufficient tourism and cultural infrastructure, as well as by logistical difficulties. However, the local authorities, aware of the cultural and economic value of these resources, are stepping up efforts to create cultural exchange programmes, take part in international trade fairs and facilitate the export of crafts.

Eritrean culture, still largely unknown, has considerable potential to become an international showcase of the country's identity. Through music, crafts and cuisine, Eritrea has every asset it needs to turn its cultural heritage into a sustainable and profitable export, thereby contributing to its visibility on the world stage and to the diversification of its economy.

Reporter: Saïd TESSILIMI