For Tigray by Gabrielle Tesfaye

On November 4th, 2020, unelected Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed declared a genocidal war on Tigray, the northernmost regional state of Ethiopia. His administration has limited and blocked access to electricity, aid, food, and water for millions of Tigrayan civilians. Through a conflict so saturated in political debates, For Tigray looks through the lenses of the people. From life before the war, and the collective future on the horizon.

will you remember us? by Nala Haileselassie

to the lost daughters of ashenda.

your song in our hearts forever,

your dance guiding us to the light.

from the bottom of my heart by Sabah Abaddi

Artist Statement

as i’m getting older, i’m feeling more and more connected with my parents. they fled ethiopia during derg and have made so many more sacrifices since then.

when i came across this video of tigrayan children singing, i felt that it really captured the pure spirit of tigray, and it really resonated with me and how i feel about my own parents. it also made me feel for the children in tigray who have had their parents taken from them, so i wanted to dedicate this animation to them and represent the love we have for our parents, whether they’re still with us or not.

Tigray Ti’wet by Gabrielle Tesfaye