• Home
• Culture
• Food
• History
• Environment

Ethnicity

• Oromo 34.5%
• Amhara 26.9%
• Somali 6.2%
• Tigraway 6.1%
• Sidama 4%
• Gurage 2.5%
• Wolayta 2.3%
• Hadiya 1.7%
• Afar 1.7%

POLL

Have you been to Ethiopia?

Yes

No

Back to Top

Food

Ethiopia's staple food is injera, a spongy bread made of a unique crop .In Ethiopia is only eaten chicken ,beef lamb and fish meat.

Ingera

Ingera is made from a cereal grain that is unique known as Tef. Though t'efs is unique to Ethiopia it is diverse in color and habitat. Tef is a member of the grass genus Eragrostis or lovegrass. T'ef will grow in many areas it is not an easy crop to farm. One problem in particular is that the weight of the grain bends the stem to the ground.

The Coffee ceremony

Ethiopia's coffee ceremony is an integral part of their social and cultural life. An invitation to attend a coffee ceremony is considered a mark of friendship or respect and is an excellent example of Ethiopian hospitality. Performing the ceremony is almost obligatory in the presence of a visitor, whatever the time of day. Don't be in a hurry though - this special ceremony can take a few hours. So sit back and enjoy because it is most definitely not instant. Coffee is taken with plenty of sugar (or in the countryside, salt) but no milk and is generally accompanied by lavish praise for its flavour and skilful preparation. It is complemented by a traditional snack food, such as popcorn, peanuts or cooked barley. In most parts of Ethiopia, the coffee ceremony takes place three times a day - in the morning, at noon and in the evening. It is the main social event within the village and a time to discuss the community, politics, life and about who did what with whom. If invited into a home to take part, remember - it is impolite to retire until you have consumed at least three cups, as the third round is considered to bestow a blessing. Transformation of the spirit is said to take place during the coffee ceremony through the completion of 'Abol' (the first round), 'Tona' (second round) and 'Baraka' (third round).

Back to Top

INTERESTING FACTS

1. Ethiopia is the only country in the world with 13 months.
2. In Ethiopia time is counted on the opposite side of the clock: 6 o’clock is said to be 12 o’clock, and at 16:00 Ethiopians say it is’ 10 o’clock.
3. Ethiopia is one of only two countries in the world that have never been occupied.
4. Ethiopia was the birthplace of Pan-Africanism.
5. Ethiopia is the homeland of coffee.
6. Archeological digs show that it was the valleys of Ethiopia that man came out of.
7. Traditionally, parents and children do not share a last name.
8. The word “Rastafari” comes from “Ras Teferi Meconen" the former name of Emperor Haile Selassie I.

Back to Top