The Arwa Amba is a pacifist pocket of around 500-600 people nestled in the northern mountains of Amhara, over 550 kilometres from the capital, Addis Ababa. Now, Arwa Amba members are loath to even leave the village for fear of violence. There are many bandit groups," explained Claudio Maria Lerario, a photographer who spent months living in Arwa Amba documenting daily life. There is no difference in status between men and women in the Arwa Amba community," Gebeyehu said. Ethiopia's multi-ethnic society has witnessed profound violence in the decades that the Arwa Amba has existed.

Source: Ethiopian News January 02, 2026 07:05 UTC