Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MULTICULTURALISM
Ethiopia's mix of cultures has been pretty stable over the past few centuries, with only the
expulsion of Eritrean citizens after the recent Ethiopia-Eritrea War, and influxes of
Sudanese refugees into the western lowlands shifting the status quo.
Despite the nation's regions being divided
along ethnic lines in 1995, there's still some re-
sentment, particularly among the Oromo, that
has led to violence over the fact that the minor-
ity Tigrayan and Amhara people largely main-
tain control of the national government (al-
though the interim prime minister is not from
Thanks to the Orthodox calendar, Ethiopia is a full
seven to eight years (depending on the exact date)
behind the Western calendar. There are also 13
months in a year.
either of these groups).
Many travellers also notice that some Ethiopian highlanders, regardless of their ethnic
background, seem to show a slight disdain for Ethiopians from the lowlands.
