Addis Skate Girls

In March 2025, I photographed Addis Skate Girls in Ethiopia - young women breaking tradition through skateboarding. In a male-dominated society, they’ve built sisterhood, strength and self-expression while redefining femininity and freedom.

I had the privilege of photographing Addis Skate Girls during my first visit to Addis Abeba in March 2025, shortly after the end of Ramadan. I believe that what comes as result, is an intimate portrait of a remarkable female skate crew from Ethiopia - young women who are radically reshaping what it means to be a woman and grow up in a society still marked by patriarchy and tradition. It is a tribute to women who are rising with grace, grit and a collective force that can't be ignored.

In an environment that doesn’t cater much to them, these girls have built something beautiful together: a space of sisterhood, independence and transformation. They all come from diverse backgrounds but are united by their passion for skateboarding which also becomes their manifesto - a way to move freely, speak loudly and express their identities with pride. Lip gloss, religion, boards and bruises coexist here. Femininity is not compromised - it is redefined.

Skating during day and night, laughing, sipping buna (Ethiopian coffee) and caring for one another are daily rituals, grounded in both tradition and defiance. They are growing together while also navigating the push and pull between cultural expectations and personal liberation. Through their joy and shared strength, they challenge norms and embody the ongoing fight for equality and freedom of expression. They show what it means to be young, female and free in today’s contemporary Ethiopia. This photo project documents a celebration of independent individuals who are not only skaters but also bold agents of cultural change, navigating tradition while pushing for women’s rights and visibility.

This project was shot entirely on 35mm and 120mm film. All submitted images are original analog photographs.