Art and Social Media Activism / With the Award winning Designer Yadesa Bojia

Welcome our very own talented artists who has so much for the world. Join Yadesa Bojia, Award winning designer and social media activist, to learn how to effectively convey a strong message through art and stand out in social media cluster.

During this interactive workshop we will learn about the past, present, and future of Oromo art and ways to convey our messages effectively. 

Saturday May 8th 
12pmPST/2pmCST/3pmEST

About the Artist

Born in Oromia, Yadesa Bojia emigrated to the United States in 1995. His interest in art started in his childhood. Even though he does not remember when he actually started painting, his school commissioned him, as a six-grader, to paint a mural called “enem ende ababa.” This painting was displayed in his school until he emigrated to the United States.

In Seattle Mr. Bojia studied art at Seattle Pacific University from which he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication. He also attended Seattle Central Design Academy from which he received an Associate of Arts degree in Graphic Design.

Yadesa Bojia’s exposure to both African art and Western art provides him a unique opportunity to understand their relationship as well as their differences. While studying art, he examined how every art genre and classification derived or inherited from each other and the existence of one was based on that of the other. He also examined the influence of African art upon Western art and vice versa.

In 2010, Yadesa won a worldwide competition to design the flag of African Union. African leaders decided in 2007 to launch a competition for the best new AU flag design. A panel of experts chose Yadesa’s design out of 106 world wide entries.

Yadesa Bojia believes his work is the by-product of the cultural differences he enjoyed while living in Finfinne and in Seattle, Washington. He also believes artists have a very unique opportunity, as well as responsibility, to work for justice and equality and communicating it to their respective communities.

Support Artist & Education Programming

Our education program’s main goal is to serve the Oromo community in the diaspora, primarily in the United States, Australia and European countries, by providing language and culture education to motivate and inspire individuals to embrace and learn about the Oromo identity. The education program also focuses on providing professional and community engagement workshops to enhance the overall experiences and the development of members of the community as they build a strong sense of who they are and who they can be.

Overall, the education program strives to support the Oromo community in the diaspora through their journey of building, strengthening and unifying their Oromummaa. As we work to preserve our legacy and empower the next generation of advocates for the Oromo struggle.