Ethiopia – Did You Know
Kenya Earthstrong
July 31, 2025
Ethiopia Ventures
October 1, 2025
Ethiopia is in North Eastern Africa. Oldest independent African country founded 980 BC. The capital Addis Ababa means new flower in Amharic. It was named Axum, Abyssinia before Ethiopia.
Known as the cradle of humankind because hominid fossils like ‘Lucy’ discovered. The oldest writing system Amharic alphabet, Semitic language.
13 month calendar. 12 months with 30 days and 1 month with 5/6 days. The only country with 12 hour time system.
East African Time (EAT) system. Studied science of stars and gave names to planets, descriptions and meaning.
Ethiopia celebrates new year on September 11th (leap year 12th Sept). Adey Abeba yellow flower is only found in Ethiopia, symbolises end of rainy season, start of new year summer.
Second most populated country with 106 million people. Over 80 ethnic groups. Largest being Oromo, Amhara, Somali, and Tigrayans.
The first king, Menelik I, is credited in founding Ethiopian empire.
It has never been colonised as resisted by Europeans. Beat Italy at battle of Adwa 1896.
Emperor of Ethiopia (1930-74), Haile Selassie I, help establish the African Union in 1963 in Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa is the highest capital city in Africa
The birthplace of wildlife coffee plant.
The Erta Ale Volcano (Gateway to Hell) is the longest existing lava lake, since 1906.
Has the most UNESCO sites (9) in Africa
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is Africa largest hydroelectric dam (Sept 2025).
