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SOLE REST


SOLE REST

A well-earned day off for shoes that have walked more miles than most of us dare to dream. On the sidewalks of the Bethel neighborhood, sneakers line up to dry while the shoeshine trades polish for gossip, stitch up tired soles, and sneak in a chat with friends, because even shoes need a social life. The air hums with laughter and wax mingling, and the occasional clink of a shoeshine brush hitting a tin of polish. For a few hours, the streets are a quiet hub of camaraderie, creativity, and the unspoken bond between soles and souls.

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IRON JUNGLE

Somewhere between “Monday morning motivation” and “this job definitely didn't come with a user manual,” a lone artisan of steel crouches in the middle of what looks like a metal jungle gym designed by a very ambitious architect. Armed with a welding mask, gloves, and the kind of focus that says “I have seen things you wouldn't believe,” he wrestles with a stubborn piece of machinery that looks like it lost an argument with gravity years ago and never recovered. Around him: a fores...


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STREET SPARKS

At Gabon Street near Meskel Flower Roundabout, a multi-deck car carrier stacked with brightly modified rally vehicles moves through the capital's grey afternoon, drawing attention without trying too hard. The convoy feels out of place in the daily rhythm of traffic, yet it signals something bigger taking shape beneath the surface. These purpose-built machines point to a growing motorsport and automotive subculture finding space in the city's evolving leisure economy. As Addis Ababa continues...


In-Picture

SMILE CRAFT

In the heart of 4 Kilo, tradition is still very much in business. The city's most underrated essential accessory is on full display: the humble Miswak also known as mefaqiya in Amharic. No toothpaste needed, just grab it and go like past generations. It's a reminder that success doesn't always arrive in grand announcements, it gets built, stubbornly and patiently, one small branch at a time. Even ambition here has a manual setting. Keep your focus sharp, your intentions cleaner than freshly p...