THE COLLECTOR

Fitsum Ghebreselassie is a quiet but determined custodian of Eritrean (and global) heritage. In a country where archives are fragile and memory is in peril, his work is not just urgent but necessary. He collects, preserves, and contextualizes documents, photographs, and testimonies that trace Eritrea’s colonial periods, long struggle for independence and the intricate decades that followed.

Fitsum’s mission goes beyond preservation and reframes ownership — ensuring Eritreans tell their own story. Much of the nation’s history lives in scattered papers, fading prints, and oral accounts at risk of disappearing. Safeguarding these materials becomes an act of responsibility.

Through his meticulous archival work, he protects artifacts, relics, and complexity — the contradictions, sacrifices, and realities that shaped the country all make his archive a foundational collection. His life mission is to offer future generations access to a fuller, more honest understanding of who they are and how they arrived here.