About Sandscribe
Sandscribe Communications is a film and media training and Production Company based in Addis Ababa. It is envisioned and founded by Dhaba Wayessa, a reputed novelist, playwright, filmmaker and journalist and like-minded friends to create innovative media training and production opportunities to the disadvantaged young artists in Ethiopia, so that they can bring forth films and other media products that address critical issues and affirm positive social values. Dhaba, who has been Voice of America's international broadcaster and editor for over 17 years, has published two novels, written/produced five stage plays, written three full-length screenplays, and written/ directed/produced three short films. As producer, screenwriter and director, his works have since gone on to awards and recognition at Howard University and international film festivals. He also was honored and received superior achievement awards many times for his collegial leadership and distinguished journalistic accomplishments in VOA. During his years of challenges and achievements, Dhaba Wayessa had developed such a deep feeling that stories told through media and the arts were the best tools to instill positive values in human hearts and bring about social redemption in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa.
He studied and inspired by the impact of movies - feature films and TV series and other media products on the social, cultural and political lives of peoples in many parts of the world. However, he was also mindful that there were only very few Ethiopians who had an opportunity to equip themselves with proper education in filmmaking and TV production. Many years later, even today, the large majority of talented young Ethiopians -especially those from the disadvantaged social groups - are limited to an amateurish level of production due to appropriate knowledge and skill in the field. So, he was convinced that creating training and production opportunities were critical to effectively use those tools in Ethiopia. Then after through research and consultation with like-minded friends, he established Sandscribe Communications for the purpose. The name "Sandscribe" was inspired by Christ's scribbling in the Sand as it was mentioned in the Book of John 8:1-11; which signals the seeking, finding and touching of a human heart for forgiveness and redemption. Centered
on the necessity of self-expression, the scope of Dhaba's vision through Sandscribe Communications fosters the production of films and other media products of affirmative value that inspires the appreciation for social and individual diversity within unity and the healing power of sharing multi-perspective stories. Instead of relying on one-sided storytelling, which the renowned Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie termed as "the danger of the single story," Dhaba and we, the Sandscribe team, envision to remedy social, cultural, economic and political injustices by training others -especially the disadvantaged groups in Ethiopia - to tell their own stories through film/ other media and the art. We believe that the result of this conscientious media outreach will eventually create understanding, tolerance, mutual respect and genuine unity among various peoples in Ethiopia and other conflict-ridden African counties, as well as peoples of other parts of the world with similar experiences of ethnic and racial prejudices.
Although the need for film and television productions and film exhibitions are tremendously growing in Ethiopia, there is a serious lack of quality training in the field. By creating rigorous training and production opportunities and support services in Ethiopia, Sandscribe diligently works towards developing quality media professionals that aspire to artistic excellence and socially conscious storytelling.
Sandscribe Communications combines research, training, and production to ensure that cinema and audiovisual industries develop and mature in East African countries, especially in Ethiopia.
Sandscribe's vision is creating a climate for young people to produce films and other media products of affirmative social values that initiates human understanding, cooperation, forgiveness, trust, love, wisdom, ambition, hard work, self-empowerment, creativity, cultural affirmation, and aspiration for social redemption. Ultimately, it envisions the development of socially conscious and artistically commanding local film and other audiovisual industries that greatly contributes to the positive socio-economic transformation of Ethiopian peoples.
