Though most people wouldn’t find any meaning behind a cup of coffee besides its wonderful taste, Ethiopians believe coffee plays an important role in their everyday lives because it is considered their most important social event, has a spiritual role, and stimulates the economy quite a bit. It is important to know about other cultures besides our own because we don’t all share the same customs and traditions. What might be a kind act or gesture in one culture, could be an insult or rude in another. In fact, most people never realize if what they did was disrespectful to a specific culture because they don’t know any better. Therefore, it is important to try and seek as much knowledge as possible about a variety of different cultures as possible so that we don’t fall under that category. It would be very difficult to know about every single culture but it is important that we at least try and familiarize ourselves with some of the more common ones.
Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia in East Africa is populated with around three million people. The city is occupied by people from different regions of Ethiopia and has as many as 80 nationalities speaking 80 different languages. It is a place were a variety of different cultures meet and share one common belief, coffee ceremonies. The Ethiopian coffee ceremony is very important to the country itself. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. In the tenth century, Ethiopian people are known to be the first to recognize the effect of coffee. “The mystic Sufi pilgrims of Islam spread coffee throughout the Middle East. From the Middle East these beans spread to Europe and then throughout their colonial empire including Indonesia and the Americas.”
In Ethiopia, coffee ceremonies are c...
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...nally, she boils the coffee until it is ready to be served. The first cup enjoyed during the ceremony is known as “Abol”. This is the strongest cup, and therefore has the most significant. Usually, if the guest shows up after the first cup of coffee that is served by the host, it is pointless to show up anymore. The second cup is known as “Tona” and the third is known as “Baraka”. The third cup is assumed to be the minimum amount of coffee consumed before stopping if the guest desires. Failure to have consumed the third round of coffee fails to receive his or her “blessing”. It is also viewed as impolite to retire before three cups of coffee so usually people just don’t. Also during this time, the younger generations join during the third cup because it is the weakest. Since the same coffee beans are used for one ceremony, the more servings the weaker the coffee is.
The root causes of the war could be traced back in history to the imperialist policy of great powers of Europe, an international phenomenon during the 19th century. Eritrea as a new independent entity was created by Italian colonization. Italian colonization did not only create a new independent state of Eritrea but also a separate Eritrean identity. As a result of the socio-economic improvements created by the Italian colonial legacy, Eritreans developed a distinct Eritrean identity and a sense being “civilized” and regarded Ethiopians as “backward”. (Tekeste: 2000, p.54-157). In one interview, Eritrean President Issayas once said, “We have lived with Europeans; we have seen much of the civilized world. There are many things we have learned from them. The Ethiopians, on the contrary, have just come out of the forest. They are not civilized. They feel inferior because they have come out of the bush” (Solomon: 1998, p.15).
The Demographic Profile of the Country Ethiopia is located in the north-eastern portion of Africa. It is a landlocked country, commonly known as the Horn of Africa. The country is split diagonally by the Great Rift Valley. The western highlands get the most precipitation, while the lowlands and eastern highlands are arid. Ethiopia has three different climate zones that change with elevation:
The culture of Africa is manifold and varied. Africa is a product of the different diverse populations that today inhabit the continent of Africa and the communities throughout the world that are descended from the historic movement of people...
Coffee became a global beverage between 1500 and 1800 for two main reasons: religious practices and the emergence of mercantilism. A religious group called the Sufis, who are part of the Muslim religion, were some of the first people to drink coffee. Their coffee-drinking habit is the first reason coffee became a well known drink within the common population. Mercantilism, a second reason coffee became a global beverage, is responsible for the expansive spreading of coffee because without England’s (and other powerful countries) desire to make money off of trade and commodities, coffee never would have been produced as the large-scale commodity it came to be by the 1800s and remains to be to this day.
Within every society and every fabric of culture lies a story. These stories portray the very nature of each culture by representing tales of their history, beliefs, and traditions. As individuals recount and pass on the stories of various cultures, the stories represent a different variation that reflects the particular zeitgeist and cultural context of the society in which one tells the story. Society is particularly vulnerable and even impressionable when faced with stories of certain cultures. Often, people judge improperly and prematurely, making one-dimensional views of a culture or society. The goal, then, is to engage the multiple stories within every culture as a method to understand our differences and emphasize the commonalities, which pave the way for greater intercultural dignity and communication.
Coffee is a truly a mythological treasure. It serves the dual functions of waking one up and providing one with relaxation. It is both acid and base, bitter and sweet, caustic and comforting. It is used for an array of purposes: to soothe, to give energy, to lend fortitude, to bring people together. Sometimes it is ascribed almost supernatural healing properties. In Mario Puzo’s The Fortunate Pilgrim, coffee takes these roles and more: the drinking of coffee is an immensely important ritual that serves a myriad of social functions and responds to a wide range of human emotions.
"Ethiopia." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 25 Sept. 2013. .
It can be said without doubt that cultural appropriation is the product of the many years of Imperialism and colonization, as well as that it triggers conflicts. Some people see the use of someone else’s or their own traditions for marketing, profit, or without knowing the meaning behind is utterly disrespectful. On the other hand, some people claim that it is not appropriation, but rather, appreciation. Cultural appropriation is harmful to cultures because it can lead to creating negative stereotypes and it oppresses the source-culture.
Ethiopia is one of the most unique among African countries for maintaining its freedom from colonial rule, with the short exception of an occupation by the Italians from 1936-1941. A socialist state was established in 1974 with the overthrow of Emperor Selassie, who had been in control since 1930. A junta or group of military officers called the Derg was responsible for the coup. Yet, this corrupt administration has lead only to warfare and wide scale public suffering. In 1991, the junta was finally brought down by a combination of revolutionary forces who called themselves the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front. In 1994, a constitution was drafted and 1995 marked Ethiopia’s first multiparty elections. Recently, a boarder feud with Eritrea, that lasted over 2 years, was ended in December of 2000; yet recent objections by Ethiopia have delayed a final declaration of border.
Coffee is much more than the hot, black liquid that millions of us drink every morning; it is a worldwide commodity that has been keeping us awake for hundreds of years. It seems that a coffee shop can be seen on every shopping center and a coffee pot in every work break room. Our lives today revolve around coffee, regardless if we drink it or not, and ironically it not only stimulates of senses but also our economy. We wouldn’t be able to imagine Bill Gates not with his cup of coffee making Microsoft in his garage, or Henry Ford waking up early to perfect the auto industry and the assembly line. The economics of coffee may not be a simple one to study, but it is one you will be kept up all night learning about.
... are increasingly engaging in gift-giving as to show appreciation and love. During occasions, “hospitality gifts may be offered upon arrival and are often left aside to be opened in private” (A-Z World Culture). Expensive gifts aren’t the norm. Therefore they are kept small and modest to avoid embarrassing the recipient as they will not be able to match it in kind. Greetings are also very warm and respectful. Since relationships are extremely important, Ethiopians typically start meetings with extended social conversations, asking about one’s family and health. All members in a group are greeted starting with the elders. Respect plays a major role in greetings, “it is customary to bow when introduced to someone who is obviously older or has a more senior position” (A-Z World Culture). Sometimes, Ethiopian may even use their left hand to support the right arm.
Thesis & Preview of Main Points: I will discuss the culture of Ethiopia and its geography
In countless homes and numerous cultures, drinking morning coffee is a staple routine. One can drink it alone at home, in a car en route to work or school, or stop at a coffee shop or café and enjoy it among other people. In developing my routine this year, I chose the latter practice. Every morning I arrive at a local coffee shop, smell the same aromas, order the same drink, sit in the same chair, and observe the same people who continue their morning customs as well. For several months now, my mornings have consisted of this, and every morning, I would mainly observe one person; an old man who has become somewhat of a fixture at this coffee shop and who has not changed his routine as far as I have witnessed. He is already there when I arrive every morning, sitting alone at the small table for two in the corner by the window, drinking his small cup of black coffee, and reading the newspaper. He is on a first-name basis with the workers and owner, and often chats with some of the other regulars. After months of polite smiles, quiet “good mornings”, and creating a background of this old man in my own mind, I finally get the courage to approach him. I start the conversation with him about our similar morning routine, and it gradually develops into a soft and informal interview.
When comes to Economic aspect, coffee is the second most traded product in the world after petroleum. As the country’s economy is dependent on agriculture, which accounts for about 45 percent of the GDP, 90 percent of exports and 80 percent of total employment, coffee is one of the most important commodities to the Ethiopian economy. It has always been the country’s most important cash crop and largest export commodity. (Zelalem Tesera p