Seyoum Tsehaye fought in and photographed Eritrea's war of liberation, but for the past 14 years he has been in prison.
Dreams lost and found
As a child, Seyoum dreamed of becoming a journalist. But as he learned of the atrocities committed by the Ethiopian government against Eritrea, he knew he would have to put his ambitions aside.
Eritrea had been declared an autonomous part of the Ethiopian Federation in 1952. But, 10 years later, Ethiopia's Emperor Haile Selassie had dissolved the federation and annexed Eritrea.
Eritrea had been declared an autonomous part of the Ethiopian Federation in 1952. But, 10 years later, Ethiopia's Emperor Haile Selassie had dissolved the federation and annexed Eritrea.
In 1977, as a 25-year-old university student, Seyoum joined the fighters of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front.
The EPLF had split from the Eritrean Liberation Front during the 1970s. At points in the conflict, the two groups would turn their guns on each other, but both well understood the importance of documenting their struggle. They each trained some of their fighters to use still and film cameras and, after four years fighting on the front lines, Seyoum received orders to report for training as a cameraman.
The EPLF had split from the Eritrean Liberation Front during the 1970s. At points in the conflict, the two groups would turn their guns on each other, but both well understood the importance of documenting their struggle. They each trained some of their fighters to use still and film cameras and, after four years fighting on the front lines, Seyoum received orders to report for training as a cameraman.
In photographing and filming the conflict, Seyoum found his calling. And the liberation movement found one of its most effective witnesses READMORE
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