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Show your shoes
During the production period we collected some stories about Ethiopians and shoes on this page. Enjoy!
"Shoes become tyres"
Ethiopia is a country of runners. People run as far as cars, when the tyres are outworn, the runner keeps on running. It might be on shoes made from old tyres. One size fits all.
Many Ethiopian people are rich when they can buy those shoes, made from old tires, I noticed when I visited the country for the Stichting Lalibela. Lots of people choose food for their money.
Shoes determine your image
My name is Abenet, I am Ethiopian and I am adopted. I have been in Ethiopa many times, I recently spent one year there. When you have lived in Ethiopia for a while you learn that shoes are very important. Your shoes and your hairstyle are everything. On every streetcorner you can see shoeshine-boys. Your shoes are your image, people judge you by them. A first impression is determined by your shoes. So always make sure they look absolutely spick and span. It doesn\'t even matter how the rest of your clothing looks, as long as your shoes are spotless. In Africa they get very dusty real soon, and in the rainy season they get covered with mud. Make sure you always clean them, even if they are broken. Sometimes it is necessary to polish them two or three times on one day. It is al lot, but just imagine people judging you by the dirt on them!
See Africa Differently
When you think about Africa, what do you see? Drought, hunger, disease…OR… progress, education and opportunity? Check out the website See Africa Differently for Good News from the continent and funny comedy video's by, among other, Michael Sheen and Julia Davis!
Misery Sells
'Statistics prove that less then half a percent of all Africans are threatened by famine or live as a refugee. In the media there is a disproportionate focus on these suffering people.'
The first thing my husband did when he reached america (we got into debts to pay for the tickets, not to mention the "chama cherash Engilit" I suffered at the various offices) was send me 50$ so i could buy a shoe. I, accordingly, bought the following pair f shoes (from Canaan, on bole road, for 400 birr) and sent him the photo so he'd know i actually bought the shoes and didn't waste the money. The first day I wore it though, it rained. It was an unexpected rain so i didn't have an umbrella with me. And since the rain was the first after months, the earth was dry. Before i know it, both my shoe and leg were covered with wet earth. I got to the university after so much "gifiya" and misery. By the time we left class, the rain has stopped. Everything looked cool and breathy. Until, that is, i run after a mini-bus and stepped into a swerage hole. It was dark, and the hole was filled with water. So it could easily be mistaken for solid ground even if it weren't dark. I fall flat on my face on the road and hurt my side; a side that made sleeping difficult for almost 3 weeks. There was a pregnant lady, running as fast to get to the minivan, behind me. So i was more grateful than hurt by the accident. Although i was embarassed I fall infront of the many people who were waiting for a taxi. However, nothing seems to work out with the shoe after that. And i've always wondered if all my colleagues who screamed when i told them i bought a shoe for FOUR HUNDRED BIRR had jinxed it, somehow. Like they were ill-wishers, jealous, etcetra. I threw away the shoe after 4 months.
Ethiopia is a country of runners. People run as far as cars, when the tyres are outworn, the runner keeps on running. It might be on shoes made from old tyres. One size fits all.
Many Ethiopian people are rich when they can buy those shoes, made from old tires, I noticed when I visited the country for the 
The first thing my husband did when he reached america (we got into debts to pay for the tickets, not to mention the "chama cherash Engilit" I suffered at the various offices) was send me 50$ so i could buy a shoe. I, accordingly, bought the following pair f shoes (from Canaan, on bole road, for 400 birr) and sent him the photo so he'd know i actually bought the shoes and didn't waste the money. The first day I wore it though, it rained. It was an unexpected rain so i didn't have an umbrella with me. And since the rain was the first after months, the earth was dry. Before i know it, both my shoe and leg were covered with wet earth. I got to the university after so much "gifiya" and misery. By the time we left class, the rain has stopped. Everything looked cool and breathy. Until, that is, i run after a mini-bus and stepped into a swerage hole. It was dark, and the hole was filled with water. So it could easily be mistaken for solid ground even if it weren't dark. I fall flat on my face on the road and hurt my side; a side that made sleeping difficult for almost 3 weeks. There