Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
The cityscape of Addis Ababa, literally translated as New Flower, radiates in concentric whorls down from the Palace on the hill, Emperor Menelik’s abode that is now the home and office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, out towards city neighbourhoods like Urael, St. George’s Church in Piazza, and Ras Biru near Meskel Square, that were once camps administered by the nobility. The peasantry was settled on the farmlands between these camps, and with time, the informal city melded with the formal to weave the distinctive patchwork pattern of modern day Addis Ababa, where the wealthy live amidst the poor and many streets still have the whimsy of walking trails rather than the grid-pattern favoured by urban planners.
.png)
Impactful Wall Print
A beautiful and minimalistic wall print showcasing the Medhanealem Cathedral, located at the heart of Addis Ababa. The photo was captured by local photographer Gift Habeshaw.
When you acquire this print, you bring a piece of the city's essence into your space and support the artist and the local community. 50% of profits go to Ethiopiaid, a local charity, and a smaller percentage goes to the artist. It is an impactful contribution and collaboration between you and the local community.
See below for more details on the positive impact of this print.
Size
12x18
Photo by Gift Habeshaw
He is an incredibly talented photographer, graphic designer and cinematographer based in Addis Ababa. Specializes in street photographer, portraits and more. Check out his Instagram and Unsplash for more photos.
Contributing to Ethiopiaid
Ethiopiaid raise funds for local Ethiopian charities to transform lives and achieve lasting change. Their vision – an Ethiopia in which every person has access to quality education, healthcare and a life of dignity. Find out more here.
CURATED SIGHTS
A visual journey of Addis Ababa, as captured by Christian Tassew and Ruth Addisu.
Explore more curated photos, and the photographers behind them, by checking our Unsplash collection of Addis Ababa.
CURATED SOUNDS
Auditory exploration of the city/region. Sounds, playlists, and other interesting content. (more to come)
CITY SOUNDS
Addis Ababa Street Sounds
MUSIC
The otherworldly compositions of an Ethiopian nun.
_
Addis Ababa had a burgeoning music scene after WWII, but in the 60s and 70s artists like Mulatu Astatke made the city a truly swinging place to be. Drawing from a lush bed of regional Ethiopian folk traditions, Astatke and others created jazz funk filled with hypnotic organ riffs, haunting vocal melodies and disarming sax lines - a beguiling sound that was far greater than the sum of its parts.
Ethiopiques Vol 8: Swinging Addis
70's Ethiopian Jazz Funk/Soul Folk
_
Ethiopia Grooves: Addis Ababa in the '60s and '70s
_
Yoseph Gedefaw is an Azmari, a traditional musician and singer of song-stories, who lives in Birbuax, Gondar in Ethiopia. He leaves his village to meet other Azmaris in the capital, Addis Ababa, where he hopes to improve his musicianship and find work. In this film, filmmaker Henok Mebratu follows his journey, immersing us in Yoseph’s musical world and sharing some of the rituals of his community, as he struggles in the big city.