Tigrinya speakers in Eritrea and Ethiopia are Tigrayans, but for political and historical reasons they've been separated, says linguist Dr. Weldu Weldeyesus. 

 

Photo: Emperor Yohannes IV (left) with his son and heir, Ras Araya Selassie Johannes, and General Ras Alula Engida (right). Historians credit the emperor and his general--both of whom were Tigrayans--with defending Ethiopian territory and Eritrea from Italian occupation.

 

Read the transcript here.