Introduction
Indisputably a community-oriented word — similar to Arab, Latinx, and Desi – Habesha colloquially refers to Eritreans and Ethiopians, with its meaning varying across individuals and communities. What does this word mean? That’s a great question that many cannot succinctly answer. The word appears rooted in Arabic, appearing in the Quran, but how the word was adopted by our region and in what context is still disputed.
In today’s context, some Eritreans and Ethiopians use this word as a way to indicate a shared culture across ethnic groups, while others perceive it as a way to minimize the significance of their specific ethnic group’s identity. The word is normalized in our community despite the uncertainty of how it will be received from person to person, and has been increasingly used to identify us by those outside of our community.
With this in mind, I interviewed 20+ Eritreans and Ethiopians on their relationship and understanding of the word, asking questions such as: Do you identify as Habesha? Who is Habesha? I started the interviews by focusing on personal experiences and opinions internal to the community, before moving to how the image of our community has grown and evolved among the African diaspora, in the U.S. and globally.
The term Habesha is a reflection of cultural interconnectedness—but it can also erase. This project holds space for both unity and nuance. In amplifying voices from across both communities, HABESHA honors our shared cultural histories while also giving room to the personal stories and lived realities that challenge, question, and expand what Habesha truly means today.
This project is ultimately a love letter to my younger self—an Eritrean-American girl who never fully resonated with the dominant narratives. It was born from years of questioning: What does it mean to belong? Who gets to claim an identity? How do we hold space for both pride and pain? After traveling solo across the world, growing in my photography practice, and navigating the complexities of diaspora life, I knew it was time to create something that spoke directly to our community.
At its core, this project is about showing that Habesha is more than just a word. It’s a reflection of identity, connection, and evolution. Through intimate conversations and cultural storytelling, we’re amplifying voices and tracing the threads that bind us across borders—and honoring the legacy it holds for both the Eritrean and Ethiopian diasporas.