Final Blog Post Ethiopia

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References:

"Geography & Wildlife." Our Africa. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2017. <http://www.our-africa.org/ethiopia/geography-wildlife>.

BEKERIE, AYELE. "Ethiopica: Some Historical Reflections on the Origin of the Word Ethiopia."International Journal of Ethiopian Studies 1.2 (2004): 110-21. Web.Henze, Paul B. "Ethiopia." The Wilson Quarterly (1976-) 8.5 (1984): 98-124. 

Web.

 Feb 08, 2016 • by In-house Kenya • • Creative Commons Licence, Fitzum GATCHEW. "Traditional Music in Ethiopia." Music In Africa. N.p., 08 Feb. 2016. Web. 27 Jan. 2017. <http://musicinafrica.net/traditional-music-ethiopia>.

 Mekonnen, Danny A. "ETHIO-GROOVE ON THE WORLD STAGE Music, Mobility, Mediation." Callaloo33.1 (2010): 299-313. Web.

 LEVINE, DONALD N. "Reconfiguring the Ethiopian Nation in a Global Era." International Journal of Ethiopian Studies 1.2 (2004): 1-15. Web.

 JONES, ADAM. "THE DARK CONTINENT: A Preminary Study of the Geographical Coverage in European Sources, 1400-1880." Paideuma 33 (1987): 19-26. Web.

 Teologiczne, Warszawskie Studia. "ETHIOPIAN RELIGIOUS ART." Stanisław C HOJNACKI(n.d.): n. pag. Web. 27 Jan. 2017. <ETHIOPIAN RELIGIOUS ART>.

Salvadore, Matteo. "The Ethiopian Age of Exploration: Prester John's Discovery of Europe, 1306-1458." Academia.edu - Share Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2017.
<http://www.academia.edu/354590/The_Ethiopian_Age_of_Exploration_Prester_John_s_Discovery_of_Europe_1306-1458>.

 Kemezis, Kathleen. "Prester John | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed." Prester John | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2017. <http://www.blackpast.org/gah/prester-john>.

 "Ethiopia - Contact with European Christendom." Ethiopia - Contact with European Christendom. US Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2017. <http://countrystudies.us/ethiopia/12.htm>.

Political and National Boundaries and Organization

The Ethiopian Border Affairs Committee (EBAC) was established in response to negotiations between the Ethiopian government and the government of the Sudan. This would affect Ethiopia's territorial integrity, national independence and sovereignty and the interests of millions of Ethiopians for many generations to come [1]..

Table 1

Factors influencing the evolution of Ethiopia’s political settlement [2]

Historical (1889–1991)	Contemporary (1991–2015)
1. A legacy of centralization, control and coercion continues to influence styles of rule and administrative approaches	1. The partial transition of the TPLF/EPRDF from movement to political party creates strong leadership structures that rest partly on internal control and a lack of external transparency
2. A legacy of exclusionary rule with ethnic undertones limits broader distribution of power and risks counter-mobilization(s)	2. The expectation that TPLF/EPRDF rule will continue perpetuates a single-party monopoly
3. The volatility and insecurity of the region requires and perpetuates securitized approaches to (political) conflict	3. Political power and economic interests are fused and harnessed to a national strategy of state-led economic development

Historical political parameters for the organization of security[3]

The historical factors that influence Ethiopia’s political settlement point to the following broad parameters for the organization of security:

• The historical use of centralization, control and coercion as methods of governance over a vast space with complex terrain and a diversity of peoples indicates a tradition of political use of state security organizations as instruments to project central authority.

• A legacy of exclusionary rule with ethnic undertones suggests that partisan control over state security organizations is a long-standing characteristic of governance and a necessity for maintaining existing power and privileges.

• A volatile and violent neighborhood has historically required the maintenance of a strong state security apparatus to ensure Ethiopia’s continued safety and to defend its interests. At the same time, this has perpetuated a secularized outlook and risks prioritizing militarized responses.

The Ethiopian Constitution offers a clear compass in respect of the principles and spirit of regional security provision that could help chart an acceptable path between maintaining the present level of centralization and control on the one hand, and giving more meaning to the idea of subsidiarity on the other. If done in consultative fashion, it might also be a low-profile method of establishing a practice and habit of local and community dialogue in a sensitive issue area [4].




[1]"A National Call to Defend Ethiopia's Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity." A National Call to Defend Ethiopia's Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity. N.p., 02 Dec. 2015. Web. 03 Mar. 2017. <http://www.ethiomedia.com/aa2nov15/4549.html>.

[2]"Past and Present of Political Power in Ethiopia | Power, Politics and Security in Ethiopia."Past and Present of Political Power in Ethiopia | Power, Politics and Security in Ethiopia. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2017. <https://www.clingendael.nl/pub/2016/power_politics_and_security_in_ethiopia/1_past_and_present_of_political_power_in_ethiopia/>.

[3] ibid

[4]"Conclusion | Power, Politics and Security in Ethiopia." Conclusion | Power, Politics and Security in Ethiopia. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2017. <https://www.clingendael.nl/pub/2016/power_politics_and_security_in_ethiopia/conclusion/>.

First Contacts

Many people think of Africans as somewhat of a sitting duck, just waiting around for Europeans to discover them. They are sometimes thought of as "incapable of relating to the rest of the world". Funny enough, Ethiopians were out discovering European nations before European nations were capable of discovering them [1]. Ethiopians were in fact regarded as purveyors of knowledge in a European world whose self-identification was grounded on Christian identity [2].

The legend of Prester John, a wealthy Christian king with a kingdom somewhere outside of the Western European realm, pervaded European thought throughout the Middle Ages. The limited understanding of the unexplored regions of the world and the inability to find his kingdom resulted in shifting versions of the legend [3].

                        1603 Dutch Map Showing the Kingdom of Prester John in East Africa

Image Ownership: Public Domain

Portugal, the first European power to circumnavigate Africa and enter the Indian Ocean, displayed initial interest in this potential ally by sending a representative to Ethiopia in 1493. The Prester John of the Indies, stirred further European interest and proved a valuable source for future historians. The first Portuguese forces responded to a request for aid in 1541, although by that time the Portuguese were concerned primarily with strengthening their hegemony over the Indian Ocean trade routes and with converting the Ethiopians to Roman Catholicism [4].
















[1] Salvadore, Matteo. "The Ethiopian Age of Exploration: Prester John's Discovery of Europe, 1306-1458." Academia.edu - Share Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2017. <http://www.academia.edu/354590/The_Ethiopian_Age_of_Exploration_Prester_John_s_Discovery_of_Europe_1306-1458>.
[2] Ibid
[3] Kemezis, Kathleen. "Prester John | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed." Prester John | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2017. <http://www.blackpast.org/gah/prester-john>.
[4] "Ethiopia - Contact with European Christendom." Ethiopia - Contact with European Christendom. US Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2017. <http://countrystudies.us/ethiopia/12.htm>.

Religions of Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a rich history that ties into all three of the major monotheistic religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church (The Tewado) is one of the oldest organized Christian Church in the world. Christianity was introduced to Ethiopia in the fourth century. 

 

A boy praying in Aksum, Ethiopia, a holy city for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Photo Credit: Dave Bartruff/Corbis

Islam was introduced in the 7th century and is now practiced by about one-third of Ethiopians. 

Most of the Ethiopian Jews, who call themselves Beta Israel, but also have been known as Falasha, have relocated to Israel

Music and Art as Historical Record

The craft of writing was a minor art in Ethiopia. The art of dance and paintings are well known in Ethiopian history. 

Ethiopians entertain with singing and instruments such as the single-stringed masinko. The masinko is one of the most popular traditional musical instruments used throughout Ethiopia {musicinafrica.net}. 

                                       


Three aspects that led to artist expression in Ethiopia are: The spirit of the Ethiopian people who succeeded to preserve their independence for the last two thousand years, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the African soil on which the culture of the Ethiopian people has grown and flourished Thanks to these historical facts, the Ethiopians were able to develop freely their culture and artistic aptitudes {Teologiczne}. 

                                                Photo Credit: infoplease.com












References

{1} Feb 08, 2016 • by In-house Kenya • • Creative Commons Licence, Fitzum GATCHEW. "Traditional Music in Ethiopia." Music In Africa. N.p., 08 Feb. 2016. Web. 27 Jan. 2017. <http://musicinafrica.net/traditional-music-ethiopia>.

{2} Mekonnen, Danny A. "ETHIO-GROOVE ON THE WORLD STAGE Music, Mobility, Mediation." Callaloo33.1 (2010): 299-313. Web.

{3} LEVINE, DONALD N. "Reconfiguring the Ethiopian Nation in a Global Era." International Journal of Ethiopian Studies 1.2 (2004): 1-15. Web.

{4} JONES, ADAM. "THE DARK CONTINENT: A Preminary Study of the Geographical Coverage in European Sources, 1400-1880." Paideuma 33 (1987): 19-26. Web.

{5} Teologiczne, Warszawskie Studia. "ETHIOPIAN RELIGIOUS ART." Stanisław C HOJNACKI(n.d.): n. pag. Web. 27 Jan. 2017. <ETHIOPIAN RELIGIOUS ART>.

Geography of Ethiopia

Studying Ethiopia's geographical traits, you will see a stark difference between the dry Danakil Desert and the Bale Mountains.

Ethiopia lies completely within the Tropical Latitudes. The Capital city Addis Ababa which means "New Flower", is located almost directly in the center of the country. Ethiopia is one of the most populated countries in Africa, bearing a weighty 70 million people. 

                                          
                                              {Photo Credit: thinklink.com}

{Photo Credit: infoplease.com}

The country is almost divided in half by the Great Rift Valley.
Ethiopia is located in what is called the horn of Africa; a region of Eastern Africa. Ethiopia is land-locked by Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, and Kenya.

                                                    {Picture Credit: infoplease.com}

The 437,600 square mile country is made up of plateaus, mountainous cliffs (escarpments), gorges, ravines, rift valleys, and spectacular landscapes including waterfalls.

                                   {Photo Credit: ethiopianholidays.com}

                                          {Photo Credit: www.telegraph.co.uk}


Ethiopia is the source of the Blue Nile which supplies four-fifths of the Nile River. The Nile is the primary livelihood for more than 90 million people from Sudan to Egypt.

                                {Blue Nile Falls. Photo Credit: nationalturk.com}

The people of Ethiopia have been influenced greatly by people who have come through history. There have many attempts to overrule the country, but Ethiopia has enjoyed their long-sustained independence and old Christian Traditions.



Reference:

"Geography & Wildlife." Our Africa. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2017. <http://www.our-africa.org/ethiopia/geography-wildlife>.

BEKERIE, AYELE. "Ethiopica: Some Historical Reflections on the Origin of the Word Ethiopia."International Journal of Ethiopian Studies 1.2 (2004): 110-21. Web.Henze, Paul B. "Ethiopia." The Wilson Quarterly (1976-) 8.5 (1984): 98-124. Web.