Ethiopia, one of the world’s oldest nations, carries with it an enduring legacy of civilization and resilience. From the great Aksumite Kingdom, famous for its towering obelisks and trade links with Rome and India, to the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and the castles of Gondar, Ethiopia’s historical treasures continue to inspire global admiration. Cities such as Harar, a UNESCO World Heritage site, reflect Ethiopia’s Islamic heritage, while Jimma recalls its coffee legacy.
Remarkably, Ethiopia remains one of the few African nations never colonized, except for a brief Italian occupation (1936–1941). Its decisive victory over Italian forces at the Battle of Adwa (1896) stands as a symbol of African pride and resistance against colonialism, inspiring liberation movements across the continent.
Beyond its history, Ethiopia is a land of stunning diversity—ethnically, linguistically, and geographically. With over 80 ethnic groups and languages, Ethiopia’s cultural mosaic is expressed in its music, dance, cuisine, and attire. Its dramatic landscapes range from the Simien Mountains (the "Roof of Africa") to the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest places on Earth. The country also enjoys mild weather year-round, earning its reputation as the "land of eternal spring."
Ethiopia is truly the Land of Origins: Coffee, the world’s favorite beverage, traces its roots to the Ethiopian highlands. The Blue Nile, a principal tributary of the Nile, flows from Lake Tana. The discovery of Lucy (Dinknesh), the 3.2-million-year-old hominid fossil, placed Ethiopia at the heart of human evolution. Hence, taking stock of the things that originate from Ethiopia, LAND OF ORIGINS, is coined as Ethiopia’s tourism promotion motto.
Adding to this uniqueness is the Ethiopian calendar, which runs 7–8 years behind the Gregorian calendar and has 13 months. With 12 months of 30 days each and a short 13th month, Ethiopians proudly say they enjoy "13 months of sunshine." The New Year, known as Enkutatash, falls on September 11 (or 12 in a leap year), marking the end of the rainy season and the blooming of the yellow Meskel flower across the highlands.
Celebrations are joyous and family-centered. Traditional dishes such as doro wat (spicy chicken stew), injera, and tej (honey wine) are shared. Children sing New Year songs while wearing crowns of fresh flowers, and young girls wear beautifully handwoven white cotton dresses with colorful borders.
Ethiopia’s uniqueness also lies in its ancient script—Ge’ez, one of the few indigenous alphabets in Africa. Ge’ez remains the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church, and Ethiopia preserves countless illuminated manuscripts. The Book of Enoch, lost elsewhere, survives in Ethiopia in its entirety.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
This New Year is especially symbolic with the completion and inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa’s largest hydroelectric project. With a capacity of 74 billion cubic meters and 5,150 MW, GERD is not merely an infrastructure project—it is a national symbol of pride, unity, and self-reliance. It promises to transform energy access across Ethiopia, electrify rural areas, and support industrialization, while also connecting neighbors like Djibouti, Sudan, Kenya, and Tanzania through regional power trade.
For Ethiopians GERD is not simply a dam that generates electricity, it is beyond that. GERD is a source of inspiration and hope. It showcased Ethiopians courage and ability to accomplish such megaprojects successfully which will have an immense impact in their political, economic and social life. Ethiopians from all walks of life; rich and poor, intellectual and layman, religious and secular, young and old, contributed for GERD construction through bond purchase and voluntary donation. The GERD which costed more than $5 billion was solely financed by the government and citizens of Ethiopia, no external finance added to this huge project.
The past year has also seen major reforms and milestones. Ethiopia’s economic liberalization, forex reforms, and investment in technology and agriculture have begun to yield results. The digital sector is growing rapidly, with mobile banking, fintech, and telecom expansion unlocking opportunities for millions. Diplomatically, Ethiopia continues to play a central role in the African Union, peacekeeping, and regional integration.
Another milestone that Ethiopia registered in this just concluded year is in the Green Legacy Initiative. The Green Legacy Initiative was launched by H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, in 2019. The initiative is an ambitious national reforestation and restoration campaign designed to combat climate change, restore degraded lands, foster food security, and generate employment opportunity, especially for women and youth. In this passing year alone a total of 7.5 billion trees has been planted. A record high is registered by planting more than 750 million trees in a single day.
Ethiopia is also undertaking Corridor Development Projects, a land mark urban transformation program, bold in scale, shape and ambition. It is reshaping multiple cities into modern and resilient urban centers. The corridor Development project is quite visible in the capital Addis Ababa. It makes the city one of the most vibrant, live able and smart city in Africa.
As Ethiopians welcome the New Year with joy and renewed hope, they do so with confidence in their ability to shape their own destiny—rooted in a proud history, enriched by cultural heritage, and inspired by bold steps toward a brighter future.
Melkam Addis Amet! Happy Ethiopian New Year!
The writer is the Ethiopian ambassador to Israel.