Martha Tadesse
ETHIOPIA
Martha Tadesse (she/her) is a humanitarian photographer from Ethiopia. Since 2016, she has collaborated with various local and international non-profits, traveling extensively across Ethiopia and other African countries. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to social issues, with a strong focus on human rights. Martha is currently focused on her long-term passion project, Wonderfully Made, which examines the intersections of faith, sexuality, and queer resistance within Ethiopia and its diaspora. Explore more of her work: www.marthinolly.com
Photography is my most powerful tool in this fight, serving as a form of resistance against the intentional erasure of marginalized groups. It acts as an archive, capturing stories, faces, and experiences that cannot be ignored or forgotten.Martha Tadesse
What role do you think art can play in social change?
Mainstream and social media spread misinformation and disinformation about LGBTQIA+ communities in Ethiopia. In response, I use a non-traditional approach to feminist knowledge production to combat such propaganda and online violence. Photography is my most powerful tool in this fight, serving as a form of resistance against the intentional erasure of marginalized groups. It acts as an archive, capturing stories, faces, and experiences that cannot be ignored or forgotten.
How would you describe your artistic practice as a feminist rapper in Iran?
I am working to create a digital archive that celebrates the resistance of queer Ethiopian and Eritrean communities, contributing to the larger social movement for greater visibility and rights for marginalized groups. This archive will serve as both a resource and a space where queer Ethiopians and Eritreans can engage, connect, and find a sense of community. It is also meant to contribute to the broader queer African archive, amplifying these voices within the larger context of queer African resistance.
What do you hope to achieve through this award?
My current project has been entirely self-funded thus far. Since May 2024, I have been able to document queer stories from DC, Maryland, Virginia, New York and my current home Philadelphia. However, the open call I had posted on my social media has led to so many interests from Ethiopian and Eritrean queer individuals across the US. This funding will help me cover travel costs and document more stories.
