CULTURE OF ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian culture is very multi-faced, reflecting the ethnic diversity of the country ; Among many traditional customs,
respect (especially of one's elders) is very important. In Ethiopian culture it is
customary to rise up out of one's seat or give up one's bed for an older friend or family member, even if they may be
just a year older. As Donald Levine notes about customs in the southern Amhara Region:
As soon as the child is capable of understanding he is made aware that all individuals older than he is should be
respected and shown the most deference. Not to do so is a sign of being balage ("rude").
Ethiopian culture is very multi-faced, reflecting the ethnic diversity of the country ; Among many traditional customs,
respect (especially of one's elders) is very important. In Ethiopian culture it is
customary to rise up out of one's seat or give up one's bed for an older friend or family member, even if they may be
just a year older. As Donald Levine notes about customs in the southern Amhara Region:
As soon as the child is capable of understanding he is made aware that all individuals older than he is should be
respected and shown the most deference. Not to do so is a sign of being balage ("rude").
CLOTHING OF ETHIOPIA
Women's traditional clothes in Ethiopia are made from cloth called habesha kemis : it is basically a woven cotton
with long strips and the strips are then sewn together. Sometimes shiny threads are woven into the fabric for an
elegant effect. It takes about two to three weeks to make enough cloth for one dress. The
bottom of the shirt may be ornamented with patterns.
Dancer in restaurant, wearing one style of traditional dress.
Men wear pants and a knee-length shirt with a white collar, and perhaps a sweater. Men often wear knee-high
socks, while women might not wear socks at all. Men as well as women wear shawls, the neTela. The shawls are
worn in a different style for different occasions. When going to church, women cover their hair with them and pull
the upper ends of the shawl about their shoulders reproducing a cross (meskelya), with the shiny threads
appearing at the edge. During funerals, the shawl is worn so the shiny threads appear at the bottom
(madegdeg). Women's dresses are called habesha qemis. The dresses are usually white with some color above
the lower hem. Bracelets and necklaces from silver and gold are worn on arms and feet to complete the look. A
variety of designer dinner dresses combining traditional fabric with modern style are now worn by some ladies in
the cities. These traditional clothes are still worn on a day-to-day-basis in the countryside. In cities and towns,
western clothes are popular, though on special occasions, such as New Year (Enkutatash), Christmas (Genna) or
weddings, some wear traditional clothes.
with long strips and the strips are then sewn together. Sometimes shiny threads are woven into the fabric for an
elegant effect. It takes about two to three weeks to make enough cloth for one dress. The
bottom of the shirt may be ornamented with patterns.
Dancer in restaurant, wearing one style of traditional dress.
Men wear pants and a knee-length shirt with a white collar, and perhaps a sweater. Men often wear knee-high
socks, while women might not wear socks at all. Men as well as women wear shawls, the neTela. The shawls are
worn in a different style for different occasions. When going to church, women cover their hair with them and pull
the upper ends of the shawl about their shoulders reproducing a cross (meskelya), with the shiny threads
appearing at the edge. During funerals, the shawl is worn so the shiny threads appear at the bottom
(madegdeg). Women's dresses are called habesha qemis. The dresses are usually white with some color above
the lower hem. Bracelets and necklaces from silver and gold are worn on arms and feet to complete the look. A
variety of designer dinner dresses combining traditional fabric with modern style are now worn by some ladies in
the cities. These traditional clothes are still worn on a day-to-day-basis in the countryside. In cities and towns,
western clothes are popular, though on special occasions, such as New Year (Enkutatash), Christmas (Genna) or
weddings, some wear traditional clothes.
CUISINE OF ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian cuisine consists of various vegetable or meat side dishes and entrees, often prepared as a wat or thick
stew. One or more servings of wat are placed upon a piece of injera, a large sourdough flatbread, which is 50 cm
(20 inches) in diameter and made out of fermented teff flour. One does not eat with utensils, but instead uses injera
(always with the right hand) to scoop up the entrees and side dishes. Traditional Ethiopian food does not use any
pork or seafood (aside from fish), as most Ethiopians have historically adhered to Islam, the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church, or Judaism, all of which prohibit eating pork. Additionally, throughout a given year, Orthodox Christians
observe numerous fasts (such as Lent), during which food is prepared without any meat or dairy products. Another
food eaten in Ethiopia is Doro Wat which is chicken stew with hard boiled eggs.
stew. One or more servings of wat are placed upon a piece of injera, a large sourdough flatbread, which is 50 cm
(20 inches) in diameter and made out of fermented teff flour. One does not eat with utensils, but instead uses injera
(always with the right hand) to scoop up the entrees and side dishes. Traditional Ethiopian food does not use any
pork or seafood (aside from fish), as most Ethiopians have historically adhered to Islam, the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church, or Judaism, all of which prohibit eating pork. Additionally, throughout a given year, Orthodox Christians
observe numerous fasts (such as Lent), during which food is prepared without any meat or dairy products. Another
food eaten in Ethiopia is Doro Wat which is chicken stew with hard boiled eggs.
LANGUAGE OF ETHIOPIA
The official language of Ethiopia is Amharic, a Semitic language which is spoken by about 27 million people (2.7
million expatriate). Amharic is written with the Ge'ez script, which derives its name from the ancient Semitic Ge'ez
language. Ge'ez is largely extinct as a productive language but is still in liturgical use by the Beta Israel Jewish
community and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The second largest language in Ethiopia is the Oromo
language, a Cushitic language spoken by about 30% of the population. The third largest language in Ethiopia is
the Tigrinya language, related to Amharic but mostly spoken in northern Ethiopia in the state of Tigray. Additionally,
most villagers are accustomed to their ethnical languages over the official Amharic language.
million expatriate). Amharic is written with the Ge'ez script, which derives its name from the ancient Semitic Ge'ez
language. Ge'ez is largely extinct as a productive language but is still in liturgical use by the Beta Israel Jewish
community and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The second largest language in Ethiopia is the Oromo
language, a Cushitic language spoken by about 30% of the population. The third largest language in Ethiopia is
the Tigrinya language, related to Amharic but mostly spoken in northern Ethiopia in the state of Tigray. Additionally,
most villagers are accustomed to their ethnical languages over the official Amharic language.
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