Run Baby Run
He ran barefoot to Olympic gold in 1960, making every modern runner rethink their $250 shoes.
Abebe Bikila
This Russian wrote so many pages in War and Peace, you could use the book to block the Nile—if it flowed through Ethiopia.
Leo Tolstoy
A versatile dairy staple enjoyed at breakfast or in cooking, this product is renowned for its calcium and protein content
Milk
Before Adele rolled in the deep, Ethiopia was already sobbing in Amharic—these soulful ballads are the original heartbreak playlist, where every note says 'I miss you' louder than a late-night text
Tizita
Our names mean - special in Amharic- and we are both super special and we go to the same school
This Ethiopian distance runner won three consecutive Olympic golds in the 10,000 meters (2004, 2008, and 2012).
Kenenisa Bekele
This powerhouse writer didn’t just stop at scribbling brilliance—she’s the mind behind The Shadow King and Beneath the Lion's Gaze, and other literary gems that make readers feel things and Google historical context.
Maaza Mengiste
This tropical fruit, celebrated for its sweet and juicy flesh, is a favorite in smoothies, salsas, and desserts
Mango
You’re wrapped in your gabi, it’s 4 a.m. in the middle of Kreemt, and Dawit Tsige starts singing ‘Brrr...’—yes, that chilly word you mutter when freezing. You just hit play and you’re shivering in sweet sorrow and bawling like a baby
Etittu
You may mistake my name for Chinese meaning "graceful light at dawn" but my parents named because I am their soul or Anime
Luhan
They are considered the fastest family in the world
The Dibaba family
This Nigerian icon gave us We Should All Be Feminists and helped Beyoncé sound woke. Still waiting on her TED Talk: The Danger of a Single Brewed Ethiopian Coffee
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
A staple of American comfort food, this baked dish features tubular pasta smothered in a creamy, cheesy sauce.
Macaroni & (cheese)
Before country roads took you home, Ephrem Tamru and Gossaye's voice were already dusting off hearts—this nostalgic anthem rides the rhythm of longing straight from the highlands to your tear ducts
Balageroo
Apparently, my parents were smitten by my looks, apparently and were tempted to call me Bella or Bell but they opted for the Ethiopian equivalent
Amran
This Ethiopian woman won gold in the 5,000 meters at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, marking a new generation of champions.
Gudaf Tsegay
This doctor-novelist wrote Cutting for Stone, making every Ethiopian auntie proudly display a novel thicker than injera dough
Abraham Verghese
This soft, white cheese, prized for its stretchy texture on pizzas and salads, hails from Italy.
Mozzarella
you blast 'Jira Jira' at full volume—his voice echoing ‘here, here’ through your speakers for all to see feel your presence
Hachalu
Meaning "comfort" or "consolation," my name belongs to one of the twelve minor prophets and also titles a short book in the Old Testament.
Nahom
Double Jeopardy
Next to Addis Ababa, this is the town in Ethiopia where most prominent Ethiopian athletes have often trained at
Bekoji
Double Jeopardy
Russia’s Shakespeare, but with better cheekbones and an Ethiopian great-granddad—proof that habesha genes do not play
Alexander Pushkin
Named after the French word for ‘foam,’ this light, airy dessert is often made with chocolate or fruit puree.
Mousse
You just finished finals, tears still fresh on your cheeks, and you blast 'Asey Asey' song, you're stuck in the emotional limbo—did you cry because the semester’s over or because you're not sure if you have aced the exam? Either way, his voice captures the confusion perfectly, like a bittersweet soundtrack to your mixed emotions.
Ephrem Amare
I am a country, a river, a legendary basketball player, and a wildly expensive sneaker brand. If you have it, congrats—you’re basically geography, sports, and fashion all in one.
Jordan