Illustration painting a scene in Eritrea of a man pouring freshly roasted coffee from a Jebena to single-pour porcelain cups called finjals during "boon".

A good host always offers their guests food and tantalizes their senses with incense. The coffee ceremony is gendered and typically a woman would host, roasting fresh green beans amongst her guests who enjoy it’s deep aroma. In the meantime, guests are talking politics, sharing updates on family, and the latest hot gossip. The space fills with chatter and sips and before long, 2 hours have passed.

Coffee, translated as “boon” in Tigrinya, holds a strong symbolic significance as it emphasizes the communal nature of the culture where family, togetherness, and sharing are highly valued. Sitting amongst loved ones permits us to decompress and tune out the outside world while we focus on the joy we get from those closest to us.

Created for the Cyber Baat Exhibition, bringing together African artists from all over the globe.

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