Amhara people

The Amhara ( Amharic አማራ Amara ) have traditionally been the most important state-supporting ethnic group in Ethiopia.

They speak a language äthiosemitische, Amharic, which is related to the old Ethiopian language Ge'ez, but not derived from it. The Amhara are Christians and belong to the largest part of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. There are, however, particularly in the region Wällo, a larger number of Amhara who are Muslims.

The Amhara are linguistically related to the Tigray. Both ethnic groups are summarized in the term Habesha. Until the second half of the 20th century, the name Amhara exclusively for the Amharic language and for the medieval province of Amhara was used ( in the area of ​​Wällo ); the Amharic speaking people call ( ed) themselves generally as " Ethiopians " or as inhabitants of each geographical region.

In the 2007 census, nearly 20 million people were counted as Amhara in Ethiopia, which they make up 26.89 % of the total population and the second largest after the Oromo people are. Around 15.7 million Amhara live in the Amhara region, where they represent 91.48 % of the population and live to 87.6 % in rural areas. In all other regions of the country Amhara live mainly in urban areas. In the capital Addis Ababa 1.2 million live Amhara ( 47.05% of the population), in Oromia than 1.9 million.

Culture

The settled in the country Amhara operate mostly agriculture. Craft professions such as pottery and blacksmith are traditionally viewed as inferior. Girls gain eligibility for marriage already at puberty, but no later than age 14. Predominant is arranged by the relationship of marriage. A marriage takes place usually through a church wedding. A priest can only sign off the marriage as well. Divorce is by law provided for and can be negotiated. Here also the discussion of the matrimonial and distribution of child custody is regulated. Traditionally, the mother has the right to determine the child's name. The designation is based on feelings or desires (eg Desta - the joy Seyum - called to dignity). Of inheritance, land is inherited by the sons, however, cattle to all descendants.

Political situation

Until the revolution of the Derg in 1974 and partly to the overthrow of Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991, the Amhara were the state-supporting people of Ethiopia. It is debatable whether there has been a genuine ethnic dominance, since the existing until 1974 Empire had a strictly aristocratic and partly feudal character. While the elite of the state consisted mainly of Amhara nobles and military personnel, but the Amharic rural population was subjected to the feudal conditions as well as elsewhere, and culturally assimilated Oromo were part of the state-supporting elite, to the throne ( Lijj Iyassu V., 1913 - 1916 Emperor of Ethiopia). In any case, the Amhara after the fall of Mengistu by the rebels of the National Liberation Front of Tigray were ( TPLF; later part of the Ethiopian People 's Revolutionary Democratic Front of the EPRDF ) succeeded in 1991 by the Tigray as a state -bearing people. The introduction of " ethnic federalism " with the states of ethnically defined weakened the role of the Amhara.

Since the introduction of the new administrative division of Ethiopia, there is a state of Amhara, whose titular represent the Amhara. Within the EPRDF is the National Democratic movement of the Amhara as a coalition partner of the TPLF. She currently represents the regional government in Amhara. In addition, in particular finds the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy, which emphasizes national unity and a stronger central government aspires support in the Amhara. The All- Amhara People's Organization, a member party of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, is generally one for the self-determination of Amhara.

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