Jemal Countess Photography

Last week had one jarring and contentious day that took me back to that dry patch of farmland in Ethiopia where I spent several days covering the crash of ET302. Memories came flooding back as I saw some familiar faces and heard what is still raw emotions and pain from family members of those lost in the crashes of the Ethiopian Airlines and the Lion Air Max 8’s. Family members of victims of Boeing Max 8 crashes hold up photographs of their loved ones as Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun testifies before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs - Subcommittee On Investigations at the Hart Senate Office Building on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 on Capitol Hill. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI #boeing #boeingmax8 #boeingcontroversy #canon #canoncps #canonphotography #canon _photos #ethiopianairlines #canonr5

If you never travel, read history, study the multiple sides of arguments and opinions and look beyond the packaged western narratives you will forever be a slave and a victim of the machine. Travel, go to places you have questions about and ASK THEM. Imbed yourself and whole heartedly dive into and experience the society and the culture your in. Be objective and treat everyday on the ground as a day in a university classroom. Fight to learn, fight to experience and fight to be de-programmed…. ASMARA, ERITREA - MAY 24, 2023: A woman models a dress created using the colors of the Eritrean flag following the official 32nd Anniversary of Independence celebration at Asmara Stadium on May 24, 2023 in Asmara, Eritrea. Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1991 after a 30 year struggle that began in 1961 and ended in 1991 that eventually claimed over 60,000 Eritrean lives and countless thousands of Ethiopian personal. Today the two countries enjoy a warm relationship following the renewal of relations was brokered by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images) @gettyimages #canon #canonphotography #canonr5 #canonr6 #canoncps #canoncpsusa #africa #hornofafrica #eritrea #asmara #panafrican #panafricanism #redsea

The 2024 Tony Awards are in the books and I will admit that this is one of the first times in 30 years I actually shed tears of joy for a talented and solid human being. Congratulations @karaakter for a well deserved Tony award Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play award. Also I want to congratulate Dede Ayite with the Best Costume Design of a Play award for “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” @dedeayite . Also congratulations to Alex Edelman, Daniel Radcliffe, Sarah Paulson and Jonathan Groff for your wins as well. @canonusa @gettyentertainment #canon #canoncps #canonphotography #canonr5

South Africans Go To The Polls In National Election MATATIELE, SOUTH AFRICA - MAY 29: Voters cast ballots at the Lepheana Senior Primary School during the national election on May 29, 2024 in Matatiele, South Africa. South Africa’s national and provincial elections were held today to elect a new National Assembly and provincial legislature in each of the nine provinces. Results will be officially announced on June 2. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images) @gettyimages #canon #canon _photos #canonphotography #canoncps #canoncpsusa #africa #southafrica #southafricaelections2024 #canonr5

A weekend of rally’s take place ahead of one of the most important elections in the world this year. South Africa goes to the polls on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 to vote on a new president and several other key government offices. Shown here are rallies held by the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA). Both rallies were marked by passion as South Africans voiced the same concerns at both rallies. Crime, jobs, unemployment, load-shedding and government corruption were among the keys concerns voiced by many. As early specialized voting begins in a few hours, South Africans here in South Africa and abroad approach this week’s elections with the excitement and anticipation. @upi #southafrica #anc #da #africannationalcongress #democraticalliance #change #africa #canon #canoncpa #canonphotography #canonr5 #canoncpsusa

So this is happening again? Ethnic Amharas being forced to flee TPLF aggression and invasion again in just under 3 years? EBENAT, ETHIOPIA - OCTOBER 08, 2021: Deginta Debarsh (R), a 30-year-old police woman from the Dahana Woreda in Wag Hemra listens during a discussion between community leaders on October 08, 2021 in Ebenat, Ethiopia. Deginta fled her home in Dehana on September 19, 2021, walking for 4 days straight at 5 months pregnant to reach Ebenat. When the TPLF invaded the Amhara region on July of 2021, over 100,000 residents were displaced as they fled ethnic-based violence and went to dozens of IDP camps all over the Amhara region. As the conflict continued, the depth of TPLF penetration into the Amhara region grew, with towns like Sekota and Lalibella falling under TPLF control. Thousands of people have died in the fighting between Ethiopia’s Federal Government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front or TPLF, with approximately 2 million displaced and more than 5 million relying on emergency food aid. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images) #amhara #ethniccleansing #genocide #amharagenocide #ethiopia #africa #war #warcrimes #canoncps

We cannot forget those that were displaced by the 2020 Ethio-Tigray war and some that have yet to return to their homes in the Amhara region. Some who are still displaced 3 years after their regions were invaded or ethnically cleansed. EBENAT, ETHIOPIA - OCTOBER 08, 2021: A young Internally displaced woman from the Wag Hemra Zone at the Ebanet Primary School on October 08, 2021 in Ebenat, Ethiopia. The TPLF were taking Amhara youth as young as 10 years of age from conquered territories, giving them brief military training and forcing them to march in front of their advancing forces as human shields in front of seasoned troops as they engaged Ethiopian Government forces. Most of the IDP’s at the primary school fled their homes in various cities in the Wag Hemra zone following the invasion of the Amhara region by the TPLF that started in July of 2021. When the TPLF invaded the Amhara region, many of its residents were displaced as they fled ethnic based violence and went to dozens of IDP camps all over the Amhara region. Thousands of people have died in the fighting between Ethiopia’s Federal Government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front or TPLF, with approximately 2 million displaced and more than 5 million relying on emergency food aid. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images) #amhara #amharagenocide #idp #internallydisplacedpeople #internallydisplacedpersons #canoncps #canoncpsusa #ethiopia #africa #ethniccleansing

They allowed me into their personal spaces so they could tell the stories of their suffering and struggles at the hands of those attacking them during the course of the TPLF invasion of the Amhara region. Most of these people have endured war for 3 and a half years now. Displaced, returned then displaced again and now under threat from TPLF AND the Federal Government of Ethiopia under Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party. On this Sabbath and everyday, I pray that they may soon finally have REST and PEACE, IN THEIR OWN HOMES, in a country at peace…. EBENAT, ETHIOPIA - OCTOBER 08, 2021: Young men from various wareda’s and cities in the Wag Hemra zone sit in the repurposed classrooms that act as their homes at the Ebanet Primary School on October 08, 2021 in Ebenat, Ethiopia. As many as 75 occupants sleep in single classrooms that have been repurposed to living quarters. Many of the teenagers and youth fled their homes in Wag Hemra sometimes at night to escape forced conscription into the TPLF. The TPLF was taking Amhara youth as young as 10 years of age from conquered territories, giving them brief military training and forcing them to march in front of their advancing forces as human shields in front of seasoned troops as they engaged Ethiopian Government forces. Most of the IDP’s at the primary school fled their homes in various cities in the Wag Hemra zone following the invasion of the Amhara region by the TPLF that started in July of 2021. When the TPLF invaded the Amhara region, many of its residents were displaced as they fled ethnic based violence and went to dozens of IDP camps all over the Amhara region. Thousands of people have died in the fighting between Ethiopia’s Federal Government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front or TPLF, with approximately 2 million displaced and more than 5 million relying on emergency food aid. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) #amharagenocide #ethiopia #idp #internallydisplacedpeople #genocide #conflict #canoncps #canoncpsusa

The last several days has been deeply intense here in Rwanda. I give thanks for the many beautiful souls I have befriended and worked alongside. My prayer for this country is for complete healing, continued growth and resilience. To all of my photographer friends and colleagues, God Bless You. I hope to continue to be a part of your amazing and exciting adventures as you become the powerhouse photo corps you all have the talent to be. #canon #canoncps #canonphotography #canonR5 #canonR6 #kwibuka30 #rwanda #hope #resiliance

The “Tears Of Wollega” exhibition at the Ethiopian Cultural Center in Los Angeles has been extended for one week. Thanks to all who were able to make this past week…@highlight #canon #canoncps #canonr5 #canonr6 #canonr6photography #amhara #amharagenocide #ethiopia #africa

“Tears of Wollega - Expanded” will be returning to the Los Angeles area for a 3-Day exhibition from March 15 - 17, 2024. The expanded version includes images that convey the suffering and persecution that the Amhara people have endured for over 40 years in Ethiopia. Starting with the annexation and forced demographic change in Welkait in the 1980’s to the present day mass killings and genocide in the Oromia and Amhara regions, survivors images and testimonies will give clarity to the level of persecution and suffering that has gone on largely unnoticed by most of the outside world. I invite my friends in the Los Angeles area to see and hear the voices of those who cannot speak to you directly about the suffering they have endured simply because of their ethnicity and religion. #amhara #amharagenocide #tearsofwollega #ethiopia #africa #hornofafrica #genocide #ethniccleansing #welkait #poweredbycanon #canon #canoncps #canoncpsusa

Revisiting images of the human toll of war in the Afar region as I am still trying to ascertain the condition of the people of Afar. I walked down the road that cut through this camp of 60,000 IDP’s trying to really get an understanding of the needs and living conditions of the people. I meant these two youngsters who inspite of everything around them had the spirit to crack smiles and pose for a photo. I am still in awe of the Afar people and how they managed in the face of their lands being targeted and ravaged by a relentlessly violent enemy. I have nothing but deep respect for the Afar people. AFAR, ETHIOPIA - JANUARY 08, 2022: Two girls stroll along the road that cuts through the Ebay Waydal IDP camp on January 08, 2022 in Afar, Ethiopia. The Ebay Waydal camp currently housed 60,000 IDP’s from Chifra and over 35 surrounding kebele’s. By January of 2022 there were roughly 340,000 people in need of food aid while the region as a whole had an estimated 1.2 million IDP’s (Internally Displaced Persons) who fled the TPLF invasion of the Afar region in July of 2020. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images) #ethiopia #ethiopian #afar #Afarhumanitariancrisis #humanitariancrisis #humanitariancrisisinAfar #canon #canoncps #canonphotography #canonphoto #canonr6 #canonr6photography