Other Definitions
ethiopia (dest)
ethiopia (dict)
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EthiopiaThe Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ityop'iya, Amharic ኢትዮጵያ) is a country situated in the Horn of Africa. It has one of the most extensive known histories as an independent nation on the continent. Unique among African countries, Ethiopia maintained independence during the Scramble for Africa, and continued to do so until 1936, when the Italian army invaded the country. British and Ethiopian troops defeated the Italians in 1941, but Ethiopia did not regain sovereignty until the signing of the Anglo-Ethiopian Agreement of December 1944. (Pankhurst) History Main article: History of Ethiopia In 1974 a pro-Soviet Marxist-Leninist military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile Selassie, who had ruled since 1930, and established a one-party socialist state. The ensuing regime suffered several bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problem. It was eventually defeated in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces under the name Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). In 1994 a constitution was adopted leading to Ethiopia's first multiparty elections in the following year. A border war with Eritrea (a nation which separated from Ethiopia in 1992) erupted in May 1998. This has hurt the nation's economy but since strengthened the ruling coalition. Politics Main article: Politics of Ethiopia Regions Main article: Regions of Ethiopia Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (kililoch; singular - kilil): Afar; Amhara, Benishangul-Gumaz; Gambela; Harari; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region; Tigray. Additionally, there are two chartered cities (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi), Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Geography Main article: Geography of Ethiopia Map of Ethiopia Ethiopia is an ecologically diverse country with land below sea level and above 10,000 feet. Lake Tana in the north is the source of the Blue Nile. It also has a large number of endemic species, notably the Gelada Baboon and the Ethiopian wolf (or Simien fox). Economy Main article: Economy of Ethiopia Demographics Main article: Demographics of Ethiopia Ethiopia is home to many different groups of people, the three largest groups being the Oromo, Amhara (whose Amharic language is used for official purposes), and Tigrawot. The Axumite Kingdom was one of the first nations to officially adopt Christianity, when St. Frumentius of Tyre converted Ezana of Axum during the fourth century CE. Islam in Ethiopia dates back almost to the founding of the religion; Islamic tradition states that Bilal was from present-day Ethiopia. A small group of Jews, the Beta Israel, lived in Ethiopia for centuries, though most have emigrated to Israel. There are numerous indigenous African religions in Ethiopia. Culture Main article: Culture of Ethiopia | font size="+1">Holidays | | style="background:#efefef;" | Date | style="background:#efefef;" | English name | style="background:#efefef;" | Local name | style="background:#efefef;" | Remarks | | January 7 | Orthodox Christmas Day | Genna | | | January 19 | Feast of Epiphany | Timket | | | February 2 | Feast of the Sacrifice | Eid ul-Adha | varies; this date is for 2005 | | March 2 | Adwa Day | Y'adowa B'al | | | April 21 | Birthday of The Prophet Muhammad | Mawlid | varies; this date is for 2005 | | April 29 | Orthodox Good Friday | Sikilet (Crucifixion) | varies; this date is for 2005 | | May 1 | Orthodox Easter | Fasika | varies; this date is for 2005 | | May 2 | Easter Monday (public holiday) | | varies; this date is for 2005 | | May 5 | Patriots' Day | Arbegnoch Qen | | | May 28 | National Day | | End of Derg Regime | | September 11 | Ethiopian New Year | Enkutatash | | | September 27 | Finding of the True Cross | Meskel | | | November 3 | End of Ramadan | Eid ul-Fitr | varies; this date is for 2005 | Miscellaneous topics External links
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