Remembering Tekie Albekit

Eritrean-born linguist, writer, and community leader who spent much of his life in Norway supporting the Blin people’s language and culture. A Daberi publication summarizes his life: born in 1949 in Eritrea, educated there, and after years teaching in Keren, he moved to Norway in 1977 where he continued his community and cultural work. Daberi.

He is remembered as a major figure in preserving and promoting Blin language and heritage, co-founding Daberi.org and supporting community radio efforts. Daberi.

What he contributed

Language and cultural preservation: He worked for decades to safeguard the Blin language and culture, seeing language as central to identity and community continuity. He spent over four decades on this mission. Daberi.

Writing and scholarship: He authored and published works on Blin language, including at least a 1992 introductory phonetics and grammar book noted in linguistic references. Glottolog

Educational and research materials: His profile on Academia.edu lists multiple papers, books, conference presentations, and teaching documents—showing ongoing efforts to document, teach, and plan for the Blin language. Independent Academia

Community recognition

A collection of condolences and eulogies describes him as a pillar of the diaspora community, praising his tireless work, financial and intellectual support for radio, and lasting legacy. Daberi. These messages highlight both his personal dedication and the void felt by the community after his passing.

Status

He passed away in 2023, Daberi.

In short: Tekie Albekit was a central, respected figure for the Blin community—an educator, linguist, writer, and cultural advocate—whose decades-long work in exile helped keep the language, history, and identity of his people alive.

ተከኤ ዓልበኪት-ቲ አልብድኑ

IN MEMORY OF TEKIE ALBEKIT

By Daberi Blin Language Forum members.

Dr. Kiflemariam Hamde

Zeremariam Yohannes

Fitsum Asfeha

Kebreab Tesfamicael

Abdella Abraha

Mateawos Arayya

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