The voice of Africa
“When Ruth Tedla speaks about her film Cracked Shells, it’s impossible not to feel the urgency and passion behind the story she’s telling. A filmmaker and photographer born in Ethiopia, raised in Botswana, and now shaping narratives across the United States, Ruth combines her immigrant experience with an acute understanding of cultural memory, identity, and resilience.
“The idea for Cracked Shells really began when I moved to the United States,” Ruth explains. “Having lived in different places throughout my life, I’ve always been fascinated by the power of space and the idea of ‘home’—how a place can shape the people who inhabit it.” Her journey led her to Washington DC, a city that immediately felt like home. But that sense of belonging was quickly overshadowed by the harsh realities of gentrification.”