The history of Ethiopia dates back to the first millennia towards the pre Axumite Empires of D’mt, who was centered at the place called Yeha. The biblical history of Queen of Sheba shows the clear picture how the civilized community was settled in the area of Axum (Aksum). Aksum later served as the capital of the Aksumite Kingdom or Empire, which probably emerged as the dominant trading power in the Horn of Africa in the 4th century BC and retained that role for another 1,000 years under a succession of powerful rulers. Aksum was a major player in commerce between the Roman Empire and India, and its rulers facilitated trade by minting their own currency. Ethiopia, the land locked country that has a territory of 1,104,300 square kilometers, making it the tenth-largest country in Africa. Its population is estimated at between 110 and 120 million, the second largest in Africa Nigeria. Following the installation of a transitional coalition government in 1991, Ethiopia adopted a new federal constitution in December 1994. Composed of Ten Regional States and two City Administrations, Ethiopia is now a multiparty democracy that has held democratic elections every five years since May 1995.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle Ethiopia is the original home of coffee Arabica and its rich coffee culture is alive in the odorous and coffee ceremonies held daily all over the country. Ethiopia’s unique cuisine – dominated by pancake-like injera, heaped with a tantalizingly spiced selection of vegan or meat dishes – will delight visitors with adventurous palates. A host of colorful Christian and Islamic festivals includes the Meskel Ceremony held in Addis Ababa or Aksum, and Timkat, best experienced in Gondar. High-quality silver and wooden crosses, delicately hand-woven fabrics, and goatskin ‘picnic baskets’ are among several unique handicrafts produced in Ethiopia. Homegrown music includes atmospheric 1,500-year-old church liturgies and chants, bright lurching Ethiopia from the 1970s, and the often mischievous improvised lyrics of bard-like ‘azmari’ singers.

Currently Ethiopia

Currently Ethiopia • Ethiopia is a mosaic of peoples and cultures that collectively speak more than 80 languages and practice two of the world’s major religions (Christianity and Islam) along with various other faiths.