The book
Visit Awra Amba
A photo book that tells the adventurous story of Awra Amba and her long journey towards social justice | read the foreword
Foreword
I have always been fascinated by people and initiatives that provide beauty, fortitude and drive towards positive change by subverting traditional norms, turning tables, challenging the status quo
It is for this reason that I have accepted the invitation of the Awra Amba community for my organization — Ayzoh! —to create a photographic publication and a web site detailing their story.
My initial introduction to Awra Amba came from a sociologist based in Halden, Norway who specializes in Ethiopian social phenomena. His recommendation was straightforward: “It’s a unique location that you must experience. They had an atypical utopian ideal that others viewed as eccentric, but they managed to realize it.”
Utopia?
These days, numerous scholars still regard Awra Amba as a utopian community. However, the concept — formulated half a century ago by Zumra Nuru and a group of farmers lacking formal education — has materialized into a tangible reality.
I resided with the locals in the village for two months and equipped them with communication tools to enable the members of the community to share their experiences in their own words. This initiative yielded this publication and the accompanying website.
“Visit Awra Amba” is a photographic publication that captures the community’s daily lifestyle. The images depict daily life in the community. The pictures were taken using natural light and only the front cover photo was staged. These moments are accessible to all visitors. I have also added visitor comments alongside the photos.
My aim was to capture the village ambiance simply and effectively. I aimed to portray the emotions embodied by Awra Amba, including hope, gratitude, solidarity, sisterhood, and brotherhood, in an objective manner.
Thus, “Visit Awra Amba” is not intended to be a scholarly or journalistic work, but rather a means of sharing the positive vision of a utopia transformed into reality.
It should not be assumed that I fully endorse all of the community’s principles; however, I do support their ideals of fair economics, gender equality, childcare, religious freedom, standing in solidarity with the vulnerable, and embracing brotherhood without categorization.
I have reservations about some contradictions that I have observed, and I do not agree with some of the moral rules that regulate community living, as they do not align with my libertarian values.
But I value honesty and transparency. Therefore, I have made it known that I do not engage in deception within my personal life or in my private space in the village. The community’s reaction to my statement was unexpected: so far, I have always been respected for my ideas and behaviours.
This is another aspect that impressed me: Awra Amba’s society is remarkable in that individuals place a high value on honesty, refraining from lying, cheating, or manipulating others.
The facts
Here are the facts: poverty has been eliminated, a supportive and cooperative social system has been created, religious conditioning has been rejected (which is unrelated to spirituality and the awe we should feel towards Creation), the mystique of romantic relationships has been overcome, and violence — particularly against women and children — has been eradicated.
It’s clear to say that — in spite of some contradictions and areas that could be improved — this has been a highly successful experiment in social innovation that is unique in the world.
However, one question remains: can the Awra Amba model be exported? The “Visit Awra Amba” initiative does not address this query.
Therefore, this publication encourages you to visit the Awra Amba Community to experience the lifestyle, projects, and activities in the village firsthand and formulate your own assessment.
Let’s not surrender to the status quo
As for my time there, I’ll let the pictures do the talking. All I can say is that it was a positive experience that left me feeling optimistic about the future.
Although not religious, I discovered a principle of Sufism in Awra Amba that I believe and strive to follow:
“What is the meaning of prayer? Prayer is about living a good life — not to steal, lie, or do bad things. Prayer is not something to be done five times a day. Every action is connected with prayer — when you wake up, eat, or walk, you should pray. Through life you have to pray – prayer is respect and friendship towards women, equality between humans regardless of their ethnicity or religion, unity and peace, working together. Prayer is about being conscious in all what you do…”
Consciousness… Awra Amba has shown me how we — as thinking individuals with free will — can aspire to something beyond what is dictated by those in power, by societal norms, by religious indoctrination, and by secular psychological conditioning.
While our ideas may not fully align with those in the village, Awra Amba is an exceptional community that reminds us — without making us appear unrealistic —that creating an alternative society is achievable.
Claudio Maria Lerario / Ayzoh!
