The Faces of Ethiopia: A Photoblog

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Ethiopia, a magical land of over 90 million people, is one of the most diverse nations in the world with over 83 distinct languages and 200 dialects. What stunned me the most about Ethiopians is how such a diverse group of people live in peace and harmony. Over half the population is Orthodox Christian and the next largest religious group is Muslims making up around 45% of the population. Despite their different religious beliefs, Muslims and Christians live side by side and oftentimes there can be a mixture of religions within families due to marriage. The main eight ethnic groups also live together peacefully which says a lot about this poverty-stricken nation in the heart of Africa.

While I was in Ethiopia these past two weeks, Oxford University released The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), ranking Ethiopia as the second poorest country in the world just ahead of Niger. The report claims that although Ethiopia has made some progress, Ethiopia is still home to more than 76 million poor people, the fifth largest number in the world after India, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The report also claims that the highest percentage of poor live within the rural areas which is no surprise given the fact that over 85% of Ethiopians earn a living off the land.

Despite the often heartbreaking, overwhelming poverty of the Ethiopian people, the one thing they all seemed to have in common is resilience and resolve with their place in this world. I had never seen so many genuine, welcoming smiles upon their faces despite the hardships they face. I was always greeted with curiosity, warmth and kindness by the Ethiopians I met. Here are some of my favorite faces of Ethiopia.

Faces of Ethiopia

 

I have many stories to share over the next few months. Stay tuned….

This post is based on my reporting trip to Ethiopia with the International Reporting Project. #EthiopiaNewborns on twitter and social media. 

 

43 thoughts on “The Faces of Ethiopia: A Photoblog”

  1. Wow, Nicole, these photos, these faces, are stunning! Such powerful images, my friend.

    Hugs from Ecuador,
    Kath

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Kathy, you are one of my greatest supporters! I truly sincerely thank you and know someday I will make it to Ecuador to meet you and Sara in person!

      Reply ↓
  2. Sue Slaght – Calgary, Alberta Canada – www.traveltalesoflife.com Many years from now, when I am an old lady sitting in the nursing home, I hope to be the twinkly eyed resident still entertaining anyone who I can corner to listen, about all of the wild adventures attempted in a lifetime. Well into the second half of the game of life there is no time like the present to get out there, live big and laugh a lot. Living in Calgary, Alberta, married to my best friend Dave for over thirty years and Mom to adult children; my decades as a nurse have shown that in a moment life can change completely. Passionate about social justice, volunteerism and not letting the phrase “What would people think?” or my own fear get in the way of trying something new; the possibilities are endless. Enjoy the tales and I hope you will be inspired to try something you have been thinking about doing.
    Sue Slaght on said:

    Beautiful and powerful images Nicole. I look forward to more.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Sue! 🙂 I have more as you know!!! 🙂 Just need to figure out how to tell all these stories. I learned so incredibly much!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Sally! I am glad you enjoyed. It was hard to take pictures there as oftentimes we were indoors with no light in people’s homes. These ones turned out nice though. 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! You should go! Ethiopia is amazing.

      Reply ↓
  5. jaime perez – Maracay, Estado Aragua, Venezuela – Born and stablished in Maracay, Venezuela, I´m a teacher and a passionate about photography. The idea of this blog is to share my vision of the world trough my pictures as welll as enjoying the views of the rest of the Wordpress comunity. Feel free to take a look and coment any post in my blogs; I'll appreciate it and I´ll take your feedback into consideration.
    jaime perez on said:

    Congrats Nicole, I can easily imagine this was an extraordinary and potentially life-changing experience. And, though, I’m not surprised you’ve brought this amazing-stock-of-beautiful-and-full-of-content images from Ethiopia and its people, I am left with this so symbolic (as you often used to) last one: Ethiopian children getting over their hardships and going towards a better and clearer future. Brilliant capture!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much Jaime! I am really glad you enjoyed the photos. Yes they show heartache, hardship and hope. 🙂

      Reply ↓

  6. Hi Nicole,
    They were lovely pictures. Maybe we can learn something from them. Our priorities are a little mixed up.
    Leslie

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Leslie. Yes, it drives me crazy because our priorities are mixed up. It is hard to come back sometimes after being in a place like Ethiopia. I often find that the people in these places are happier with much less than the ones in the western world who seem miserable with way too much. That is why I travel. 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much Angeline! Yes it was an incredible trip and now I have my heart set on seeing more of Africa. It is truly a magical place.

      Reply ↓
  8. anotherjennifer – Brunswick, Maine – Jennifer Iacovelli is an author, blogger and nonprofit unicorn. Based in Brunswick, Maine, she’s a proud single mom of two boys and two Siberian huskies. Her books include The Mother Of All Meltdowns and Simple Giving: Easy Ways to Give Every Day. Her work has been featured on HuffPost Divorce, Maria Shriver, GOOD, BlogHer, ONE, USAID Impact, Feed the Future, PSI Impact blog and more. Her passions are writing, philanthropy, her awesome kids, bacon and lifting heavy objects, though not necessarily in that order.
    another jennifer on said:

    Gorgeous photos, Nicole. I was struck by the level of poverty when I visited Nicaragua, but so amazed by how happy and kind the people were. Can’t wait to hear more about your trip!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Jennifer! Yes isn’t it true that oftentimes people of poverty seem way happier than we do here in the US? We take so much for granted and often our priorities in life are really messed up. We need to chat soon. I will try you next week!!!

      Reply ↓

  9. These are really powerful photos which makes me rethink about my current life which I should be appreciating.. Love to catch more of your updates in the future..

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! I am so glad you enjoyed the photos. Yes they really make you think about life. 🙂

      Reply ↓
  10. Ron Hillmar – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – I was born in 1973 in a small town in the middle of Holland, not coincidentally the green heart of the Netherlands. From early on my parents took me on some far away travels, including a year abroad as a 5-year old in the Amazon jungle of Surinam, which probably ignited my love for Mother Nature and all it´s beauty and ugliness. Since my return trip to Surinam in 1988 my interest for photography grew and especially the interaction between humans and the planet we live on and the influence we have on it. On that first journey I started photographing and exploring things and places which were left behind by us and nature embraced (again). After that my camera came with me on many journeys around the world including amazing places like Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Southwest US, many countries in Africa and ofcourse around Europe. It was a matter of time before I wanted to move abroad and focus on photography and my interest in abandoned structures and landscapes started by settling in Zaragoza in the Northern part of Spain. After 2 years exploring the province of Aragon and all its landscapes, abandoned villages and many other trips around Spain we moved to Madrid. A year later we took a big leap to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the amazing beauty of South East Asia is now at my doorstep.
    Rondje on said:

    Such beautiful photos of beautiful people, thanks for sharing!
    Greetings, Ron.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Really glad you enjoyed the photos Ron!

      Reply ↓
  11. Marilyn Albright – Home Based in Sterling, Alaska – Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula has been home for more than 40 years. My husband, David, and I live on 10 acres of forest near the town of Soldotna. We are more or less retired, meaning we are retired from gainful employment but not from life! Our son lives in Australia and our daughter in Colorado. Photography, fiber arts, reading, and hiking/walking are some of my interests, and David shares my love of gardening, camping, cooking, and traveling, plus he is our tech expert.
    Marilyn Albright on said:

    The woman wearing black ?rubber gloves with her hands in a yellow pan – is she dyeing yarn? And the one with six young men – I have a very similar one that I took in Guatemala. Seems like teen-aged boys are the same everywhere!
    Thanks for the wonderful photos of the Ethiopian people.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes the woman wearing rubber gloves is dyeing raw cotton which will be used to make scarves. We went to tour an NGO to help women off the streets by teaching them to make scarves. I am going to write about it in the common months. Glad you enjoyed the post!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Sue!

      Reply ↓
  13. LuAnn – Two young-at-heart retirees with a passion for exploring and the desire to "pay it forward".
    LuAnn on said:

    I think I enjoy your random photos of people the most Nicole. You have a way of capturing their spirit beautifully. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks LuAnn! I hoped these would turn out well. It is always hard when I’m in a rush. It was a busy trip so about half of my photos were not good but I felt these ones captured the heart and soul of the people. The Ethiopians were so warm, welcoming, kind and lovely. Truly wonderful people.

      Reply ↓
      • LuAnn – Two young-at-heart retirees with a passion for exploring and the desire to "pay it forward".
        LuAnn on said:

        I look forward to more posts.

      • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
        thirdeyemom on said:

        Thanks LuAnn! 🙂

  14. Madhu – Madhu is an Interior designer turned travel blogger on a long sabbatical to explore the world. When not crafting stories on The Urge To Wander, she's probably Tweeting @theurgetowander or sharing special moments on instagram.com/theurgetowander
    Madhu on said:

    Beautiful gallery Nicole. Love the children especially!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Madhu! I’m so glad you enjoyed! I loved the children the most too. They always ran up to me with their curious smiles and loved getting their photos taken. They giggled when I showed them the images!

      Reply ↓

  15. Gorgeous faces, well captured. There’s a lot of inequality in the world.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks and yes there is.

      Reply ↓
  16. anotherday2paradise – Durban South Africa and Florida USA – I enjoy writing about absolutely anything, and started blogging with WordPress in 2012. This was my 'Hammock Lady' blog, and I really enjoyed sharing my travels here: http://adinparadise.wordpress.com/ In November 2013, I decided it was time for a change of scenery, so I started my blog afresh, and here it is. I love to travel, and have been fortunate enough to do two round-the-world trips and visit more than forty countries so far. This year we visited our 7th continent, Antarctica. I enjoy photographing wildlife, especially in my backyard in Florida. I was born and brought up in England. My husband and I emigrated to South Africa in 1970. We now live in Florida, USA. I have a son and a daughter and five gorgeous grandchildren currently aged between 6 and 21 years. I'm so happy that you've taken the time to visit my blog, and would love for you to join me on my travels. Sylvia.
    anotherday2paradise on said:

    Such candid and beautiful captures, Nicole.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Sylvia! I have so much to catch up on but I’m happy with this post as it brings back so many memories of the trip.

      Reply ↓
  17. jules – Western Australia – I am an educator and published writer. I am a fully qualified Emmett, Reiki, MSTR (Scar Therapy) and AromaTouch practitioner. I am an active member of the Greens party and I believe we should be transitioning to a more sustainable and equitable world.
    jules on said:

    some great images

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! It was amazing. Very exhausting but I truly enjoyed it.

      Reply ↓

  19. Nicole, you are a master at portrait photography. You have captured the essence of the Ethiopian people, young and old. One question…I see that there are many weavers. What do they weave? Can they make a sufficient living with their weaving? This is truly a very diverse country. With 83 distinct languages, can they communicate with others or do they live in areas where they speak the same language?

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Oh thank you so much! 🙂 Yes there are lots of weavers but what I learned is actually it is traditionally a man’s job! Isn’t that interesting? We visited a scarf factory and the men from the villages were teaching the woman. As for the basket, plate and bowl weavers I think this is traditionally done by women but I’m not positive. The photos in this blog of the women weaving the bowls are doing it at a NGO called Project Mercy. They make the baskets to sell on the website in the states as a way to raise money for Project Mercy’s services which I’ll write about soon. As for the languages, I think most know Amharic the national language but I bet when you get really remote some people only speak in their distinctive languages. Good questions!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! Yes I enjoyed putting these photos together. That girl I saw at the edge of the fence was on an island monastery that doesn’t get too many tourists. I loved how she peered at us with questioning eyes.

      Reply ↓

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