ETHIOPIA SKATE

We Just Wanna Skate

“
I am 16 years old,
I was born in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia,
And I have lived here all my life.
I fell in love with skateboarding two years ago,
Now I have taught 25 kids how to skateboard.

Most of these kids have a rough life, many don't go to school,
And work for a couple of dollars a day,
Besides surviving they don’t have much of a plan,
They do all kind of jobs, just to get by.

Skating empowers these kids to speak out and be individuals,
It gives them strength to face each day.
Ethiopia Skate Park is a place where kids learn more of themselves and others.

We just wanna skate.
”
Abenezer Temesgen's words 2013


Photography by Kibuuka Mukisa oscar

MERKATO, ADDIS ABEBA.

One of my humbling lifetime experiences as a photographer in 2014 was attending Addis FotoFest 3^rd edition, thanks to Goethe Institute and Moving Africa Program for funding the trip.

During the weeklong stay in Addis, I met renowned heads of the industry from the continent and beyond. Eyed incredible and educational photography, video and sculpture masterpieces of mind-blowing creativity, projects and motives by artists from across the planet. The diversity of the exhibited body of works ranging from art to documentary to portraiture to contemporary to studio and so on, made a remarkable learning and inspiring environment for me, additionally the portfolio-reviews by various experts, networking with fellow artists and art administrators.

By the end of the entire festival we became a family.

With pleasure I want to commend and express my gratitude to AidaMuluneh and team for everything.

Here are some images I captured from a day tour around Addis Ababa and most of it is from Merkato, Market. Some of the techniques applied in this collection are inspired by the festival experience, stimulated knowledge from feedback and inspiration.

Not forgetting to mention the great feeling of feasting on the real Ethiopian food and Macchiato.