Lalibela Series

Share on social media

Photographer

Tariq Zaidi
Date of Photograph

2014
Socials
Website

http://www.tariqzaidi.com/

They come from all over, walking for days, often barefoot, to this holy place of ancient ritual and devotion. But this isn’t Jerusalem, or Mecca, it’s Lalibela in Ethiopia, site of 13 intricate monolithic churches, handchiselled out of the town’s red volcanic rock nearly 900 years ago. Tariq Zaidi travelled to Lalibela, an otherwise nondescript village in the mountains of northern Ethiopia, to document these extraordinary churches and the pilgrims who flock to them. In Ethiopia, where nearly two-thirds of the population is Christian, Lalibela is almost as important as Jerusalem. One of the first places in the world to become a UNESCO heritage site, and indeed one of the wonders of the world.

Biography

Tariq Zaidi is a photographer whose work explores inequality, identity, and marginalised communities worldwide. Since 2014, he has produced internationally recognised bodies of work in politically and socially complex regions, defined by visual intensity, emotional depth, and rare access. His work has been exhibited globally and published by The Guardian, The New York Times, BBC, National Geographic, The Washington Post, Newsweek, and CNN. He is the author of three award-winning books: Sapeurs: Ladies and Gentlemen of the Congo, Sin Salida (No Way Out), and North Korea: The People’s Paradise.
Awards

Tariq has received over 80 international photography awards, with his work recognised by leading competitions worldwide. He has received eleven honours from Pictures of the Year International (POYi), including awards in the Premier Categories of "Photographer of the Year International", "Photography Book of the Year (twice)" and the "World Understanding Award". Other distinctions include the Sony World Photography Awards, Lucie Photo Book Prize (three times), Best of Photojournalism NPPA, PDN Photo Annual, AI-AP, Siena International Photo Awards, Prix de la Photographie Paris, International Photography Awards (IPA), UNICEF Photo of the Year Award and the Amnesty International Media Awards.