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Film short abstract

As part of an ERC research project (SOAS and Mekelle University), this film explores gender-based violence and ethical considerations in anthropological research in an extremely violent environment, thereby questioning the roles of anthropologists and artists in conflict and peacebuilding research.

Film synopsis

What happens when a democracy collapses? In 2020, a deadly war broke out in Ethiopia between the Federal Government and its allies and the Tigray National Regional State. The war’s devastating impact caused unimaginable suffering for women in Ethiopia. As part of an ERC research project on People, Politicians and Parliaments, this short film is a collaboration between anthropologist and filmmaker Mitiku Gabrehiwot (SOAS fellow) and Gabrielle Tesfaye, a multimodal artist. Informed by reports and interviews with survivors, Nebsie, meaning ‘my body’ in Tigrigna, explores the challenges and ethical issues of anthropological research in an extremely violent environment, thereby contributing to the potential of animated ‘ethnography’ film as an innovative method for addressing some of the most challenging questions we encountered: positionality, ethics and anthropology in a violent world.