Abinet Teshome

The books that almost didn’t make it. 📦✈️

Shipping “Reframe Ethiopia” from Germany to Addis Ababa was supposed to be the easy part.

• Sent: Dec 4 (Germany)
• Arrived: Dec 13 (Addis)
• Customs Clearance: 22 long days.
• The Cost: 30,000 ETB in taxes.

It’s not always easy to bring international creative work back home. We missed our opening day deadline, and we faced hurdles we didn’t see coming. But art has a way of finding its way to the people.

To everyone who helped us push the process through and to our supporters who waited patiently—thank you. The books have arrived, the story is told, and the lesson is learned.

Note to fellow artists: When shipping to Ethiopia, “early” is never early enough!

I’m excited to share my recent interview with journalist Genet on Ethiopia’s national broadcaster EBC, Entertainment program about the Reframe Ethiopia exhibition and Artawi Gallery.

Watch the full show on EBC’s YouTube channel—link in bio.

Exciting News! My First Solo Exhibition: “Reframe Ethiopia” 🇪🇹📸

This is a dream come true and the culmination of a decade-long passion, effort, and journey.

Early in my photography career, I noticed a striking difference between the international image of Ethiopia—often focused on drought and conflict—and the beautiful reality I witnessed growing up and traveling the country. Seeing the truth with my own eyes was a revelation!

My exhibition, “Reframe Ethiopia,” is a dedication and a gift to this beautiful country. It’s an invitation to unlearn old assumptions and see the true identity of Ethiopia through quiet, balanced compositions: the resilient people, peaceful communities, and majestic, often overlooked landscapes.

This marks the close of one significant chapter in my journey and the start of another. I would love for you to join me to celebrate the beauty, truth, and dignity of Ethiopia!

• Opening: Sunday, Dec 21, 2025
• Time: 2pm – 6pm
• Location: Artawi Gallery
• Exhibition runs through: January 11th
See you there! 🙏

Four years ago, on March 15, while photographing the streets of Megenagna, we were harassed and arrested—just for practicing street photography.

Fast forward to today, Sehin Tewabe has completed her artist residency in New York as the winner of the Women Street Photographers Artist Residency, selected from over 150 photographers worldwide! She was mentored by , captured the streets of NYC, and just opened her solo exhibition at the Women Street Photography Festival.

The journey hasn’t been easy, but pushing boundaries always pays off. Even when the environment is against you, keep going—your efforts will be seen.

Congratulations, Sehin! You inspire us all. Keep pushing!

📷 🙏🏾

.samoilova