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Anthropology 597.01 Mike Larsson

Ethiopia. Anthropology 597.01 Mike Larsson. Ethiopia: Basic facts. Diversity in Ethiopia. Over 100 “distinguishable ethnolinguistic entities” Approx. 70 different languages spoken Official language: Amharic Omoro 40%, Amhara 30%, Tigray 12-15%

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Anthropology 597.01 Mike Larsson

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  1. Ethiopia Anthropology 597.01 Mike Larsson

  2. Ethiopia: Basic facts

  3. Diversity in Ethiopia • Over 100 “distinguishable ethnolinguistic entities” • Approx. 70 different languages spoken • Official language: Amharic • Omoro 40%, Amhara 30%, Tigray 12-15% • Other groups include Somali, Gurage, Awi, Afar, Welamo, Sidama, Beja… (Ofcansky 1993)

  4. Ethnic Conflict in Ethiopia Small scale: • Lingering resentment by minorities at forced incorporation into Ethiopian empire between 1889 and 1913 • Under-representation in new “macro-ethnic” regions implemented in 1994 • 9 regions, 100+ groups (Fellner 2000)

  5. Unifying Factors • Protracted contact between various groups has led to a common cultural heritage • technology, medical knowledge, markets, clothing, arts, ceremonies and everyday life • Century of enforced unification and nation-building which is becoming more and more dedicated to equal democratic participation. • Religion: • 45% Ethiopian Orthodox Christians • 45% Sunnitic Muslims • “tradition of cohabitation and tolerance” in Ethiopia, serve to join people of different ethnic groups and social classes (Fullner 2000:15)

  6. Ethiopian Orthodox Religion

  7. Ethnic Conflict in Ethiopia Large scale: Eritrean war for independence 1961-1991 • 1869 Italian company purchases part of the port of Aseb • 1882 Italian government takes over entire port and declares it its protectorate • 1890’s Italy has spread control to cover approximately the same area as modern-day Eritrea, advance halted • Italian occupation of Ethiopia 1936 to 1941 • Post-WWII Italian occupation of Eritrea and Ethiopia ends, Allies in charge of handling Eritrea • 1950 UN resolves that Eritrea will be federated with Ethiopia despite 44% of Eritrean population’s preference for unconditional union with Ethiopia • 1960 Eritrea fully annexed after vote in Eritrean parliament • 1961-1991 pro-independence Eritreans wage war • 1991 Eritrean war for independence ends • 1993 Eritrea granted independence

  8. Ethnic Conflict in Ethiopia • But was it an ethnic conflict? • Eritrean majority group the Tigrinya, related to the Ethiopian Tigrayans across the border • Liberation leaders argued old ethnic identities superceded by a “new and more inclusive Eritrean identity” (Negash & Tronvoll) • The dividing lines were political, not ethnically based

  9. The end

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