Coexistence through the Centuries: Inter-Religious Tolerance in Keren, Eritrea

Keren, the capital city of Anseba region and the second-largest city in Eritrea, stands as a seminal example of interreligious tolerance and harmony in a region historically marked by complex and interwoven layers of conflicts. The city has been home to sizeable population of different religious backgrounds, including Copts, Catholics, and Protestants, as well as Sunni Muslims. This religious plurality has endured for centuries, shaped by historical, cultural, and social factors that have promoted religious tolerance despite the city being located in conflict ravaged Horn of Africa.

The aim of this paper is to investigate the root sources of the religious tolerance in Keren, tracing its origin from the inception of Christianity in the region through the Red Sea and the subsequent introduction and expansion of Sunni Islam through different religious agencies in the country. Moreover, it investigated how the local traditions, community leaders, and cultural values contribute to maintaining this inter-religious tolerance for centuries, particularly against the backdrop of the alarming levels of human suffering and pervasive levels of vulnerability as well as victimization in the region. The aim is to understand how these religions have woven themselves into the local people’s social fabric, leading to an exceptional pattern of inter-religious harmony in Keren. The paper will be mediated through individual stories, in-depth interviews, fieldwork observation, and media sources, as well as some archival materials gathered from local, national, and international archival centers.