The HABESHA Project

A dialogue across borders, languages, and histories.

Explore the Exhibit

An Exploration

The HABESHA Project is an exploration of shared histories between Eritrea and Ethiopia — stories of migration, memory, identity, and belonging. Through portraits, essays, and archival material, the project becomes both a cultural archive and a living conversation.

A city sidewalk scene with a red brick building, a Subway entrance sign, a window display with products, graffiti on the wall, and reflections on the wet street.

Music & Connection

We were honored to welcome Hermon Mehari — acclaimed Eritrean trumpeter and featured artist on the first track of our playlist — to a recent HABESHA Project event. His music carries the same spirit of dialogue and belonging that inspires this work.

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A smiling black man and woman standing together outdoors in a cityscape at sunset, with the woman wearing a white dress with colorful embroidery and gold jewelry, and the man in a black shirt.

Explore the Portraits

View the Portraits
Listen to the Stories
A woman with long dark hair smiling with eyes closed, wearing layered necklaces and a floral dress, sitting outdoors with greenery around her.
A woman with long black hair and a tan complexion sitting outdoors in sunlight, wearing a black dress with red floral pattern, layered necklaces, and a bracelet, surrounded by green plants.
A young person with orange hair standing on a sidewalk, leaning against a wall with colorful graffiti art of a woman with a head full of black dreadlocks and a stylized animal face, near a fire hydrant in an urban setting.
A person with orange curly hair standing outdoors in front of a white building with colorful artwork and windows. Trees are on either side, and a bicycle and parking signs are visible.
A young woman sitting on a bench in a city street, shaded by a large leafy tree on a sunny day with parked cars and historic buildings in the background.
A young woman with braided hair stands outdoors in front of a brownstone building. She is wearing a white dress with colorful embroidery and looks confidently at the camera.
A woman with braided hair standing on a city sidewalk in front of brownstone apartments.
Smiling woman with braided hair, wearing a sleeveless brown top and gold jewelry, standing outdoors with green foliage in the background.
A woman with brown skin and long braided hair stands outdoors in a green, wooded area, wearing a sleeveless brown top and jewelry.
A man sitting at a table in a restaurant or cafe, with a blurred background of store shelves and lighting.
A man sitting at a table in a spacious, elegant indoor setting with high arched windows and architectural details.
Four young girls sitting and standing on a brown sofa, dressed in traditional clothing, smiling, with a framed family photo and wall decoration in the background.

Stories & Essays

The essays in this project provide a framework for understanding — from the weight of history to the movement of migration, the challenges of borders, and the global presence of the Habesha identity.

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A woman with curly hair, wearing a strapless dark denim dress with a white cloth tied around her waist, standing outdoors with an earthy background featuring stone sculptures and columns, smiling at the camera.

Meet the Artist

Michal is a photographer and cultural documentarian whose work bridges art and scholarship. Through The HABESHA Project, she explores the spaces where identity, history, and belonging intersect.

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