Hand drawn signs are very popular, as they should be because printing large scale billboards in color is somewhat inaccessible, especially in rural regions within
Welcome signs are really popular. Here, I picked a few that give the impression of being worthy of note because of their Yetashe look
This last image is actually one I think I have had the privilege to have seen live when I was eight or nine years old. It is located as you enter Ethiopian from Kenya in the border town of Moyale. This is so old that it’s rusted and seems like it’s about ready to fall apart. From what I know I assume this was painted on steel.
Despite the popular belief metallurgy actually has origins in Ethiopia, 6th century BC; the factoid of the day!
I found the photos of the signs as I was browsing for billboards via Flickr. The works I found are licensed creative common Non-commercial.
Published by October 4th, 2007 in Design and History.Send this post to a friend
Thanks Nolawi, these are funny and great… I have never been to Moyale but I think I should check out atleast one border of Ethiopia before I die
my favorite signs were the ones you come across in small rural villages while driving from one small town to the next. they had ebet-green walls, and on that amed used to make signs and text like “Tela Ale” “Ambasha Ale” and the decorations made by simply putting hand prints and drawing crosses and circles…
Moyale………hummmm I remember so little crossing the border as a young lad
ditto..i cant even recall one sign
I don’t remember the old billboards much but I remember the old tej bet signs. My favorite was the one that had a sign that read “kemeyafetu gebtew yetetu.” I don’t remember if that was the name of the place or if it was just a tag line, but it was certainly unforgettable.
My favorites are the….meshnat kilki new….ones:
Wa tishenana!!!…..or….kemeshnatwo befit kiswon yidabsu….or the most hilarious one….Beyehedebet yemishena wusha bicha new
I only remember seeing signs about urinating in public like.
I’ll be sure to look for some on my next trip.
the shint meshnate kilkil nuew signs are very funny… and much needed… because some places smell like pee a kilometer away..