Culture

The culture of Ethiopia is very complex. Among many traditions, respect (especially of one's elders) is very important; for example it is customary to rise up out of one's seat or give up one's chair for an older friend or family member.

Clothing

Traditional clothes in Ethiopia are made from traditional cloth called yahager lebs (clothes of the countryside), which is made of cotton woven together in long strips. These strips are then sewn together. Sometimes shiny threads are woven into the fabric for an elegant effect, and the edge of the fabric may be decorated with patterns. It takes about two to three weeks to make enough cloth for a dress.

Women's dresses are called habesha qemis, which are usually white with some colour at the bottom. Bracelets and necklaces from silver and gold are worn on arms and feet to complete the look. Often, a woman will cover her head with a shash, a cloth that is tied at the neck, and shama and kuta, gauze-like white fabrics, are also often used. Elderly women may wear a shash on a day-to-day basis, whilst younger women may only wear a shash while attending church.

Men wear trousers and a knee-length shirt with a white collar, and a sweater, and both men and women wear shawls known as neTela. These traditional clothes are still worn on a day-to-day-basis in the countryside. However, in cities and towns, western clothes are popular, although traditional clothes may be worn for special occasions, such as New Year, Christmas or weddings.

Music

The music of Ethiopia is extremely diverse, with each of the country's 80 ethnic groups being associated with unique sounds. Ethiopian music uses a unique modal system that is pentatonic, with characteristically long intervals between some notes. Influences include ancient Christian elements and Muslim and folk music from elsewhere in the Horn of Africa, especially Sudan and Somalia. Popular musicians include:

• Aster Aweke
• Mahmoud Ahmed
• Tilahun Gessesse
• Asnaketch Worku
• Gigi
• Mulatu Astatke

Cuisine

Ethiopian cuisine consists of various vegetable or meat side dishes and entrees, often prepared as a wat (a thick stew). One or more servings of wat are placed upon a piece of injera, a large sourdough flatbread, which is 50 cm (20 inches) in diameter and made out of fermented teff flour. It is very common to eat from the same big dish in the centre of the table with a group of people. Utensils are not used for eating, and the entrees and side dishes are simply scooped up with the injera (always with the right hand).

Traditional Ethiopian food does not include any pork or seafood (aside from fish), as most Ethiopians have historically adhered to Islam, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, or Judaism - all of which prohibit eating pork. Additionally, throughout a given year, Orthodox Christians observe numerous fasts (such as Lent), during which food is is prepared without any meat or dairy products.

Sports

Ethiopia's most popular sport is Athletics, and the country has produced some of the finest athletes of the world, most notably middle-distance and long-distance runners, such as Haile Gebreselassie (World champion and Olympic champion) who has set over twenty new world records and Kenenisa Bekele (World champion, World cross country champion, and Olympic champion), who holds the 5,000 m and 10,000 m world records.

Other notable Ethiopian distance-runners include:

• Derartu Tulu (the first Ethiopian woman from Africa to win an Olympic gold medal)
• Abebe Bikila (the barefoot runner who won the Olympic marathon in 1960 and 1964, setting world records both times)
• Miruts Yifter (won gold in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at the Moscow Olympics)