She’s a woman (Photo Journal)

Here are random pictures of women that I have taken in different parts of Ethiopia. The portraits reveal the beauty and diversity of the women and their fabulous clothes. The pictures have never been published before and I’m sure you will find them of interest.

A traffic policewoman stands in the street of Konso Karat.
Though traditionally considered as unsuitable job for a woman, females are increasingly gaining admittance into police force. Young traffic policewomen are a common sight in many towns of Ethiopia.

A young lady in full-sleeved hand-woven fabrics photographed on Easter Day in Lal Hotel, Woldia.Her dress is embroidered with the cross motif typical of the Christian highlands.The waitress is gorgeous with her intricate braids.

A waitress wearing a colorful Gamo toga robe in Welayta Sodo beams with smile.Woven with intricate designs on wooden looms, the cloth is said to be one of the finest in Ethiopia.The lightest in weight is the most sought after:a single layer of white cotton muslin handsomely brocaded with a colorful, patterned band of varying width at each end.

An Argoba woman in Bati market wears factory-made colorful shawls, falling fetchingly off her shoulders. Though the Argoba in Wello speaks a language strongly related to Amharic, they have picked up Oromo modes of living and ways of wearing clothes and hairdressing.

A waitress in Hagere Mariam, Sidamo wearing a white robe with dark red stripes. This dress is mostly worn by Guji Oromo of the area, who in the past wore a leather dress. However, in recent times, there has been a process of substitution of leather for textiles.

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