Tour Guide, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Did you know that? The Original Ark of the Covenant kept in Ethiopia
They suggest that it was from Aksum that Makeda, the fabled Queen of Sheba, journeyed to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem. Legend has it that a son was born to the Queen from her union with Solomon. This son, Menelik I, grew up in Ethiopia but travelled to Jerusalem as a young man. There he spent several years before coming back to his own country with the fabled Ark of the Covenant. The Ark, according to Ethiopian belief, has remained in Aksum ever since. Religious historians describe as mankind only remains link with God and it is now hidden away inside a well-guarded Chapel of St.Mary of Zion in Axum.
More than 83 languages and 200 dialects are spoken in Ethiopia.
This is a sacred land to Christians and Muslims alike. Mosques face Orthodox churches in villages and cities. The Muslim call to pray begins the day and is quickly followed by Christian bells. Faith is like air to Ethiopia. The strength of Ethiopians faith, regardless of its form of expression has undoubtedly been the major unifying factors in this diverse country for centuries.
Ethiopia is known as the “Haven of the First Migration or Hijra.”
For Muslims of the Companions and relatives of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to Ethiopia celebrates the birth of freedom of expression and beliefs, whereas, the Second Migration of the Prophet Muhammad to the Madinah celebrates the end of oppression.
Man may indeed have evolved in Ethiopia
Lucy, alias Dinknesh- Literally “you are lovely”- is the first women in Ethiopian History, indeed in the history of the world. An American- French team of physical Anthropologists lead by Donald C.Johansons found 40% of hominid skeleton in 1974. It is estimated to be at least 3.5 million years old at Hadar, Afar region and named her Lucy after the Beatles song though we Ethiopian descendants prefer to call her Dinknesh.
The fossilized Skeleton of Lucy lies at the Ethiopian National Museum in Addis Ababa, along with many other prehistoric discoveries, including Stone Age tools up to 2.5 million years’ old, and Vibrant Cave paintings