Ethiopia
is a country with a rich 3000 years sovereign history.
Surviving independent for 3000 years, the country has
gone trough a dynamic historic courses of action, gracefully
signified by incredible traces of greatest endogenous
civilizations.
The
present day Ethiopia, once was in control over the vast
East African territory. Back then, it was also a world-famous
influential power-house with an absolute control over
the red sea, Indian Ocean trade routes and the South
Arabian countries as well.
Ethiopia,
the wonder land, is a land of varieties, extremities,
uniqueness, freedom, colorful culture, religions, legends,
natural beauty and many more things which bloom Ethiopia
to the public as a country with so much to be told,
a lot to be heard and still much more to be seen. All
proven with live testimonial reveals and still intact
rocky seals. Pointing to the East on the map of Africa,
one can easily trace Ethiopia fitted on a structure
technically called the horn of Africa. Covering a total
area of 1,112,000 Sq. Km., Ethiopia shares boundaries
with Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea.
Ethiopia
ranks 3rd in population size in Africa. With a population
of 75 million people, Ethiopia hosts about 80 different
tribal groups who speak different languages and all
have their own cultural codes.
The
cultural variation, which is a result of immense tribal
differences, could be seen between every individual
tribe. Being rich in culture and different dialects,
Ethiopia stands as the only nation in Africa claims
to have its own languages and related alphabet. ‘Amharic’
is the language and “Geez” is the root for
the alphabet.
Ethiopia
was the first to build the first Christian Church on
the African soil. Christianity crossed the border in
the 4th Century .AD during the time of the Axumite Kingdom.
This Church, to this date shelters the original Ark
of the Covenant brought from Israel by king Menelik
I of Ethiopia.
Ethiopia
is considered to be the original home of human kind.
The 1974 discovery of Lucy, locally called ‘Dinkinesh’
(meaning you are special), asserts this as true.
To
the North of Ethiopia is found the town Axum with its
former glory. Here is where the Axum Zion Mary Church,
the 1st on the African Soil (4th C) is found. In addition
it is in here that the famous pre Axumite obelisks are
found. It is believed the erection of these obelisks
dates back to (300-200) BC. It is in here that the tallest
(fallen) (33M), the second (stolen) (27m) and the third
(still standing) (23ms) Obelisks are found. These structures
are the tallest structures on earth carved out of a
single rock.
The
12th Century founded town of Lalibella, located North
West of Ethiopia possessed the extraordinarily carved
rock hewn churches during the reign of king Lalibella
(1181-1221C.AD). These eleven rock hewn Churches are
sometimes referred to as the 8th wonder of the world
by many.
The
town of castles, Gondar the 17th Century Ethiopian Capital,
has a great historic significance. It’s a place
where, King Fasil took a strong attempt to relocate
the former tradition of building a permanent capital.
Likewise to signify the power of the dynasty by building
the glorious castles for Axumite and the Lalibella rock
hewn Churches to the Zagwe dynasties. The medieval period
churches best example is ‘Debrebirehan Silassie’
and adds up to Gondar’s charm.
Southwards,
the rift valley system is another grand touch where
bunches of other attractions are sited. The rift valley
crater lakes, which are more than 6 in number, are homes
to a large number of bird and marine life. They are
also paradise for nature lovers and water. National
parks with their exotic birds, animals and plant life
add up to the beauty of the rift valley region. Beautiful
landscape and extreme nature made features are also
the most enjoyable components of the system. Salt lakes,
active volcano sites and caravan routes still are amongst
Ethiopia’s great attractions sighted in the rift
valley.
Further
South is the Omo valley with its popular ethnic treasures.
This is where about 50% of the total of Ethiopia’s
ethnic groups live. It is a part of the country where
ethnicity is observed with unique cultural practices.
Amongst, the Konso people with their terracing agricultural
practices and rituals, the Mursi people exceptional
with their lip clay plates and barbarian life style,
the Hammer people with their bull jumping ceremony to
qualify for adulthood and the Karo people with their
body painting and adornment excellence can be mentioned.
It is in general a different world where supper traditional
traits such as folk music, rituals, marriage burial
and other practices are still observed in their genuine
and original forms.
For
more about Ethiopia, please click
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