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Ethiopia Ethnic Groups

Ethiopian Ethnic 




Ethiopia's population is highly diverse, with over 80 different ethnic groups. The ethnic group has different cultural traditions and speaks a language that is unique to its race. In total, 87 indigenous languages are spoken in Ethiopia. And Amharic is the only official language.



By: Rediet Shiferahu 


Oromo


In Ethiopia Oromo, people are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia. The Oromo language is known as Afaan Oromo. Among Oromo, there are three primary religions: the traditional Oromo religion, Waaqqefeta, Christianity, and Islam. Most Oromo people are followers of Islam and Christianity, while the remaining few follow the traditional Oromo religion.

Holiday


Oromo celebrate Irreecha to Thank Waaqa (God) for the blessings and mercies they have received in the previous year, the Oromo people celebrate Irreecha. At the beginning of spring, to welcomes the new season of abundant harvests associated with nature and creatures after the dark and rainy winter season. At festivals in Irreecha, friends, family, and relatives gather and celebrate with joy and happiness. Festivals at Irreecha bring people closer to each other and build social ties.


Oromo Traditional Food

Chuko, butter-preserved barley, is a popular food in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Women usually make it with an appropriate amount of distilled butter from barley powder mixed with ginger, onion, salt, and spices.

Amhara

The central highland plateau of Ethiopia is the traditional homeland of the Amhara people. Amhara is one of the two main ethnolinguistic tribes in Ethiopia. They constitute more than one-fourth of the population of the world. The Amharic language belongs to the Southwest Semitic group and is an Afro-Asiatic language. The Amhara people's language is Amharic. It is a Semitic language that is somewhat Arabic and Hebrew-related. Christianity has been the prevalent religion in Amhara for centuries.

Traditional Food 

The cuisine of the Amharas consists of various side dishes of vegetables or meat and canapés, typically a wat, or thick stew, served atop injera, a large teff flour sourdough flatbread. One of the commonly accepted and favorite foods in Amhara is Kitfo, which originates from Gurage. For religious purposes, they do not eat pork of any kind. Eating from the same dish in the center of the table with a group of people is also a traditional cultural practice of Amhara.


Somali 

Somalia's official language is Somali, and its endoglossic language is also the mother tongue of the Somali people. The Somali population is mostly  Sunni Muslim, a small Christian community, and a small Sufi community. 


Traditional Food

Somali meals, often cooked by women in general, are meat-driven—vegetable for side dishes. Goat, beef, lamb, and chicken are usually fried or grilled or broiled in ghee. Turmeric, cilantro, cumin, and curry are spiced and eaten with basmati rice for lunch, dinner, and occasional breakfast.

Tigrayans

The third most spoken language in Ethiopia is  Tigrinya. After the Oromo, Amhara, and Somali. The language spoken by the Tigray, Tigrinya, comes from the Semitic language family and is related to Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Amharic is so closely associated with Tigrinya, Ethiopia's official language, that most Tigrays have no trouble communicating in Amharic. Tigrayans are Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, but there are Muslims and minorities of Protestants and Catholics.

Traditional Food 

Tihlo is a dish consisting of barley dough balls filled with meat and Berber-based sauce, mostly eaten as a snack, from the historic Agame province in Tigray. Tihlo, particularly in Tigrayan communities, is widely consumed as a side dish or snack.

                                     Sidama 

Sidama has a  strong cultural tradition surrounding their ownership,  and almost 90 percent of the Sidama live an agricultural-centered life. The Wesse plant, or false banana, is an important staple food. Other crops are often grown, and cattle are also raised. Sidaama, or Sidaamu Afoo, is spoken by the Sidama people in southern Ethiopia, particularly in the densely populated Sidama National Regional State.

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