Traditional Foods
This dish of raw beef, sometimes lightly seared, is traditionally seasoned with mitmita and served with injera.
Kitfo
What holiday celebrates the finding of the True Cross?
Meskel
Who was the emperor that defeated Italy at the Battle of Adwa in 1896?
Menelik II
Who is known as the “Queen of Ethiopian Music”?
Aster Aweke
What lake is the largest in Ethiopia and source of the Blue Nile?
Lake Tana
This Eritrean bread, flavored with fennel and sesame seeds, is often prepared for special occasions.
Hambasha
What is the tradition of feeding someone with your hand during a meal called?
Gursha
Ethiopia is often called the land of origins—what ancient hominid skeleton was discovered there?
Lucy/Dinknesh
What Ethiopian dance uses shoulder shaking movements?
Eskista
What mountain is the highest peak in Ethiopia?
Ras Dashen
This thick, fermented barley drink is popular in rural Ethiopia and often shared during communal gatherings.
Tella
What holiday involves children singing, playing, and carrying sticks to mark the beginning of summer?
Buhe
Who was the last emperor of Ethiopia, deposed in 1974?
Haile Selassie
What large harp-like instrument is used in church music?
Begena
What depression in northeastern Ethiopia is one of the hottest places on Earth?
Danakil Depression
This breakfast dish is made of small pieces of flatbread fried in spiced butter and often served with honey or yogurt.
Chechebsa
What do mothers traditionally burn near newborns for blessing and protection?
Incense or itan
This ancient script is still used in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox churches for Bible readings.
Ge'ez
This traditional Ethiopian wooden flute is often played in folk music and during cultural celebrations.
Washint
Which sea borders Eritrea to the east?
Red Sea
What is the national spice blend of Ethiopia and Eritrea?
Berbere
What tradition involves ululation (high-pitched cries) to celebrate at weddings or births?
ililta
What battle is remembered as Ethiopia’s victory over colonization in 1896?
Battle of Adwa
Who is the famous Ethio-jazz musician called “the father of Ethio-jazz”?
Mulatu Astatke
What capital city is home to the African Union?
Addis Ababa