Interesting Facts About Ethiopia

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Ethiopia is an ancient country whose unique cultural heritage, rich history, and remarkable biodiversity attracts many and makes it one of the most beautiful countries in Africa. Compelling antiquities, beautiful mountains, spectacular volcanic landscapes, and a wealth of mammals and birds are found nowhere else in the world. There’s plenty to see in this East African nation known as the land of Origins, Ethiopia is an East African nation that shares borders with Eritrea and Djibouti to the north, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the South, South Sudan to the west and Sudan to the Northwest. With a population of over 110 million people, Ethiopia is the second most populous nation in Africa after Nigeria and the 12th most populous nation in the world. Its Capital Addis Ababa is one of the most important cities in Africa and it is also considered Africa’s political capital due to the presence of many African organizations in the city. A multicultural society Ethiopia is home to over 80 ethnic groups with different cultures, traditions, and of course a rich history.

There are many interesting facts about Ethiopia. But here are some that Ethiopia has.

1. United Nations

Ethiopia is a founding member of the UN. Africa’s oldest independent country also prides itself on being the founding member of the United Nations Organization in 1945 alongside fifty-one other countries of the world. From the African continent, only Egypt, Liberia and South Africa joined Ethiopia in signing the Charter of the United Nations on June 26, 1945, in the San Francisco Conference.
Ethiopia was admitted to membership of the League of Nations, the discredited predecessor of the United Nations Organization, on September 28, 1923, by a unanimous vote at the League’s General Assembly. Historians argue that Ethiopia’s predominant foreign policy goal of membership to the League was protecting the country from external attack, which was in line with the promises of the covenant of the organization. Sadly, Ethiopia’s hope for collective security remained mere political naivete.

2. Defeated colonialism

Ethiopia is the only country that defeated colonialism. Ethiopia is the only country in Africa that successfully defeated colonialists during the Scramble for Africa in the 19th century and it is one of the only two countries in Africa the other being Liberia that was never colonized. Ethiopia has never been colonized by a European country throughout its history as its successfully defeated all the invading forces.

3. Origin of Coffee

Ethiopia is synonymous with coffee. Coffee was first discovered by the goat herder Kaldi in the Kafka region of Ethiopia. Today Ethiopia is the fifth largest producer of coffee in the world and Africa’s top producer. The Ethiopian coffee is widely considered as the best coffee in world and most people who have tasted it admit that they cannot start a day without having one. Ethiopians themselves develop several ritualized and ceremonious way to make and drink coffee.

4. The Cradle of mankind

Ethiopia, the Cradle of humankind, Meaning life actually started in Ethiopia. Lucy is perhaps the most famous of all Ethiopia’s residents. This is the common name given to a fossilized skeleton of a female of the hominins species Australopithecus afarensis that was discovered in 1974 by paleoanthropologist Donald Johansson of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History at Haddar a site in the Awash Valley. The assembled part of the skeleton is also known by its Amharic name Dinknesh which means you are marvellous and dates back about 3.2 million years making it the oldest skull of a human kind. The Lucy skeleton is preserved at the national museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa and thousands of people from all over the world visit the museum each year to get a close-up view of the oldest skull of the human kind.

5. Oldest nations in Africa

Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the world’s oldest. As a country, Ethiopia has its origin in about 980BC when one of the first kingdoms known as the Da’amat rose to power. Ethiopia comprises more than 80 ethnic groups and as many languages. This country has long been an interception between the civilizations of North Africa, the Middle East, and the rest of Africa. Due to this fact Ethiopia, is often referred to as the cradle of civilization. With its rich culture and history, multi-ethnic and multifaceted society where the art of hospitality is alive and well. Ethiopia attracts millions of tourists each year.

6. African Union

Ethiopia is a pioneer in the foundation of the African Union the predecessor of the Organization for African Unity. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU), was established on 25 May 1963, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was the culmination of several diverse and far-reaching historical currents and political trends both on the African continent and abroad. Of particular import to the ideological formation of the OAU was the late 19th century Pan-Africanist movement which emerged in the United States of America (USA) among Black American intellectuals such as Martin Delany and Alexander Crummel, who drew similarities between Africans and Black Americans. The sentiment among these intellectuals centered on the belief that in order for black civilization to prosper, it was necessary to establish their own nation free from the USA where they would be able to pursue self-determination with dignity. Largely influenced by their own religious – mainly Christian – beliefs, early Pan-Africanists sought to advance the spirit of Pan-Africanism through missionary work on the African continent.

7. Olympic

For the first time in Olympic Games 1960 in Rome Olympics, and 1964 in Tokyo Olympics its anthem was sang and its flag was seen by the pioneer marathon runner, Gold Medalist in both Olympics, Abebe Bekila whose record has been unbreakable for years & his fellow Mamo Weldi Gold medalist of Mexico’s 1968 Olympic Marathon. Since then, many famous Ethiopian runners in long distance, in both genders has confirmed that athletics is their culture. After Abebe Bekila & Mamo Woldi, Meruts Yefter & his fellows which were neck-named “the green flood” ranking 1st to 5th in Moscow Olympic in 1986 G.C. And the younger generation, holder of many records in Olympic Games, world Cross country, Indoor games & All African games’, Haile G. Silasi, Kenenisa Bekele, Derartu Tulu, Berhane Adere, Gete Wami, Fatuma Roba, Gezahegn Abera, Elfinch Alemu, Seleshi Sehin, G.Egeziabehir G.Mariam, Terunesh Dibaba, Egegayehu Dibaba, Meseret Defar, Werkinsh Kidane are among many international Ethiopian athletes which are some among many Ethiopian athletes which shows that victory is hereditary.

8. Religion

One of the oldest Christian nations in the world. While Christianity was mostly introduced in Africa between 15 and 19th century and predominantly during the colonial era. This is not the case in Ethiopia as Christianity existed in the country as early as the fourth century. In 33 AD its ambassador was accepted and baptized by the Apostle Phillipe, (Acts,8:26-40) and around 330 AD the king of Ethiopia converted who made Christianity the Empire’s official religion making Ethiopia one of the earliest nations in the world to practice Christianity. Today Ethiopians predominantly practice Christianity with Christians making up to 61% of the total population 43% of them being Ethiopian Orthodox while 16% are Protestants. Besides that, Ethiopia is also one of the few countries in Africa that are mentioned in the Bible and the Holy Quran and also houses Antiquities that help and defining the history and events that are taught in these religions including the Ethiopian Bible, which is the oldest Bible in the world.
In 6th century Ethiopian Saint Yared, invented church chants in three different rhythms with their notation 1300 years before Beethoven & Mozart, combing the lame, the sistrum and drum, besides religion parchment books, literature, philosophical, astronomy, civil & criminal codes, are some among several thousands of books produced several centuries ago. Ethiopia is an Abrahamic Religion, a country where, for centuries Christians & Muslims live under one roof. Ethiopia is a Jihad free country. Around 7th Century AD when Islam faith founder Mohammed the Prophet and his followers were harshly persecuted by the Quraysh tribe, mercantile rulers of Mecca. The Prophet had to seek a safe place to hide for his followers and said; “Yonder lieth a country wherein no one is wronged; a land of righteousness, depart thither; and remain until it pleaseth the Lord to the lord to open your way before you” The then ruler of Abyssinia or Najashi, granted asylum to the first refugees.

9. Calendar and Alphabet

Ethiopia has it own unique calendar and Alphabet. Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar twelve months of thirty days each and thirteenth month of five days (six in a leap year), which is seven years behind the Western or Gregorian calendar. Among several holidays; Ethiopian New year on September 11, Ethiopian Christmas on January 7, Ethiopian Epiphany on January 19, Ethiopian Good Friday on April 25 and Ethiopian Easter on April 27. Most orthodox Christians still do fasting 186 days a year, fasting foods are available on Wednesdays & Fridays and during other fasting seasons.
Ethiopia has it own

10. Ethiopian Airlines

A leading airline company in Africa, the Ethiopian Airlines on 21st December 1945 its charter became official and its first aircraft, five Douglas DC-3’s were bought from the USA. Ethiopian Airlines first scheduled international passenger service took off for Cairo at 0800 on 8 April 1946 E.C. The Douglas DC-3 took 10 hours to complete the flight. A journey, at the time, appeared impossibly almost miraculously, short. At present the Ethiopian Airlines flights has reached over 116 international and 23 domestic destinations. Since it began direct flight operations from Stockholm to Addis in October 2003, Ethiopian remains the only African carrier in Scandinavia, as its motto indicates “Africa’s link to the World”. Ethiopian Airlines was the first African Airline to order the Boeing 720B in 1962, Boeing 767-200ER in 1984 which ushered in the African Skies. Maintaining its long tradition of pioneering air transport in Africa, Ethiopian airlines is still the first African Airline to order the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Ethiopian Airlines with its qualified professional staff besides giving technical services like engine overhaul including Jet plane in its high-tech work shop, instructs and yeilds Pilots, Hostesses, Flight Engineers and Ground Technicians each year from different countries.