As Chinese Imports Flood In, Ethiopia’s Weavers Fight for Survival

Getu Derza, 48, works on a traditional wooden loom at a weaving workshop in Shiromeda, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on October 7, 2025. Photo by SEHIN TEWABE / AFP

By Dylan Gamba

Behind the looms of a workshop in the heart of Addis Ababa, dozens of weavers deftly repeat the same motions to craft traditional dresses — a centuries-old skill now threatened by Ethiopia’s economic hardships.

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