Ethiopia

BY: ALIA MAGOUH

Hobbies for PreTeens in Ethiopia

Some hobbies for teens in Ethiopia is playing with friends. For example, according to Kids from Ethiopia, “Gebeta, a game of strategy, has been popular for hundreds of years. It is played using seeds or pebbles and a board with rows of cups. Many kids learn the lively and irresistible eskista dance, which is performed almost entirely with the shoulders. Soccer is the most popular sport.”

Coming of age traditions In Ethiopia

According to Frank Binder, Chasing the light, In southern Ethiopia there is a tribe called the Hamer tribe. They live their lives like their past ancestors did, and haven't changed their ways. One of these things that they still follow is their coming of age ritual; a bull jumping ceremony. It is a 3 day ceremony, where a teenage boy that the elders have decided is a coming of age adult, goes through a bull riding test to see if he is worthy to own cattle and marry a woman. According to the article ¨The ceremony involves much dancing and celebration as the tribe’s women, dressed in their leather clothing and sporting the traditional butter and ochre hair treatment, dance for hours in large dancing circles.¨

Common/ traditional foods In Ethiopia

A main staple food in the country is Injera; a pancake that is eaten all around Ethiopia. It is usually spread around a flat bowl, and topped with many kinds of spicy stews, meat, and vegetable curries. You can consider it like the bread in Europe, or the rice in Asia, it's found in almost every meal. Another common food in Ethiopia is Wat, which is a flavorful Ethiopian curry. Chicken Wat is the national dish of Ethiopia, and it is found on almost every Ethiopian menu. They also eat the dish when celebrating. For example it's a main dish in festivals, and eaten when families get together for Genna or Timkat and break their 40-day fast (Nellie Huang, Wild Junket Adventure Travel Blog).

Customary attire

According to the article Ethiopian Treasures, Cotton that has been weaved forms the traditional Ethiopian outfit. Both men and women in Ethiopia dress in this traditional garb known as gabbi or Netella. Although other patterns are sometimes used, women frequently wear gowns (Kemis) and Netella with borders of colored embroidered woven crosses. In the south and west of the nation, there are more groups and tribes who dress differently to represent their customs. While some tribes wear leather to use as clothing , others go completely bare, only painting their bodies and faces with unique markings.

Religion

Both Islam and Christianity have a deep cultural history with Ethiopia. About two thirds of Ethiopians identify as Christians (orthodox), and about one third as Muslims. If you are a muslim in Ethiopia today, you most likely practice Sufism, a branch of islam. Many informal and formal connections between Sufism and the Ethiopian practice of Islam exist. Menzumas, for instance, are a common form of worship among Muslims in Ethiopia. These are examples of dzikr, which are chants of adoration for God that are repeated. These chants in Ethiopia frequently include clapping and tongue trilling. Today in Ethiopia, the orthodox Ethiopian share the same beliefs as all other Christians. They also follow usual Orthodox rituals and practices, like the Eucharist and the Feast of the Epiphany (Timkat), being the most significant events. The majority of Ethiopian Orthodox services feature traditional gospel music and a lot of dancing and singing (mezmur).

School life

According to Britannica.com ; Education of Ethiopia, “Public education is free at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Primary education is offered for eight years and is compulsory between ages 7 and 12. Four years of secondary education, comprising two two-year cycles, follow.” Also, Ethiopia has made incredible strides in education, with primary school enrolment rate being at 100%, having tripled between 2000 and 2016. As 48% of the population is made up of children and young people, Ethiopia can escape poverty by making sure kids have access to high-quality education.

Popular music/actors/artists

According to article Music of Ethiopia Aster Aweke, Alemayehu Eshete, Gigi, Teddy Afro, Tilahun Gessesse, and Mahmoud Ahmed are the most well-known and highly regarded vocalists on the international stage in Ethiopia. Due to his voice, Tilahun Gessesse gained popularity during the 20th century and earned the moniker "The Voice." Teddy Afro released his debut album, Abugida, in 2001, and earned the moniker "Blatenaw" for himself (English: The boy). Neway Debebe is another famous performer. She gained a lot of popularity among young people in the 1980s and the early 1990s with songs like "Yetekemt Abeba," "Metekatun Ateye," "Safsaf," and "Gedam," among others. On his CD Ras Deshen from 2005, Abatte Barihun demonstrated each of the four primary qenets.

Pre teen / social life

According to article by Jodi Carlston, Today, many kids socialize by using electronics such as phones, video games, and social media. On the other hand, Ethiopian kids don't have access to these types of things, so they have to compromise. For example they play games and play outdoor sports with friends while making teams. Running (track), mountain climbing, bird watching, riding and pony trekking, caving, hunting and water sports are very popular for Ethiopian kids to play. Also, another popular game in Ethiopia that is widely known as Mancala, is Gebeta. It is considered the oldest board game in the world.

WORKS CITED ●

Author, Unknown. “Ethiopian Treasures.” Ethiopian Culture - Traditional Costume, Food and Drink, http://www.ethiopiantreasures.co.uk

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Binder, Frank. “Coming of Age in Ethiopia.” Chasing the Light, 22 June 2021, https://chasing-the-light.net

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Carlson, Jodi. “Discover More about Ethiopia with These Activities and Games.” Leader Connecting Leaders, 11 Feb. 2020, https://leaderconnectingleaders.com

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"Ethiopia: Religious Affiliation.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com

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Evason, Nina. “Ethiopian Culture.” Cultural Atlas, 2018, https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au

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Huang, Nellie. “Traditional Ethiopian Food: The Best Ethiopian Dishes.” Wild Junket Adventure Travel Blog, 27 June 2022, https://www.wildjunket.com/traditional-ethiopian-food-guide/.

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Ivoha / Alamy Stock Photo. 26 December 2014 https://www.alamy.com

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J Marshall - Tribaleye Images / Alamy Stock Photo

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Marcus, Harold G. “Education of Ethiopia.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/place/Ethiopia/Education.

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"Music of Ethiopia.” Wikipedia, Wikipedia, 12 June 2011, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Teddy_Afro.jpg. Accessed 26 Sept. 2022.

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"Music of Ethiopia.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 July 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Ethiopia.

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Nii Okai Tetteh - October 1, 2019 https://kuulpeeps.com/2019/10/01

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