Ethiopia bans nude pics
June 25th, 2008 | EthioPolitics.com |(AFP) Addis Ababa - Ethiopia has slapped a ban on what had been billed as the Horn of Africa nation’s first exhibition of nude photography, the photographer behind the show said on Wednesday.
Biniam Mengesha, 28, told AFP he had been planning to show 45 photos at the unprecedented exhibition - titled “Black Diamonds” - in the capital Addis Ababa from Friday through to July 4.
“Authorities from the ministry of culture asked me to submit my photos before the exhibition was inaugurated. Afterwards, they said: ‘This isn’t art, it’s pornography’,” Biniam said.
“The photographs are fine art and include partial nudity aided by digital photography. Had it not been censored, it would have been the first in our country.”
Biniam said he is arranging to show his images elsewhere in Africa in two months time. Culture ministry officials declined to comment.
Ethiopia is a largely conservative society, whose 81 million people are mostly Orthodox Christians and Muslims.
9 Responses to “Ethiopia bans nude pics”
By Ethiopia on Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
“Ethiopia is not America.”
We Ethiopias have our own history,morals and cultural value which we respect and abide by, Prostitution and adultery and polygamy is not allowed according to our christian value.
Of course one may argue that such nude as art of expression, but art has its limit too.
By Dagmawi on Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
As the ministry said ‘it is not an art it is pornography’. It is absolutely correct. Some people collect thier rubish idea from western countries bring it to Ethiopia. We have got our own religion, culture, traditions, etc. The art should reflect that.
By Dawit on Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
no use to be hypocrite! our tradition is no better than the westerns. I think every body has the right to express his/her ideas without any imposed limitation.
By belew on Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
Amazing! It is sad they prevented the exhibit from happening. You can add age restriction of some sort but going all the way to ban it is just plain wrong. While you can see the corrupt culture of Ethiopia at CheChinya in Addis … where you can do all the ‘immoral’ things in real time in broad day and night light … claiming Nude Pics are
By yehwalashet on Jun 27, 2008 | Reply
Daniel, please don’t waste your time on such rubbish things that have no thing do for our country and people. Make up your mind and focus on matters that will help us to curb our deep rooted social, political, and economical problems.
By torhar on Jun 27, 2008 | Reply
This is the case where Biniam and his likes completely lost their mind inspired by the western culture, forgot their roots and do harm their Ethiopian heritage. They would have better worked towards helping the starving farming communities thanks to the failed policies of Meles and Associates.
By Addise on Jun 27, 2008 | Reply
Go to washington Dc and visite some of the nude bar, you can see nude Ethiopians dancing shamelessly nude on the stage, and then ask your self if that nude dancer women was your mother or your sister.
By Chala on Jun 29, 2008 | Reply
This is one of those very rare occasions that I agree with the Regime in Ethiopia. The government are right in banning these nude pictures as pornographic.
The photographer may claim his work is an art worthy of our aesthetic delight and respect. So many cheap sensuous stuff these days tries to eloquently contradict us and pretend to be serious expressions many aspects of our intimate emotional lives.
But Remember! There is this big industry that commodifies sex and sells it as a mass product.Biniam,perhaps for his pecuniary gain and also perhaps for his want of a bit of fame, may have an aspiration to be part of that industry. He may have been ‘inspired’ by some sex industrialists in the U.S.A and wants take us to his show room while displaying his cheap products.Good ambition!
But, already a lot of other cheap competitive stuff has preceded him in Ethiopia and the market place may be awash with these goods. He may therefore be advised to change his way of seeking his fortune through some other profitable outlet. You know, there are many more ways to earn one’s livelihood. It doesn’t have to be necessarily selling porno materials.
May be Biniam does not or is unwilling to read the label on the cargo he is unloading on our shores. It reads ‘POLLUTANT:TOXIC:HAZARDOUS MATERIAL:BE WARNED!’