THE MODERN ETHIOPIA

Historical accounts of modern Ethiopia often exhibit bias towards ethnic groups, Christians, and centralized states that developed writing systems, such as the Amhara and Tigray, whose records are preserved in written documents. This emphasis on written sources results in a greater focus on the Solomonic dynasty and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which produced chronicles, religious texts, and royal decrees. Meanwhile, the histories of other significant groups like the Oromo, Afar, and Somali, who relied on oral traditions, are frequently marginalized. This bias overlooks the contributions of these groups to Ethiopia’s social, cultural, and political development. The reliance on written records skews our understanding of Ethiopia’s diverse past, underrepresenting the complexity and richness of its oral-based societies.