Flight & airport info

The one country in Africa that was never colonised, Ethiopia maintains its own strong identity and culture. Amharic is the official language, but Oromifaa, the language of the major Oromo group, is also widely spoken, as is Tigrinya, among 80 others. Though English is taught in secondary schools, it is not widely spoken. There are roughly equal numbers of Muslims and Christians of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Greetings are important in Ethiopia, both socially and in business, and can often be extensive, with many enquiries into health and family welfare.  Shake hands whenever you say hello, and don't be surprised if this is a softer grip than at home. Ethiopian men often touch with shoulders as well as shaking hands. When greeting elders, Ethiopians may bow. As an outsider, you are not expected to follow this behaviour. You address someone by their title and their first given name. Surnames don't really exist here. The last name is usually the name of the father.

There are numerous local greetings, but to ask how someone is, say denaneh? to a man or denanish? to a woman. The reply, to both, is dehana (pronounced dena). Saying goodbye it's probably easiest to use chau (pronounced like ciao). Another useful word to know is ishee, which means OK, but is useful in numerous circumstances, even as an alternative way of saying hello or goodbye. If an Ethiopian nods their head slowly up and down as you speak, this does not necessarily mean yes, more likely, ‘I am listening, keep talking.'  

If invited to a meal where people are using their hands, remember always to use the right hand only to eat and pass things. If the plate is communal, take food from the area immediately in front of you. Like Muslims, Orthodox Christians do not eat pork, or any meat on most Wednesdays or Fridays through out the year.

Foreigners are known as faranji. As a faranji, you may well be targeted by an unofficial guide who will be keen to show you round. At the end of the tour, they will expect payment. If you are hassled by a street trader, the word alfelagem will politely make it clear that you don't want what they are offering. Be aware also that the word for ‘talk' (techawot) is the same that for play', so if an Ethiopian sits next to you and asks you if you want to play, they probably only want a conversation.

Business dress is conservative: formal suit and tie or equivalent. Business cards are useful. Meetings should be arranged well in advance and confirmed nearer the time. Contrary to practice in many African countries, punctuality is important here so you should be on time.  As elsewhere in the region, the establishing of a personal relationship is central to doing business.

Ethiopia follows the Julian (Coptic) calendar, which has twelve thirty-day months and a thirteenth month of five or six days. This results in a seven-year difference between the Coptic and Gregorian (Western) calendar. The day begins at sunrise, 6 am, so is six hours behind Western time. Business, however, is generally done according to the Western calendar.

The working week is Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm.  There are public holidays on Muslim and Orthodox Coptic festivals. Coptic Christmas is on 7 January, Epiphany (Timket) on 20 January. There are also national holidays on 2 March (Adwa Day), 5 May (Victory Day) and 28 May (Downfall of the Dergue) as well as the Ethiopian New Year on 11 September and the ancient Meskel holiday on 27 September.

International dialling code: +251