Yatreda (ያጥሬዳ) is a family collective of artists from Ethiopia, led by creative director Kiya Tadele. Rooted in tizita, a profound sense of nostalgia and longing for the past their practice combines childhood memories, oral histories, and folk tales with the rich heritage and legends central to contemporary Ethiopian identity, inviting viewers to reflect on the cyclical nature of history.
Their breakthrough project, Strong Hair, a series of 100 looping videos documenting traditional hairstyles across various regions of Ethiopia, was filmed using a handmade 3D rig that the collective assembled from available materials. The project received the Award of Distinction at Prix Ars Electronica (2022) and was exhibited in Museum Folkwang (Essen, Germany).
Yatreda seeks to immortalise African legends, folk dances, and endangered cultural traditions, with the mission of rediscovering Africa’s “original self.” By bridging the ancient and the contemporary, the collective ensures that Ethiopia’s cultural legacy is celebrated in the present.