History

Ethiopia's Rift Valley is known as the cradle of humanity – fossils of the oldest known upright hominid, the 3.5-million-year-old 'Lucy', were found there in 1974. Records of Ethiopian rulers date back 5000 years, and the Queen of Sheba's son, Menelik I, is regarded as the first emperor. Menelik's dynasty continued into the early twentieth century when Haile Selassie took over rule. Selassie held power from 1930 until 1974 when he was deposed by the Dergue, a military junta which terrorized the country for almost two decades.

Culture

Located in East Africa, Ethiopia is divided into 13 self-governing regions, each with their own languages, cultures and traditions. While Amharic is Ethiopia's official language, there are nearly 80 local languages in Ethiopia, many of which are spoken languages only.

Religion

According to local tradition, ancient Ethiopians were Jewish. Ethiopian Orthodoxy arrived as early as 330 A.D. and until the Marxist revolution, there were Orthodox clergy in almost every town in the country. Today, Muslims account for 45% of the population, Ethiopian Orthodox for 35%, and other religions including animism account for the remaining 20% of the population.

Cuisine

Injera is the mainstay of the Ethiopian diet. This bouncy bread, made from Ethiopian grain called tef, is commonly eaten with wat, a meat and vegetable sauce. The southern region of Kafa claims to be the original home of coffee, and the bean has been grown in Ethiopia since 1000 A.D.

Economics

Despite the diversity of the peoples, the dynamic culture and history, and the dramatic landscape, the vast majority of the Ethiopian population is impoverished. Most eke out a subsistence living and have virtually no access to healthcare.