Slippery Locks


Slippery Locks

Rows of slippers are hung in the locker rooms of employees at a horticulture farm in Koka, Oromia Regional State. Ethiopia has experienced significant success in flower exports, doubling in eight years to around half a billion dollars last year. Concerns over employee safety and wages have coincided with the industry's growth. Recent regulatory changes have entailed codes for sustainable flower farming that include the safe use of pesticides, water management, and social justice. This stems from the global notoriety of the industry for poor working conditions, health risks and low wages. The government has also introduced a series of incentives to increase floriculture investments, like easy access to land at nominal lease rates and half a decade-long income tax exemptions.

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In-Picture

SOLID COTTON

This sculpture, nestled in Shiro Meda, the bustling heart of Addis's traditional clothing scene, stands as a towering tribute to the women who spun cotton by hand for generations. In every curve and contour, the statue echoes the quiet strength of those whose hands transformed humble cotton into vibrant cloth, keeping tradition alive one delicate thread at a time. ...


In-Picture

TURF POLITICS

In Addis Abeba's Cherkos neighborhood football turf wars, everyone's a player, and a referee, until it's their turn to swap the whistle for cleats. With public recreational spaces in short supply, these pitches are more than just play, they're the capital's unofficial stress therapy clinics durng the rainy season where most young boys are out of school and have time to waste on their hands and not worry about school work for a few months. ...


In-Picture

CONCRETE JUNGLE

Who needs amusement parks when your daily commute includes dodging puddles, navigating algae swamps, and performing tightrope acts on a concrete moat? This overpass in CMC offers all the thrills, no ticket required. Just bring an umbrella, hiking boots, and maybe a kayak. A lone pedestrian clutches a checkered umbrella like a lifeline while weaving along a narrow strip of semi-dry ground. On either side: stagnant green water, mud, and neglected concrete barriers that seem better suited to a demo...