Aden (South24 Center)

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When war broke out in Aden in 2015, it tore through more than streets and buildings. It silenced voices, erased memory, and dismantled the city’s fragile cultural record. Public archives were looted, and with the passing of community elders, much of Aden’s oral history vanished without trace.

In the face of that loss, a small group of volunteers launched ‘Nas Aden’, not as a media outlet, but as a form of resistance. They began documenting daily life, collecting fragments of a city’s identity before they disappeared. What started as a grassroots Instagram account soon evolved into a full-fledged storytelling platform — and now, it’s being recognized on the global stage.

The Adeni grandmother, Khaira Arishi, was one of the guests of Nas Aden who shared their experiences during the British colonial era.

‘Nas Aden’ has been named a finalist in the 17th Annual Shorty Awards in the Instagram Presence category alongside international names such as Al Jazeera, Pixar, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Co-founded by Ezat Wagdi Ba Awidhan, the platform transformed from a social media page into a digital newsroom built on professional editorial standards, ethical reporting, and community participation. Remarkably, it was developed with virtually zero budget and a small, all-volunteer team committed to preserving Aden’s stories.

 Ezat Wagdi Ba Awidhan

Among its most widely shared stories is that of Suha, a young woman who challenged social norms by driving a bus to pay for her university education. Another story follows a Muslim man who guards a Hindu temple, a quiet testament to Aden’s spirit of coexistence. Some stories have drawn nearly one million views, a striking reach for a project that operates without institutional backing.

In one notable case, Nas Aden’s coverage of teacher Nabil, who was assaulted while performing his duties, triggered widespread public attention and led to a formal apology by local authorities -- demonstrating the platform’s ability to move people and policy alike.

Beyond journalism, the team collaborates with families to collect personal photographs and videos, a community archive-in-progress aimed at preserving what remains of Aden’s visual and oral heritage.

 Nas Aden Logo

With nearly half a million followers, ‘Nas Aden' has become one of the most trusted sources of grassroots storytelling in Yemen particularly for younger audiences seeking narratives that reflect their lived reality.

The Shorty Awards, judged by the Real Time Academy, a panel of industry leaders from Google, Meta, Warner Bros., and more, will announce this year’s winners at a ceremony on May 21, 2025, in New York City.

Click here to vote for Nas Aden.