Ethiopia: An African Nation Rich in History and Culture

by Arsema Biruk, age 9

Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries in the world. Ethiopia is a land-locked country in Eastern Africa, surrounded by Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Sudan.

Ethiopia is mostly grassland, but has a variety of landscapes with highlands in the north, and lowlands in the south. The highlands have more rain and they are cooler with an average of 60 degrees fahrenheit. The lowlands have less rain and is warmer.

In Ethiopia, Amharic and Oromo are the most common languages. Ethnic groups include Oromo, Amhara, Somali, and Tigray.

The earliest human ancestors' remains are found from 3 to 4 million years ago. In 600 BCE Da’amat Kingdom ruled the area. Many years later, Alssum took control of the area and adopted Christianity.

Today, almost half of the population is part of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church, but there are other religions including Islam, Protestant Christianity, Traditional and Indigenous Faiths and more.

In the 1800s, Italy wanted to colonize parts of Africa. Ethiopian citizens mounted a fierce and successful rebellion against Italian colonization in the late 19th century. Ethiopia later resisted a second Italian invasion in 1930s, and remains one of the only African nations that was never fully colonized.

Today Ethiopia is a popular tourist destination. The country has a ton of rich history, and many beautiful locations to explore. They have awesome animals too. In 2015, Ethiopia was named the ‘World’s Best Tourism Destination’ by the European Council on Tourism and Trade.

[Sources: Britannica Kids; CNN]