Multi-Media
Ethiopia’s history and
culture has been shaped by its rich traditions, and religious backgrounds. Ethiopia is one of the oldest formed countries
in Africa, located in The Horn Of Africa. Ethiopia is mentioned twice in the
bible, in the stories of Philip and in the story of Solomon and The Queen of
Sheba. These
stories have helped shaped Ethiopia as a primarily Christian nation. Solomon is
rumored to be one of Ethiopia’s first missionaries, in him bringing
Christianity back to Ethiopia through Sheba.
Ethiopia remains traditionally religious
even in today, with the same customs and backgrounds. They have managed to stay
this way as a country through their religious practices remaining the same. The
primary religion in Ethiopia is Christianity with many sects to it. There are
however; many who practice Islam in Ethiopia as well. The branches of
Christianity in Ethiopia are Ethiopian Orthodoxy, Protestant, and Catholicism.
Ethiopian Orthodoxy is the largest group in Ethiopia; this also proving
Ethiopia is a largely traditional country. Ethiopian Orthodoxy derives from
traditions, and remains to be the oldest and largest. 
One of the roots that show the tradition
remained of Christianity being the center of Ethiopian culture is the Aksum
Kingdom dating back to 4th century AD. The Aksum Kingdom is what
claimed Ethiopia’s religion to be Christianity and has primarily remained a
Christian nation ever since. The king Ezana was converted when two Christian Syrians
came to spread the gospel to him, thus him making Christianity the official
religion. Although Christianity has
remained prevalent through Ethiopia, there have been hiccups in the past and
wars with Islam.
Islam came into Ethiopia when Muslim’s were
sent by Mohammed to the country to settle and spread roots. The two religions
started out peacefully in Ethiopia, and didn’t have problems for a little bit
of time. Things changed in 1528 when a Muslim violent leader Ahmed Gragn
destroyed churches and wanted to spread Islam through Ethiopia with force, and
make it the primary religion. This war
against Christians wreaked havoc at this time, and destroyed the peace and
tradition of Ethiopia for a brief period. Although, Ethiopia continues to be a
sound traditional country today, they have had their past struggles in order to
keep their traditional values alive. This past war was one of Ethiopia’s struggles.
This war cost many valuable monuments from The Aksum Kingdom to be lost, but
the remains can still be found in Ethiopia today. In
today’s time for the most part Christians and Muslims in Ethiopia live
peacefully amongst one another. Most Christians and Muslims in Ethiopia live in
different areas of the country, and most Muslims in Ethiopia are Sunni.
Ethiopia’s past is what keeps it alive as a
traditional nation. For instance; it’s myths of religious stories are what keep
Christianity as such as major part of the culture. These myths include,
Solomon, Sheba and Solomon’s supposed son and The Ark Of The Covenant, The
legend of Prester John, and the biblical story of Philip. Christianity has been
so spread through Ethiopia, because of its access being in The Horn of Africa. Unlike
other African nations, Ethiopia has easy access and was used heavily as a trade
center. Ethiopia being used as a trade center is what helped Christianity
spread, through European missionaries coming through, and the influence of
Ethiopia already being a Christian nation, other people coming in made it even
more prevalent.
Ethiopia holds pride in it being a country
that has stayed true with its past and religious traditions. Ethiopia has not
changed much as a nation in Africa, and remains with its traditional culture.
This traditional culture is placed in their music, and art. Ethiopia’s
value with the Christian faith shows in their religious themed art work, and
music. Ethiopia
is known for its stain glass, and art about Christianity. Ethiopian music has
also remained traditional in its taste. The same instruments have been used for
years, and the same religious stories are told through them.
Ethiopia has also been able to stay as a
whole country and intact with their culture by never really being colonized and
changed. Ethiopia only had a brief encounter with colonization when Italy was
in the country for a short amount of time. Ethiopia didn’t have kingdoms or
hierarchy when The African Scramble was happening, so they were able to keep
their countries borders whole and were also given the region of Ogaden. This
however; became an issue with Somalia who wanted this territory back as theirs.
A struggle of keeping Ethiopia’s sacred
values of culture alive has been Ethiopia’s border issues with countries.
Ethiopia has had few conflicts, but the ones it has been with are a few of its
border countries. Like most African Countries, they have all mostly had
struggles with one another in defining borders and regions. The Somalia
conflict led to tensions with the two countries over borders. Eventually
Somalia was given this territory back just to keep the tensions settled between
Ethiopia and Somalia. This conflict did change borders in Ethiopia, but the
people have remained to stick with Ethiopian customs, rather than Somalian
ones.
Another issue among borders with Ethiopia
and Ethiopia trying to remain whole as a country with less border issues is the
one with the country of Eritrea. In short, Eritrea wanted to secede from
Ethiopia and be its own nation. This problem of Eritrea wanting to secede caused
a major war between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Obviously Ethiopia takes pride in
staying a nation and traditional, so this caused big problems of a border war. This
war was recent and raged from the 2000-2009. Eventually, other nations got
involved and each country had to pay each other compensations for the damages
done. Eritrea and Ethiopia still to this day have conflicts and tensions. This
problem between Eritrea and Ethiopia poses as a threat to keeping Ethiopia
solid as a nation, and is an issue of security.
In conclusion, Ethiopia’s history is what has
made it the country it is today. It has remained traditional in its beliefs because
of the nation’s past. Christianity has made its mark on Ethiopia; it has influenced
their art and music. Christianity has influenced almost every ounce of the
nation Ethiopia is today. Ethiopia has had its struggles in remaining intact
with its wars in the past, and border issues, but despite these things has remained
primarily the same as a country. Ethiopia is known for being a country today as
strong in its roots and traditional culture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2obOIGaImY
