Car Rentals

CULTURAL ETHIOPIA

Culture

Cultural Diversity with binding trends

Ethiopia, like many other African countries, is a multi-ethnic state and rich culturally. Ethiopia is a truly extraordinary place to visit with colorful culture. Over 80 languages are spoken by the many different ethnic groups. The Amhara and Tigrayan, making up nearly a quarter of the population, are Orthodox Christian, while the largest ethnic group, the Oromo, reflects the country's spiritual diversity, with some communities Christian, others Muslim, and many following at least a partial form of traditional animism. Northern inhabitants tend to be settled agriculturalists, while many of the southern border people are nomadic pastoralists. Ethiopia's Christian communities are known for their vigorous celebration of religious festivals throughout the year. Many of the Southern tribal communities are recognizable by their body decoration: ritual scarification, extending of lips and body painting are followed by many groups, with each having their own unique styles and traditional patterns.

Ethiopian Peoples

All the languages spoken by the Ethiopian people fall into four main language groups: Semitic, Cushitic, Omotic and Nilo-Saharan.
The Tigrigna and Amharic speaking people of the north are mainly agriculturalists, tilling the soil with ox-drawn plows and growing teff (a local millet). The most southerly of the Semitic speakers, the Gurage, are also formers and herders, but many are also crafts men.
Hamer, Mursi, Karo, Geleb, Bume, Bena, Dasenech and others are nomadic pastoralists.

More on ...Ethiopian Peoples

Events and Celebrations

Tribal Markets
The different tribes in the country have a weekly market to buy and sell their produces. In every market are colorful events.
BULL JUMPING
The Hamer, Tsemay, Banna and Besada people share traditions and rituals. One of the most important one from these traditions is the so-called 'jumping over the bull'.
DONGA - stick fighting of the Surma people</
Dongaa is a stick fighting festival of the Surma young man.
At a fight, each contestant is armed with a hardwood pole about six feet long with a weight of just under two pounds

More on ... Events and Celebrations

Food and Drinks

Injera is the national dish for most Ethiopians is ingera, a flat, sour dough pancake made from a cereal grain that is unique known as  Teff.

ETHIOPIAN COFFEE
The story of coffee has its beginnings in Ethiopia, the original home of the coffee plant, coffee arabica, which still grows wild in the forest of the highlands.

More on ... Food and Drinks

Select a Culture Trip..

Site Info | Terms and Conditions | Pre-Departure Info | Things to consider
©2007 African Adventure Tours . All Rights reserved.