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Ethiopia Lifestyle and Culture

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Commonly known as the land of Origin, Ethiopia is one of the most unique countries in the world, with its own outstanding historical journey, scenery, great food, and famous coffee.

The “Land of 13 Months of Sunshine” Ethiopia has so much to offer those who love meeting people, rich culture, coffee, mountains, lakes, wildlife, spicy food, and ancient history.

Ethiopian food, like the Ethiopians themselves, is unforgettable. Ethiopian food often consists of vegetables and a spicy meat dish. This meat is usually cooked in a stew called wat; this meat is typically served on top of a sour pancake called injera.

Other popular Ethiopian dishes are Shiro Wet, Enset Kitta, Kitfo. For Ethiopians, meals are seen as a social and family gathering time rather than a necessary occurrence, food is rarely consumed alone.

A common phrase you’ll hear as you move around is “Inebele,” which means “Let’s Eat.” In Ethiopian culture, it’s expected to offer your food to those around you.

Ethiopia boasts of the greatest mountains in Africa and this is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate taking in the magnificent scenery. Commonly known is the Simien Mountain range is one of Africa’s largest, which consists of over a dozen peaks over 4,000 meters tall.

If you’re looking for something relaxed to do in Addis Ababa, you can visit the National Museum where you will bump into Lucy, a 3.2 million-year-old hominid discovered in 1974 in Ethiopia’s Afar Depression.

Other monuments to consider visiting are the Menelik Mausoleum, a tomb for emperors, princess and martyrs of freedom, St. Geroge’s Cathedral, Trinity Cathedral, and the Jubilee Palace.

Ethiopia is known as the home of gold medal-winning long-distance runners such as Haile Gebrselassie. It is also home to the famous Emperor Haile Selassie, a defining figure in African history. He is the last emperor of Ethiopia who ruled from 1930 until 1974.

His ancestry can be traced back to the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. Rastafarians regard Haile Selassie as the god of the black race and have based their religion around him.

Ethio-Jazz is a common sound in the streets and numerous jazz clubs in the cities. This is a traditional sound infused with the 12 notes of the common jazz to give birth to a new sound.

Music lovers are reassured to love this popular sound once in Ethiopia. The diverse cultures bring out diverse sounds in music therefore do not be surprised by hearing something new every day.

With 83 ethnicities and over 200 dialects in the country, Ethiopia is a melting pot of cultural diversity. Nevertheless, within this immense multiplicity, this country is where cultural and religious cliques live pretty much in harmony, a rare occurrence.

One Ethiopian comical fact to know is that the locals begin telling time at sunrise. That means that 7:00 am is told as “1:00” in Ethiopian terms.

" Its a place to be" - Martin from Canada

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