With Paint And A Camera, She's Forging A New Artistic Vision Of Africa

Many images of Africa in Western media focus on war, famine or other crises that trouble the continent.

But Ethiopian artist Aïda Muluneh wants to help people understand that there's more to her country than what they typically see in the news.

Born in Ethiopia in 1974, Muluneh spent much of her childhood living in different countries — Yemen, England, Cyprus and Canada — before studying film at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She graduated in 2000 and then worked as a photojournalist for The Washington Post.

But Muluneh became increasingly interested in creating photography as art separate from her journalistic work — and in reconnecting with her Ethiopian heritage. So she moved back to Ethiopia 11 years ago.

Since then, she's been creating bright, primary-colored portraits that both celebrate and transcend Ethiopian culture.