Merhawie Woldezion's definitions

habesha

Habesha is an old arabic word in reference to the dark-skinned people of the Horn of Africa. Confusingly associated with those influenced by the Aksumite Empire of Eritrea and Ethiopia, it is actually more closely related to the Abyssinian Kingdom. The Abyssinian Kingdom was an empire similar in size to modern Ethiopia, though it had uneasy relations with the northern peoples of the Horn, including todays Sudanese and Eritrea.

Are you habesha? (in lieu of "Are you Ethiopian?")

by Merhawie Woldezion November 1, 2005