Ethiopia

Map of Ethiopia

Can you find Ethiopia on a map?

Discussion: What do you know about Ethiopia?

What languages do they speak? What products come from Ethiopia? What kind of money do they use?

About Ethiopia

Population: 77,431,000

Capital: Addis Ababa; 2,723,000

Area: 437,600 square miles

Main languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic

Religion: Muslim, Ethiopian Orthodox, Christian

Top export: Coffee (28%)

Currency: Birr

Life Expectancy: 42

Common Stereotypes

Ethiopia is poor and underdeveloped. There was a famine in 1980s and agriculture affected by droughts.

A large number of people in Africa are HIV positive.

'Africa' is a country with one language.

Facts Ethiopia has one of the world' fastest growing

economies in the world, in 2011 it grew 11.4%. The government is supporting it's people and its foreign policy is encouraging direct investment from other countries.

1.3% of Ethiopians are HIV positive, compared to 0.3% in the UK and 12% in South Africa.

There are 80 different languages in Africa and 200 different dialects spoken in Ethiopia alone. The official language is Amharic but most people also speak English as lessons are taught in English.

Discussion - Languages

Why are all the lessons at school given in English?

How would you feel if you had to do all of your lessons in another language?

Wolaita

Map of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region

Brief History of Wolaita

Wolaita is an area in South Nations,Nationalities and People Region in South Ethiopia

The Wolaita people are one of the indigenous people of Ethiopia who have their own culture, tradition, political legacy and kingdom.

The Wolaita have about 200 clans which are divided in to two main tribes called Malla and Dogala.

The people here are classified as part of the Omotic family because their settlement is parallel with the Omo River.

The main language spoken by this clan is called Wolaita (walaitato donna), but they also speak several other dialects in this area.