Ethiopian Cultural Overview

Ethiopians are the people of Ethiopia, a nation of Northeast Africa.

Geography

Ethiopia is a landlocked nation making up the majority of the Horn of Africa. Broadly, it can be divided into the three distinct regions. The northern highlands are home to two of its most influential ethnic groups, the Amhara people and Tigrayans. Moving south, the country is divided by the Great Rift Valley. This then leads into another plateau, which gradually slopes down to the coast of the Red Sea. These regions see ecosystems ranging from temperate forests, savannahs, and deserts to tropical rainforests.

• Climate: Generally tropical, temperate, and desert

• Capital: Addis Ababa

• Total Population: 108,386,391 (2018 est.)

Learn more about Ethiopian Geography

History

Ethiopia’s known history extends into antiquity as one of the most powerful trading states of the Mediterranean world. Its earliest historical mentions can be found in the records of Ancient Egypt, which traded with the Kingdom of Punt for ivory, salt, and gold. According to Ethiopian tradition, its long-lasting dynasty began with the son of the Biblical Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. By the 1st century CE, the region fell under the control of the Kingdom of Aksum, or the Axumite Empire. Aksum is notable for its rapid adoption of Christianity, creation of the Ge’ez script, and influential position between the trade routes of India, Rome, Alexandria, and the Byzantine Empire.

Aksum weakened following the rise of Islam in the 7th century CE, but Ethiopia would remain an independent, Christian African state. By the 13th century, it entered a new period of power and prestige under the Solomonic dynasty. This era saw increasing interest from European explorers and missionaries, who sought the mythical kingdom of a figure named Prester John. They believed they had found it in Ethiopia, resulting in a time of increased Catholic influence and its later expulsion. Throughout the spread of Islam and 19th-century European colonialism, Ethiopia maintained its autonomy through both military strength and diplomacy. In 1896, Emperor Menilek II successfully repelled an Italian invasion at the Battle of Adwa.

The 20th century brought new challenges and troubles to Ethiopia. In 1935, a second Italian conquest led by Benito Mussolini saw Ethiopia at last overthrown and Emperor Haile Selassie driven into exile. He returned to power following the end of World War II and would remain there until a military coup in 1974. The instability led to a period of political purges, drought, and famine. This regime, known as the Derg, was replaced by 1995 by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Since that time, the nation has recovered to become one of the fastest-growing economies of Africa.

Learn more about Ethiopian History

Daily Life

Ethiopia is still a rural country. The majority of its citizens live as farmers, raising crops, livestock, or both as local climates allow. While Ethiopian cuisine is varied, it is best known for the dish injera and wat, a type of flatbread topped with a meat and vegetable stew. The most common form of housing, though far from the only type, is a stone, wattle-and-daub, or adobe roundhouse with a thatched, conical roof. Ethiopian people today may wear Western apparel or more traditional clothing. White cotton shamma wraps, worn over a dress or shirt and pants, are a popular choice of apparel.

Learn more about Ethiopian Daily Life

Society

Ethiopia is home to about 80 different ethnic groups, all of whom organize their societies in unique ways. Most influential of these historically was the Amharic Ethiopian Empire, headed by the Solomonic dynasty. Early Solomonic kings did not settle into a capital, preferring to move around in large tent cities. Over time, they established a more permanent capital at Gondar, which is now home to some of Africa’s most impressive castles. The Solomonic dynasty, according to Ethiopian histories, ruled for nearly three thousand years. Its last emperor, Haile Selassie I, was deposed by a socialist regime in 1974. This led to a turbulent period of widespread suffering, lasting until 1991.

Ethiopia is now a parliamentary republic representing diverse cultures and interests. Traditional social structures are still an important part of daily life within more rural communities. For example, another major demographic of Ethiopia, the Oromo, possess a complex, egalitarian age-grade system known as *Gadaa. *

• Major Languages: Oromo, Amharic, Somali, Tigrigna, Sidamo, and many more

• Urban Population: 20.8% (2018 est.)

Learn more about Ethiopian Society

Economy

For thousands of years, Ethiopia has occupied a lucrative position between the Red and Mediterranean Seas. Its merchants exported valuables like ivory, gold, salt, silver, slaves, grains, gems, and myrrh to hungry markets in Greece, Rome, Egypt, India, and the Middle East. Later, coffee grew to be its major export and industry. In the 19th century, Ethiopia struggled to modernize its economy, but the empire avoided colonial subjugation until 1935. The decades that followed saw stunted progress due to famine and political conflicts. Today, Ethiopia is an increasingly urban nation and an economic hub of Africa.

• Major Industries: Food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, garments, chemicals, metals processing, cement

Learn more about the Ethiopian Economy

Beliefs

Ethiopia’s Kingdom of Aksum was one of the first political states to adopt Christianity, officially converting in the early 4th century CE. Since that time, it has been a majority Orthodox Christian nation. Ethiopia is home to many other faiths, including long-standing ties to Judaism and Islam. Citizens, particularly in the southern regions, may also continue to follow ancient, indigenous belief systems like Oromo Waaqeffanna. In addition, Emperor Haile Selassie inspired a messianic religion and social movement in Jamaica known as Rastafarianism. The largest religious organization in Ethiopia today is the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Religious Demographics:

• Ethiopian Orthodox: 43.5%

• Muslim: 33.9%

• Protestant: 18.5%

• Traditional: 2.7%

• Catholic: 0.7%

• Other: 0.6% (2007 est.)

Learn more about Ethiopian Beliefs

Arts & Music

Ethiopia’s diverse cultures possess many artistic traditions, but the nation is best known for its religious paintings and literature. Customary Christian imagery in Ethiopia uses vivid colors, symbolism, and human figures with large, watchful eyes. The golden age of Ethiopian illustration took place between the 14th and 18th centuries, when artists produced ornate illuminated manuscripts, wall paintings, and triptych panels. Today, these styles are still practiced in Ethiopia, though its latest generations of artists also explore secular themes across a variety of media.

Learn more about Ethiopian Arts & Music

References

Addis Getahun, Solomon and Wudu Tafete Kassu. Culture and Customs of Ethiopia. ABC-CLIO. 2014.

Briggs, Philip and Brian Blatt. Ethiopia. Bradt Travel Guides. 2009

De Waal, Alexander. Evil Days: Thirty Years of War and Famine in Ethiopia. Human Rights Watch. 1991.

Gish, Steven, Winnie Thay, and Zawiah Abdul Latif. Ethiopia. Marshall Cavendish. 2007.

Gnamo, Abbas. Conquest and Resistance in the Ethiopian Empire, 1880 - 1974: The Case of the Arsi Oromo. BRILL. 2014.

Lemma, Misael. “Ethiopia: Economic Growth Behind Ethiopia's Rapid Urbanization.” AllAfrica, AllAfrica, 2 Mar. 2018, allafrica.com/stories/201803010493.html.

Marcus, Harold G. A History of Ethiopia. University of California Press. 2002.

“The World Factbook: Ethiopia.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/et.html.

Uhlig, Siegbert, David Appleyard, et. al. Ethiopia: History, Culture, and Challenges. LIT Verlag Münster. 2017.

TOTA

Traditions of the Ancestors

This group is for articles produced or approved by TOTA staff, covering a wide variety of cultures and topics.

View Group