Magg. Teobaldo Folchi - Commissariato Regionale di Massaua - Brevi Cenni storico amministrativi sulle popolazioni, dal suddetto Commissariato Regionale dipendenti [Nota introduttiva]

Abstract

The “Commissariato Regionale di Massawa” was established in 1898 and its original border included Samhar, Sahel, Northern Dankalia and part of the Acchele Guzai. The task of its very first organization fell on major Teobaldo Folchi, who spent six busy months in the Eritrean coastal town. Beside his administrative occupations, major T. Folchi wrote an impressive 552 pages report on the “Commissariato”, detailing information about people, places and resources of each single village and ethnic group of the “Commissariato”. Many the aspects covered by this unique report: history, economics, culture and politics. It shows how the Italians attempted to penetrate the complexities of this particular area of Eritrea and it offers the chance to grasp the way knowledge was produced and organized by Italian colonial administrators. This effort was aimed at strengthening the colonial control of the local peoples, nevertheless the data presented in the report offer a fascinating insight of the Eastern Lowland societies at the end of the XIX century.