Mendefera


Mendefera, formerly Adi Ugri, is an ancient town which is now the capital city of the Debub Region of Eritrea. The town's name derives from the high hill in the center of the city and it means that "who dared it"or "መን ደፈራ" as it was a jungle and is a source of pride to Eritreans. The city is a reminder of the local anti-colonial movement.

History

Mendefera/Adi-ugri is an ancient town of the D'mt kingdom which was established as early as the fifth century BCE. It evolved into an important city in the Aksumite civilisation. Though satisfactory excavations were not made yet, A graveyard which dated back to 2nd century BCE has been found and it contained skeletons, pottery, necklace and bronze bracelets. Numerous buildings have been excavated since 1959, with both crosses and local and Roman coins found. Many areas, including tombs, have yet to be explored.
The town is now bustling market town in a fertile region of Eritrea. It is a place where small and large scale factories produce different products.
Mendefera is famous for its anticolonial movement during the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie and is a great fighter contributor of the Eritrean Libration Front as it is home to one of the old schools in Eritrea, San Gorgo.

Location

Some villages in the vicinity of Mendefera include Adi-Bari, Zban ona, Adi-ugri, Berak, Adi-Gahad, Dandere genet, Adi-Zarna, Adi-Blay, Adi-Hare, Enda amanuel, Mai Noh, Embezarb, kudofelasi, Adi-Ada, Deranto, Adi Bana, Adi Garma, Adekemene, May Lbus, Adi Groto, Kloawlia, Ginebale, Adekeseyemti, Kefta, Adewehaza, Egri mekel,....

Climate

Mendefera has a borderline hot semi-arid climate that borders both on a cool semi-arid climate and a subtropical highland climate. Except during the humid wet season of July and August when heavy cloud cover depresses temperatures by around, daytime temperatures are very warm to hot; however, the thin, dry air means that mornings are pleasantly cool throughout the year.