Afridea team · food, culture and tech curator.
The coffee ceremony is a social ritual, not just a drink. It is central to hospitality in Ethiopian homes. The steps - Green beans are washed and roasted in a long-handled pan. - The roasted beans are…
#buna#coffee-ceremony#hospitality
Home-brewed drinks are part of celebrations and hospitality. Here are the basics. Tej - A honey wine, often called the national drink of Ethiopia. - Three main ingredients: honey, water and gesho (Rha…
Digital money in Ethiopia now has several lanes, and they are not the same thing. Here is how they compare. telebirr (Ethio telecom) - Launched as mobile money and later turned into a "super app" with…
These places come up in almost every Addis itinerary. Here is what could be verified, and what you must check yourself. National Museum of Ethiopia - Best known for the cast of Lucy (Dinknesh), an Aus…
Addis Ababa#addis-ababa#merkato#museum
These dishes show up on almost every menu. Here are the basics. Injera first - Injera is the sour flatbread under and beside most meals. It is made from teff flour mixed with water and fermented, trad…
Fayda is Ethiopia's national digital ID, run by the National ID Program. Here is what official and news sources say about getting one. - Registration is in person. You provide biometric data and appro…
Ethiopia#digital-id#ethio-telecom#fayda
Ethiopia uses its own calendar, and it affects daily life, holidays and paperwork. The structure - 13 months: twelve months of 30 days, plus Pagume with 5 days (6 in leap years). - It is based on the…
#culture#enkutatash#ethiopian-calendar
If you eat out in Ethiopia, fasting (tsom) shapes menus all year. Here are the basics. The basics - Wednesday and Friday are weekly fast days, linked to the betrayal and crucifixion of Christ. One gui…
#ethiopian-orthodox#fasting#tsom
Many Ethiopian holidays follow the Ethiopian calendar, so their Gregorian dates are steady, while Fasika and the Muslim holidays move. Fixed (in 2026) - Genna (Christmas): 7 January. - Timkat (Epiphan…
If you have filled out a form abroad, you know the problem: Ethiopian names do not have a family surname. How names work - A person's given name is followed by the father's given name. Official record…
Ethiopia is widely regarded as the birthplace of Arabica coffee, and the forests of the south-west are where wild coffee still grows. What is on record - The Kafa Biosphere Reserve in the south-west w…
Addis Ababa#coffee#kaffa#tomoca
Options for getting online have changed a lot since 2022. Here is where things stand, according to recent reports. Ethio telecom - Launched commercial 5G in Addis Ababa in September 2023, starting wit…
Ethiopia#ethio-telecom#internet#safaricom
Ethio telecom publishes a fraud awareness page. These are the patterns and precautions it lists. Common patterns - Calls or SMS with false information to get your money or details. - Fake apps that co…
Ethiopia#ethio-telecom#scams#security
If you want to learn programming in Ethiopia, these are the communities and programs worth knowing about. A2SV (Africa to Silicon Valley) - Started in Ethiopia in 2019 and trains high-potential univer…
Addis Ababa#a2sv#coding#developer-community
Two Ethiopian traditions on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity are often mentioned but rarely explained. Gadaa system (Oromo) - UNESCO inscribed it in 2016. I…
Oromia and Sidama#fichee-chambalaalla#gadaa#oromo
Ethiopia has a long list of UNESCO recognitions. Here is the current list. World Heritage Sites (12 per the UNESCO list) - Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (11 churches, mostly 12th and 13th centuries) -…
Ethiopia#heritage#lalibela#unesco
Kitfo gets plenty of attention. Here is what is documented about it and a few regional neighbours. Kitfo - A traditional dish that originated among the Gurage people. - Made from minced lean beef seas…
Several local companies shape how people get around and pay. Here is a quick tour. ZayRide - Founded in 2016 by Habtamu Tadesse after he struggled to find reliable taxis in Addis Ababa. - Described as…
Addis Ababa#apps#kifiya#startups