Ethiopia as a country is run administratively in regions with 12 regions from the last 2023 referendum and two cities which are Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Each region is formed according to tribal lines which is guaranteed by the constitution. This regional divide along tribal lines leads to a clear distinction in the Ethiopian people as each region is mainly known for certain gifts, talents, skills and in some cases, demography and human physical features.
Tigray Region: This region holds the headquarters of the ancient Aksum kingdom which covered present day Ethiopia, Eritrea & Djibouti. It was a wealthy kingdom via both commerce, enabled by their access to the Red Sea, and agriculture, enabled by their favourably elevated topography. Under the kingdom, when a royal person is buried, a stele structure is constructed as the tomb maker. The higher the nobility, the higher the structure. Tigray is represented at the pavilion with structures of a mosque, royal chamber that represent the region’s architecture and one of the last standing steles known as King Ezana stele.
Afar Region: This region is the salt basket of the present-day East Africa region as its terrain is dotted with salt flats, lakes and rocks. This region relied on and still relies on the salt trade to drive its economy. It is represented at the pavilion with salt pillars.
Amhara Region: This region also flexes on of the world’s most astounding architecture; the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela which are today a UNESCO world heritage site. Coupled with this rocky terrain, it has the largest lake in Ethiopia; Lake Tana, which also serves as the source of the Blue Nile. At the pavilion, it is represented by glass walls on a cross-shaped structure with images of these historic sites on display.
Benishangul-Gumuz Region: This region is known for its musical talents amongst other things such as favourable habitat for flora and fauna and its gold deposits. It is also the hydropower house of the country including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). It is represented at the pavilion by structures of its various musical instruments.
Gambela Region: Host to the nation’s largest national park and the Baro River, the people of this region are proud of their music which encompasses their culture. Their pavilion stand has a round pool with animals within and curved wavy slabs. The former showcasing the water bodies and animals that roam the region in nature such as lions, giraffes, buffaloes, crocodiles and the later representing the fluid nature of the cultural music of the people.
Oromia Region: The biggest of all the regions, the people of these region wear their culture and identity on the sleeves of their hand. It is a melting pot of various traditions and languages united by their Afaan Oromo language, their Gaada administrative system and the spiritual identity symbolised by the Odaa (Sycamore) tree, under which major executive issues are deliberated upon. This would reflect their love of nature and the presence of the Bale Mountains National Park, wherein lies the second highest point of Ethiopia and some of the country’s endemic animals and birds such as the Ethiopian Wolf and the Mountain Nyala. It is also regarded as the birthplace of Coffee Arabica, the bean seed which has placed Ethiopia in the global Top 10 list of coffee producers. They are represented at the pavilion by a structure that symbolises the shade of the Odaa tree.
Somali Region: The country within a country, this region is not so different from Somali country, the source of its name. Its geographical location is Ethiopia but its culture and language is Somali. The history behind this reality is tied to a century of colonisation, regional conquests and manipulated referendums. However, this region offers you the benefits of being in Somali without have to travel to Somalia. Their lifestyle is intertwined with their livestock agriculture which provides the people with their milk, food, transport and wealth. Camels are major animals in this region.
At the pavilion, they are represented by a camel and a brick architecture which reflects the kind of the structures to be found within the region.
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR): As the name suggests, this region is a potpourri of ethnic nationalities which could be referred to as the mix of minorities. So mixed are they that in line with the provisions of the constitution, referendums have been organised in recent times for tribes that felt they were strong enough to stand as a region. Sidama, South West and South Ethiopia regions were created out of it in 2019, 2021 and 2023 respectively. It can be considered as mini-Ethiopia as it has a little of everything you would probably find elsewhere in the country.
Home to the Omo Valley and nourished by the Omo River, it is host to the Omo and Mago National parks, teeming with unique animals such as the Eland, Burchell’s Zebra, Roan Antelope and Hartebeest. Over 80 mammal species and over 100 bird species are domiciled within this region.
Harari Region: This region is a symbolic one for Muslims world over as it is considered as the fourth holiest city of Islam, and in some instance referred to as the City of Saints. With a record 110 mosques within the small city of Harar (its regional capital), the city was walled off in the 16th century against the Christian Ethiopian Empire. Imagine the Great Benin Kingdom. It has been marked as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its Islamic heritage has made it a predominantly Islamic City as Islamic Scholars and Pilgrims flood to it, Muslims, Christians and non-Muslims alike all live and coexist happily side-by-side.
In summary, Ethiopia despite its cultural and religious distribution, is not trying to force a single outlook of its people, but rather, is encouraging the uniqueness and vibrancy each culture brings through it's Addis Ababa Unity Park. As they blossom, the country blossoms the more for tourists, academic and religious scholars alike to come visit, admire and learn. In return, the economy and the image of its people is further enhanced.
After this tour of the pavilion at the Unity Park, which region intrigues you the most and which regions are on the must-see, or rather must visit, list?
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