Comments on: Tadias Q & A With Photographer Michael Tsegaye: Addis Ababa’s Red Light District

By: nahom

nahom — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:22:21 +0000

amazing pictures!….keep it up!

By: Mimi

Mimi — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:33:37 +0000

Pascal,

Hiding reality for the sake of advertisement is propaganda! The existence of Prostitution can not be denied. And who are you to tell another Ethiopian that he should not return home? And who are you to deny him his birthright? Yene wondim, that would be a crime – but then you probably don’t know that either

By: Antonio Jaen

Antonio Jaen — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:05:19 +0000

@Pascal

I have no idea of what you know about information, but thanks to people like you, there are tons of problems and realities around the world that are buried in silence. Prostitution is a part of Ethiopia as it is many of the other pieces that the photographer has exposed in several countries around the world, getting that Ethiopia is on the table and people talk about their problems. You are thinking of reputation and image when the author is worried about the problems his country, and yours too, I presume, has.

Your last sentence sounds a bit threatening though… are you going to wait for him at the airport to attack him? That would help to the image of Ethiopia, that one you defend so fiercely.

Pascal, do a favour to your country: shut up!

By: Ras Mitat

Ras Mitat — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:42:37 +0000

interesting conversation…

By: Sally

Sally — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:25:32 +0000

To lead a happy life, you need some hobbies that spur your creativity and ignite your passion. And for me, photography keeps me sane.

By: Mehret Tekola

Mehret Tekola — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 05:26:56 +0000

Michael Tsegaye, job well done. This is why they say a picture is worth a thousand words!

By: mamo

mamo — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 03:11:27 +0000

what’s wrong with commercial sex?

By: pascal

pascal — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 10:02:39 +0000

Introducing Ethiopia by prostitutes. that is very bad. Hey my fellow Ethiopians, why dont we concentrate selling the good part first , improving the bad one in the meantime?
Having a shot around sebategna and exhibition it in Europe or America mean insulting Ethiopia. I have an advice to the photographer…just dont manage to go to Ethiopia!

By: Wallia

Wallia — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 03:15:34 +0000

Most of them are from rural areas, brought to the city by brokers (delalas) who persuade them to work as prostitutes. The prostitutes operate in bars, hotels, and local brew selling places. I agree that health issues, pregnancy, AIDS, as well us unemployment are factors in the sexual network between women and their clients, young girls who engage in sex with adults for gifts and money.

By: Dr. Hiwot Girma

Dr. Hiwot Girma — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 02:20:34 +0000

They face high health risk!! These young girls engage in sexual activity and behavior with married men, businessmen, civil servants, truck drivers, day laborers, university students, etc. How do they protect themselves health wise?

By: Inqoye Ber (Gate of Princess Inqoye)

Inqoye Ber (Gate of Princess Inqoye) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 01:09:58 +0000

I live in Gondar and female sex workers are numerous in Enkoye Meske, historically considered to be where commercial sex started in Ethiopia. The other important neighborhoods where the women operate include Arada and ‘Buluko Sefer.’ There are permanent and transient sex workers in Gondar. Transient sex workers stay in Gondar for days or months and move to Metema, the site of a big sesame plantation, during harvest season.

By: Brooks

Brooks — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 23:59:01 +0000

As Joey Adams put it, “ever since Eve gave Adam the Apple, there has been a misunderstanding between the sexes about gifts” Ha!!!!!!, very intersting.

What ever we feel about this subject, morality is not absolute. When survival is threatened there is less room for moral choice. Even in our codified religions,morality doesn’t follow —Though shalt kill — I mean when life is threatened you kill to save your life right?. Thanks.

By: Fasika Shiferaw

Fasika Shiferaw — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:42:18 +0000

Amazing effort. incredible results. way to go! Michael

By: Rahel

Rahel — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 18:36:15 +0000

Do you think women will engage in the so called “oldest profession” (hunting and gathering is the oldest profession) if they have a better alternative, like being a professor or a pilot? I don’t think so. THINK.

By: Ula

Ula — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 18:33:57 +0000

The photographer needs to visit Gonder, Ethiopia, enqkoye sefer – the oldest real red light district in Ethiopia still in existence after 2000 years. may be not 2000 years but very old..it is even known that Ethiopian Kings used to party there!!

By: SirMarjAlot

SirMarjAlot — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 16:44:34 +0000

Excellent pics of the working girls in Addis Ababa. I know its popular with sex tourists but never been myself.

By: Yoni

Yoni — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 13:12:25 +0000

It is the oldest profession in the world. Every city needs to have a red-light-district!

By: Mekdelawit

Mekdelawit — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:34:00 +0000

The words that come to mind are sensitive, poverty, hardship, …I can see in their eyes the future is dark for these girls. why did the photographer choose black and white photos as opposed color photographs? I think color would have enhanced his point. Otherwise, well done!

By: Aman

Aman — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 10:23:10 +0000

It will be interesting to see the contrast in background (poor, middle-class, rich) between high cost and low cost. Michael Tsegaye focuses on the poor backgrounds only, likely their families are often suffering hardship. …thus prostitution is the only way to make a living. But for others it could be a complimentary income.

By: Zel - Fellow Photographer

Zel - Fellow Photographer — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 03:25:15 +0000

I like these photos because unlike other images of the same genre these are socially conscious. They say many things and speak volumes.