I wanted to incorporate the color green which is inspired by Islam usage of the color to represent abundance and paradise, in a sense the oasis. The background is painted with stencils of Jebena, the Ethiopian coffee pot. As the birthplace of coffee, coffee is a central part of our culture as a way of coming together and exchanging news. In this instance, it is symbolically placed to express, the spreading of rumors and gossip.

On the green board is the map of Ethiopia with boarder lines based on various ethnic groups. The book reads in Amharic “Ye seamy Enjera”, which loosely means an unattainable dream. I believe it also has religious translations. This is also symbolically representing the bible. The horn is symbolic of deaths whenever there is political strife. The white hands is symbolic of the foreign interest for political, economic or religious conquest. I believe that political loss lips is an endangerment of the future of our nation. Across Africa, we witness the transformation of nations but through the veils our country continues to divide and our mothers weep for the lost future. I wanted to express this piece to those who become victims of the political chess game.