Translating as New Flower in Amharic, Addis Ababa has been the centre of Ethiopia’s many ancient kingdoms and the decision point of trying times throughout its history. Today, it finds itself at the helm of the fastest developing African country and the third fastest growing economy of this millennia, with all the challenges these transformations bring.

Such rapid growth has seen changes both in the aesthetics and in the intrinsic flow and energy of the city. It brings together a wide cross-section of the country’s historically un-colonised and fiercely proud peoples and their traditions with a rapidly expanding capitalist environment.

Apparent in the visibly shifting landscape of both the city’s skyline and its demographic is the gradual opening up to more western trends, which serve as markers in portraying the increasing chasm between the city’s rich and poor.

From extreme and extensive urban development to pockets of natural beauty, street vendors to fashion boutiques, religious discourse to musical fusion, traditional weaving to high end fashion shows, New Flower, Old Roots is an analogue window into the fast paced life in the capital of the country adequately dubbed the “Cradle of Civilisation”.

Photography and text Fabrice Bourgelle

Published on 12/04/2020