
Yesterday on the 20th December 2021, the state media house Ethiopian Press Agency dropped an article or a think piece by Joshua Melet about “Shotlai, the Mother of Tigray”. This is clearly where the government is going with things and it’s worrying. As the warfare continues and never ending in the Tigray region. If the warfare is in Western Tigray or now getting into Alamata. The state vilification of the ethnic group of Tigrayans doesn’t stop. This text is clearly so, as the article is speaking of the “beast” and demonize the mothers of Tigray. That shouldn’t be a thing, but it is and the state media is happy to publish this…
The text is beginning with this: “Some sections of our society believe that there is an evil spirit that prevents children from being born and growing up. They call this battle of the evil spirit “Shotlai”” (Melet, 2021).
When you start with this… you know where this is going and it isn’t getting better. It is only getting worse. Like the writer continues with:
“In the early hours of the morning, there are many mothers who have been ruined by the schizophrenia. Individually, we can refer to families affected by this problem. If we look at it as a society, it is not as if there is anyone who has snatched his children from Shotlai” (Melet, 2021).
So here it is a continuation of the vilification of the mothers, but in the next part it will become even more striking. As it should be bad enough to be like this, but now it takes a turn and the metaphors are becoming more vicious.
“The scorpion eats the fruit of the womb; It is very similar to the terrorist act of the so-called invisible enemy warfare that keeps races or generations from continuing. Probably a factor as to why they’re doing so poorly. The terrorist TPLF, on the other hand, is a beast that has been gnashing its teeth and gnashing its teeth for generations. Clothed in human form by nature; Speaks in human language: It is a gathering of a few individuals” (Melet, 2021).
Now that we have gone from “Shotlai” the evil spirit, the demon to becoming like a scorpion. The last time scorpions was cool was when Xzibit had it in his music videos in the early 2000. For the rest of us, it is a creator we despise and dislike with a passion. As it a creator which cause pain and suffering. There is nothing good to say about scorpions. So, this is just showing how the state tarnish the TPLF and make it a villain. We already seen over the last few months and year, how the state projects everything upon the TPLF and alleged all crimes upon them. While never shredding any proofs or evidence of such matters. Now, they are saying the TPLF is a beast like a scorpion and eats the fruits of the womb. That is clearly targeting the innocent child in belly and shows what sorts of levels of discomfort the state has towards the Tigray.
It just becomes more horrific, as the tale continues: “After handing over the fruit of their womb to the cannibals, they have no choice but to fight. The suffering of the mothers of Tigray does not end there; At the festival, they are forced to take photographs of children who have been abducted by scorpions. They then dance and use “Enber” to motivate others” (Melet, 2021).
So, the beast, the Shotlai, the scorpion is now turning into a cannibal who eats the children. They have to use their kids to pose at events and dance to get others to follow them. First, they take their children and make them warriors. They get trained by scorpions who doesn’t speak human language, but by the beast (aka the Devil). While possessing them to gather and be public about the festive seasons.
It continues: “He is well aware that the terrorist group is not fighting to defeat the Ethiopian people. Perhaps the best thing that will come out of this war is to force many young people to grieve for the mothers of Tigray. In the past, he may have had the pleasure of slaying innocent people and destroying institutions, as he did in the case of the satanic spirit. Beyond that, he will not destroy Ethiopia as he intended. His past experience has shown that the massacre of the people of Tigray is nothing if the group believes that it will gain political gain” (Melet, 2021). .
Here it is a continuation of everything else. As the mothers who was demonic and possessed is supposed to grieve over the losses, which was caused by the terrorist group. While we are not seeing what the Abiy regime have done to the Tigray region and not given access to it. The Federal Government have abandoned it and not given way to humanitarian assistance. Therefore, why should the mothers of Tigray stand idly by and trust in the government, which will not give it food, basic necessities or even use utilities.
So, it is hard to see a difference between a caring government and a supposed terrorist organization. When one is air-striking, blocking aid and coming with armed invasions, as well as steady massacres and never ceasing human rights violations. So, who is the satanic spirit? Here the writer is saying terrorist wants to kill their own for political gains. That is a sinister idea, but also shows the projection of the writer here. As, the state cannot contain anything and wants to project all of their acts upon others. That has been modus operandi of the state.
If you thought this was over… you are wrong: “Many mothers in Tigray are starving their children to death so that they do not starve to death. Once the group is mobilized, the people of Tigray will be overjoyed” (Melet, 2021).
Here we continue the path of destruction and now it’s the mothers who does this to their children. Surely, the man-made famine and the blocking of access to humanitarian access isn’t the fault of the mothers, but of the federal government, which has blocked it over the last 13 months. This is a vicious attempt of vilification of the mothers of Tigray and making them look like monsters too.
It ends with: “This difficult question for the mothers of Tigray should not only shorten the life of the group, but also open a new chapter in their children’s history. All of our people need to be morally capable of mothers in Tigray” (Melet, 2021).
So, the shotlai, the scorpion, the beast and the demon is supposed to take care of their kids and give them a new chapter in life. Alas, that sounds far fetched, because how can that be possible. In such a manner, that the rest of Ethiopia has to step in as mothers in Tigray.
That something like this is published and the state press thinks this is well use of their platforms. Says a lot about what the state is willing to do. The Ethiopian News Agency shows what sort of rhetoric and ideology is fine and dandy in December 2021. That they can demonize and make such an attempt of glorification of propaganda is tragic. As this is making all mothers of Tigray and the people of Tigray into beasts. That says it all…
This shouldn’t be a thing… but that is where we are and nothing can overshadow that the people allowing this to be published are appointees of the Prosperity Party. The Board of the EPA is all members of PP and has connections the Prime Minister. Therefore, this is the sort of thoughts and opinions, which is sanctioned and is promoted at this current age.
That should be a sign of how far the state goes and has the nerve to publish. Peace.


















