Ethel-Ruth Tawe is a multidisciplinary artist, editor, and creative strategist, exploring identity, archives, and diaspora cultures. Image-making, storytelling, and time-travelling compose the framework of her inquiry into 'African ancient futures' from a magical realist lens.
As a creative consultant, Ethel offers services to start ups, brands, and organisations in arts & culture, tech, travel, wellness sectors and beyond. Based between Europe and Africa, she has produced campaigns for international platforms, conducted editorial research and interviews, curated art exhibitions, designed best-selling guidebooks, and more. Her work has been published on ContemporaryAnd, Quartz, Nataal, among others, and exhibited on digital billboards in London by flat 70 x JCDecaux. Outside a creative capacity, Ethel has also worked with the African Union and international organisations in The Hague.
Ethel holds an MSc in Development Studies from SOAS University of London and a BA (Hons) in International Human Rights with a minor in Art History & Criticism. Living in Cameroon, Tanzania, Kenya, The US, UK, Netherlands, and Ghana has informed her multifaceted approach to social problem-solving.
Projects
- Contributing Editor Series: 'African Women Imagemakers in History' for Feminists.coInvestigating absences in the archives around African women photographers and filmmakers can seem futile. However, women authors, archivists, artists, researchers and culture workers today continue to lead a long tradition of reactivating the ongoing event of image-making, by shaping our reading of these archives while projecting them forward. In a bid to gain some perspective, I speak with some of these women including Black feminist theorist Tina Campt, African American author Catherine McKinl
- Catalogue Creative Direction for Skin GourmetFor Skin Gourmet's website launch, I produced a visual campaign that represents the essence of the brand tagline: 'Raw, Pure, Wild'. With edible products for diverse skin types and audiences, I directed a playful yet elegant shoot that fit the pages of the product catalogue and the new website.
- Curator: 'African Ancient Futures' Virtual and Physical ExhibitionI curated an immersive art and film exhibition presented by A2.O Magazine & A Whitespace Creative Agency, titled ‘AFRICAN ANCIENT FUTURES’. The virtual and physical exhibition featured the works of contemporary African artists who engage with Africa’s past, present, and future through afro-surrealist visual storytelling. The exhibition showcased works by Congolese architect and environment designer Edward L. Lobo, Nigerian-American artist & filmmaker Jamal Ademola, and British-Ghanian film dir
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Work history
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Editorial DirectorAfrica 2.O Magazine
The Hague, NetherlandsPart Time
www.a2omag.com
∙ Managing and commissioning a small team of editors to fulfill the publishing calendar, contributor pitches, and press releases.
∙ Conducting written and live interviews, as well as drafting reviews, essays, and roundtables that uncover intersections between industries.
∙ Developing the brand identity and editorial guidelines to capture a youthful audience.
∙ Coordinating strategic partnerships, campaigns, and curated events such as the ‘African Ancient Futures virtual exhibition.
∙ Overseeing the execution of social media strategies and marketing across channels.
∙ Overseeing the production of written, video, photo, and editorial content.
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Content EditorART X Collective
- Lagos, NigeriaFull Time
∙ Acted as ‘chief storyteller’ with responsibility over the social media strategy, sponsors’ brand placements, and digital advertising; growing the channels by 20 - 40% during campaign season for West Africa’s leading international art fair.
∙ Produced written and visual marketing content (video, photo, graphic, editorial,
script) for TVCs, billboards, and online PR placements of the ART X brand initiatives.
∙ Quality-controlled and coordinated a team of videographers, photographers,
designers, and copywriters in the live media room.
Skills
- Art Curation
- Creative Direction
- Digital Strategy
- Graphic Design
- Magazine Editing
- Writing
- Project Management
- Social Media
- Adobe Indesign
- Adobe Photoshop
Education
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Msc International Development StudiesSOAS, University of London
- London, United Kingdom