Arho The Afar Salt Trade of Northeastern Ethiopia

“Arho - The Afar Salt Trade of Northeastern Ethiopia” follows the journey of a camel caravan to the salt plains of the Afar Depression. Traditionally the caravans moved from Afar Depression to other parts of Ethiopia and the Red Sea coastal regions of modern-day Eritrea and Djibouti. For centuries, the control, trade and distribution of salt were of primary importance in articulating the nomadic communities' economic, social, and political life along the caravan trails. Since 2010, trucks have slowly replaced the camel caravans. This has led to a steady decline in the trade. Relying on strong visual imagery and traditional Afar music selected by the participant of this project, the film documents how the decline of the salt trade affects the communities' daily lives in Northeastern Ethiopia. From the beginning, the documentary was a collaborative undertaking, and those involved in the documentary were involved in all phases of its making (pre-production, production and post-production).