History
Revered as a messiah by the Rastafarian movement, this man served as the last Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 until 1974.
Who is Haile Selassie I?
This spongy, sour fermented flatbread is made from teff flour and serves as both the serving platter and the utensil for most meals.
What is Injera?
At Eritrean weddings and celebrations, guests form a circle and move counter-clockwise to perform this energetic traditional dance, which shares its name with the musical beat.
What is Guayla?
This strategic body of water forms the entire eastern coastline of Eritrea, separating it from the Arabian Peninsula and providing crucial ports like Massawa and Assab.
What is the Red Sea?
Born Abel Tesfaye, this Canadian singer with Ethiopian parents is one of the world's best-selling music artists, famous for hits like "Blinding Lights" and "Starboy."
Who is The Weeknd?
In this year, Eritrea officially gained independence and joined the United Nations after fighting a 30-year war against Ethiopia.
What is 1993?
Essential to the cuisine's heat and flavor, this complex spice blend includes chili peppers, garlic, ginger, basil, korarima, and fenugreek.
What is Berbere?
This 5-or-6 string bowl-shaped lyre is one of the most iconic traditional instruments in the region, used in both secular songs and religious worship.
What is the Krar?
Originating from Lake Tana in the Ethiopian Highlands, this river flows north to Sudan and contributes about 85% of the water to the main Nile River.
What is the Blue Nile (or Abay)?
This Grammy-winning rapper and community activist, known for his "Victory Lap" album, was fiercely proud of his Eritrean heritage, often visiting his father's homeland before his tragic death in 2019.
Who is Nipsey Hussle?
Celebrated as a symbol of Pan-African resistance, the 1896 Battle of Adwa saw Emperor Menelik II defeat the colonial forces of this European nation.
What is Italy?
Often considered the national dish of Ethiopia, this spicy stew is made by slow-cooking chicken and onions for hours and is traditionally served with hard-boiled eggs.
What is Doro Wat (or Tsebhi Dorho)?
This musician and arranger is internationally famous for creating "Ethio-Jazz," a genre that blends traditional pentatonic scales with 1960s American jazz and Latin rhythms.
Who is Mulatu Astatke?
Located off the coast of Massawa, this group of over 120 islands is famous for its pearl fisheries, diverse marine life, and relatively isolated, pristine beaches.
What is the Dahlak Archipelago?
Before becoming the last Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930, this man was known as Ras Tafari Makonnen; today, he is worshipped as a divine figure by Rastafarians worldwide.
Who is Haile Selassie I?
Considered one of the four great powers of the ancient world alongside Rome, Persia, and China, this kingdom spanned modern-day northern Ethiopia and Eritrea and is famous for its giant stone obelisks.
What is the Kingdom of Aksum (or Axum)?
Similar to Indian ghee, this seasoned clarified butter is infused with herbs like cardamom and cumin and acts as the aromatic base for many sautéed dishes.
What is Niter Kibbeh (or Tesmi)?
Often called the "Godfather of Eritrean Music," this legendary Krar player and freedom fighter is revered for his role in modernizing Eritrean folk music during the struggle for independence.
Who is Bereket Mengisteab?
Spanning both northeastern Ethiopia and southern Eritrea, this geological depression is one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth, known for colorful sulfur springs and vast salt pans.
What is the Danakil Depression (or Afar Triangle)?
This legendary marathon runner from the Oromo region became the first Black African to win Olympic gold in 1960, famously winning the race while running barefoot through the streets of Rome.
Who is Abebe Bikila?
The First Italo-Ethiopian War was sparked by a dispute over Article 17 of this 1889 treaty, where the Italian version claimed Ethiopia was a protectorate, while the Amharic version stated it was sovereign.
What is the Treaty of Wuchale (or Uccialli)?
While teff is the most famous grain, this starchy bread—common in the southern regions—is made from the fermented pulp of the Enset plant, also known as the "false banana."
What is Kocho?
Ethiopian and Eritrean music is unique because it generally relies on a system of four main pentatonic (five-note) scales, or "kiñit," known as Bati, Ambassel, Anchihoy, and this nostalgic scale often associated with ballads and memories.
What is Tizita?
While Ras Dashen is the highest peak in Ethiopia, this mountain in the Debub region stands as the highest point in Eritrea, reaching over 3,000 meters (9,885 ft).
What is Emba Soira?
Celebrated for her intelligence and military strategy, this Empress (and wife of Menelik II) famously commanded her own army at the Battle of Adwa and founded the capital city, Addis Ababa.
Who is Empress Taytu Betul?