
Helping people to help themselves
HOME ABOUT US ABOUT ETHIOPIA OUR WORK PROJECTS SCHOOL LINKS SPONSORING VOLUNTEERING DONATE NOTICE BOARD CONTACT US FORMS PHOTO GALLERY	About Ethiopia Geographic Situation Ethiopia is situated in the part of north-eastern Africa known as the Horn of Africa, sharing frontiers with the Sudan to the north and west, Djibouti to the north-east, Somalia to the south-east, and Kenya to the south. The heart of the country is a vast highland plateau, lying at 1,500 to 3000m with some peaks rising to over 4,500m. This central massif is divided by the deep Rift Valley which runs from northeast to southeast. Climate There are two main seasons in the Ethiopian highlands. The dry season ("bega") lasts from October to June. The main rainy season ("meher") lasts from July through September. Population The estimated population is over 70 million. The annual growth rate is estimated to be over 2.9%. Generally speaking, the distribution of the population has been determined by the topography. The highlands above 2000m are the home of settled ox-plough agriculture. Hoe cultivation is more common in lower areas of the west, but the presence of mosquitos and tsetse fly has restricted farming in many areas. The eastern and southern lowland regions are mainly pastoral, with some scattered rain-fed farming. Nearly all the major urban centres are in the highlands. Located almost in the centre of the country, Addis Ababa (‚New Flowerç) is the political and economic capital. Addis Ababa has a population of over 2.4 million people. The ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity of Ethiopia is startling. Over 100 languages are spoken in Ethiopia. For the last century, the official language is Amharic, like Tigrigna derived from geçez an ancient semitic language now used only in the liturgy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Amharic continues to be the language of public administration and the language of the capital since mid-1991, Oromos, Tigreans, Gurages, Somalis, Afar and other groups are increasingly using their languages. The most widely spoken foreign language is English, the language of instruction in secondary schools and universities and frequently used in both Government institutions and commercial enterprises. Religion Christianity and Islam are the two major religions. Christianity was first introduced into Ethiopia in the 4th Century, and Christians are thought to constitute about half of the population. The vast majority of the Christians belong to the Orthodox Church, deeply rooted in the highlands; its most important celebrations, apart from Christmas and Easter, are "Timkat" (Epiphany) in January and "Maskal" (the finding of the True Cross by St Helena) in September. Islam was introduced into Ethiopia in the 7th Century, and today more than one-third of the population is thought to be Muslim. While particularly strong in southern, eastern and southeastern regions, mosques and Muslim communities are to be found throughout the country, and there is a significant Muslim population in Addis Ababa. There is religious tolerance, and most foreigners will find facilities for worship in Addis Ababa. History, Politics and Administration The history of Ethiopia, known to many as Abyssinia, is rich, ancient, and still in part unknown. Anthropologists believe that East Africa's Great Rift Valley is the site of the origin of humankind. The first recorded account of the region dates back to almost 5,000 years ago during the time of the Egyptian pharaohs, when the ancient Egyptians sent expeditions down the Red Sea in quest of gold, ivory, incense, and slaves. The country's rich history is woven with legends of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba; the Ark of the Covenant that is said to rest in Axum; the great Axumite Kingdom and the birth of Christianity; the rise of Islam; and the story of King Lalibela, who is believed to have constructed eleven rock-hewn churches, still standing today and considered the eighth wonder of the world. Ethiopia is the only African nation that was not colonized by European colonial forces. It was briefly occupied by the Italians between 1936 and 1941. In 1994, a new constitution was written, setting up a bicameral legislature and a judicial system, and guaranteeing equal rights and freedom of expression to all of the Ethiopian citizens. In May 1995, Ethiopia's first free and democratic elections were held. Ethiopia's second national multiparty elections took place in May of 2000 and individuals were once again elected to the House of the Federation and to the House of Peoples' Representatives. Most of the southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; as a result of the 12 December 2000 peace agreement ending a two year war with Eritrea, the UN will administer a 25-km wide temporary security zone within Eritrea until a joint boundary commission delimits and demarcates a final boundary; dispute over alignment of boundary with Eritrea led to armed conflict in 1998; a peace accord signed in December 2000 provides for UN-assisted arbitration and demarcation of the border. This is a summary of information taken from the United Nations Development Programme for Ethiopia website

Helping people to help themselves

About Ethiopia

Geographic Situation

Ethiopia is situated in the part of north-eastern Africa known as the Horn of Africa, sharing frontiers with the Sudan to the north and west, Djibouti to the north-east, Somalia to the south-east, and Kenya to the south.

The heart of the country is a vast highland plateau, lying at 1,500 to 3000m with some peaks rising to over 4,500m. This central massif is divided by the deep Rift Valley which runs from northeast to southeast.

Climate

There are two main seasons in the Ethiopian highlands. The dry season ("bega") lasts from October to June. The main rainy season ("meher") lasts from July through September.

Population

The estimated population is over 70 million. The annual growth rate is estimated to be over 2.9%. Generally speaking, the distribution of the population has been determined by the topography. The highlands above 2000m are the home of settled ox-plough agriculture. Hoe cultivation is more common in lower areas of the west, but the presence of mosquitos and tsetse fly has restricted farming in many areas. The eastern and southern lowland regions are mainly pastoral, with some scattered rain-fed farming. Nearly all the major urban centres are in the highlands. Located almost in the centre of the country, Addis Ababa (‚New Flowerç) is the political and economic capital. Addis Ababa has a population of over 2.4 million people.

The ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity of Ethiopia is startling. Over 100 languages are spoken in Ethiopia. For the last century, the official language is Amharic, like Tigrigna derived from geçez an ancient semitic language now used only in the liturgy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Amharic continues to be the language of public administration and the language of the capital since mid-1991, Oromos, Tigreans, Gurages, Somalis, Afar and other groups are increasingly using their languages. The most widely spoken foreign language is English, the language of instruction in secondary schools and universities and frequently used in both Government institutions and commercial enterprises.

Religion

Christianity and Islam are the two major religions. Christianity was first introduced into Ethiopia in the 4th Century, and Christians are thought to constitute about half of the population. The vast majority of the Christians belong to the Orthodox Church, deeply rooted in the highlands; its most important celebrations, apart from Christmas and Easter, are "Timkat" (Epiphany) in January and "Maskal" (the finding of the True Cross by St Helena) in September.

Islam was introduced into Ethiopia in the 7th Century, and today more than one-third of the population is thought to be Muslim. While particularly strong in southern, eastern and southeastern regions, mosques and Muslim communities are to be found throughout the country, and there is a significant Muslim population in Addis Ababa. There is religious tolerance, and most foreigners will find facilities for worship in Addis Ababa.

History, Politics and Administration

The history of Ethiopia, known to many as Abyssinia, is rich, ancient, and still in part unknown. Anthropologists believe that East Africa's Great Rift Valley is the site of the origin of humankind. The first recorded account of the region dates back to almost 5,000 years ago during the time of the Egyptian pharaohs, when the ancient Egyptians sent expeditions down the Red Sea in quest of gold, ivory, incense, and slaves.

The country's rich history is woven with legends of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba; the Ark of the Covenant that is said to rest in Axum; the great Axumite Kingdom and the birth of Christianity; the rise of Islam; and the story of King Lalibela, who is believed to have constructed eleven rock-hewn churches, still standing today and considered the eighth wonder of the world.

Ethiopia is the only African nation that was not colonized by European colonial forces. It was briefly occupied by the Italians between 1936 and 1941. In 1994, a new constitution was written, setting up a bicameral legislature and a judicial system, and guaranteeing equal rights and freedom of expression to all of the Ethiopian citizens. In May 1995, Ethiopia's first free and democratic elections were held. Ethiopia's second national multiparty elections took place in May of 2000 and individuals were once again elected to the House of the Federation and to the House of Peoples' Representatives.

Most of the southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; as a result of the 12 December 2000 peace agreement ending a two year war with Eritrea, the UN will administer a 25-km wide temporary security zone within Eritrea until a joint boundary commission delimits and demarcates a final boundary; dispute over alignment of boundary with Eritrea led to armed conflict in 1998; a peace accord signed in December 2000 provides for UN-assisted arbitration and demarcation of the border.

This is a summary of information taken from the United Nations Development Programme for Ethiopia website