PHOTO: Banana Harvest in the Lush Konso Highlands of Southern Ethiopia

Banana harvest in the lush Konso Highlands of Southern Ethiopia

Until the early 1980’s most cultivated land around Arba Minch, Ethiopia, was devoted to growing maize, cotton and sweet potato. In 1984, experts in Ethiopia’s office of agriculture began discussions with area cooperatives, hoping to convince farmers to plant Cavendish bananas on a portion of their land. This had been attempted previously, with little success. … Read more

PHOTO: Traditional Woven Hut in Amora Gedel National Park, Hawassa, Ethiopia

Traditional woven hut in the town of Hawassa in Southern Ethiopia

In Amora Gedel National Park, on the shores of Lake Awassa in Hawassa, Ethiopia, I happened upon this this traditional woven hut, constructed in the style of the Sidama people. These descendants of the ancient Kingdom of Kush live around the lakes in Ethiopia’s Great Rift Valley. Today the Sidama and their sub-tribes number about … Read more

The Magnificent Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia

View over Bete Georgis (St. George) Church from an adjacent hillside

Imagine being a slave in Ethiopia during the 12th and 13th century reign of King Lalibela. Now imagine being handed a chisel, hammer, and an axe, and told to carve a three-story high church out of solid rock. Inconceivable, certainly. But when you consider that the King actually completed construction of the 11 magnificent rock-hewn … Read more

PHOTO: Hamer Tribe Woman at a Weekly Market in Turmi, Ethiopia

A Hamer tribe woman in southern Ethiopia picks her teeth with a twig of Neem while selling butter at the local market in Turmi

In Southern Ethiopia, a Hamer tribe woman picks her teeth with a twig of Neem while awaiting customers at the local market in Turmi. The Hamer are one of some 56 indigenous tribes that live in southern Ethiopia, in an area designated the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region. The Hamer (sometimes spelled Hamar) are … Read more