Ethiopia

Religion

Religion is instrumental to everyday life in Ethiopia, as it has been for centuries. Priests and deacons abound in their often colourful robes, carrying their staffs and ornate crosses that people frequently kiss as they pass. Ethiopian languages are full of references to God, and the calendar’s days of interest are determined largely by religion.
On the central plateau, the Ethiopian Orthodox church holds sway, as it has done since the 4th century when Ethiopia became the first state to adopt Christianity. The Orthodox Church has many connections with ancient Judaism. Fasting and detailed food restrictions, the specific ways of slaughtering animals, the layout of the churches and the practice of circumcision all make for a very particular religious culture.

Indeed, Ethiopia had large communities of ‘falashas’, Ethiopian Jews, especially in the Gondar region in the north, who have played an important role in the history of Ethiopia, especially in the earlier years. Most of these however have now departed to live in Israel, having been airlifted out of the country with Operation Solomon and Operation Moses in the latter part of the 20th century.
Islam is the second largest religion in Ethiopia with roughly one third of the population as followers. Although certain regions are predominantly either Islam or Christian, Muslims generally live peaceably alongside Christians throughout the country, though this was not always the case. The south and east are where most Muslims reside – 99% of the people of Somali are Muslim – and the city of Harar, in the east of the country, is officially the fourth most holy Muslim site in the world.
In the lowland areas, animistic and pagan religions are still commonly found among tribal people who live in simple, traditional communities.
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