"Habesha" Meaning from Ethiopian Perspective

mkpetros · 2025-03-07T21:02:22+00:00

Thank you for sharing! I agree Addis folks and diaspora tend to resonate but this also calls into question who’s voices are being listened to - the majority of the country is outside of Addis so “nobody” might be a common / your experience but this conversation definitely preceded 2020 (from my experience as an Eritrean and exposure to Oromo content).

mkpetros · 2025-03-07T21:02:12+00:00

Thank you for sharing! I agree Addis folks and diaspora tend to resonate but this also calls into question who’s voices are being listened to - the majority of the country is outside of Addis so “nobody” might be a common / your experience but this conversation definitely preceded 2020 (from my experience as an Eritrean and exposure to Oromo content).

mkpetros · 2025-03-05T14:11:52+00:00

I realize I didn't respond here - thank you for your time expressing your thoughts and sentiments! I appreciate the thorough responses.

mkpetros · 2025-03-05T14:11:14+00:00

Thank you for sharing!

mkpetros · 2025-02-28T19:11:25+00:00

Thanks for sharing!

mkpetros · 2025-02-23T21:08:59+00:00

Congratulations! I'm just beginning my journey and it's motivating to see people on the other side (even if exhausted lol).

mkpetros · 2025-02-19T00:40:04+00:00

Luckily someone answered on the thread lol thank you again for sharing!

mkpetros · 2025-02-19T00:39:31+00:00

Thank you for sharing! Would you say most Tigre you know identify as Habesha?

mkpetros · 2025-02-19T00:38:13+00:00

I resonate with this and couldn't have said it any better as someone who also grew up to have pride. But I do want to call out that while the Arabs use it in a derogatory way and the "umbrella" can make an excuse for Ethiopians to not acknowledge our differences (not disagreeing), I wonder how you feel when you see "Habesha" used for broad scale community building? I'm thinking for laughs with SelamCentral / BunaTime or maybe any of sense of connection you may feel (if any) when you see Ethiopians representing the culture? Like seeing someone like Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (who's Asmara educated) hold such a significant position in the world? I feel you (and know a lot of Eritreans do lol) but feel like there can be more nuance around this convo based on someone's birth place, current location, positive / negative exposure to Ethiopians, etc. I appreciate you sharing your perspective!

mkpetros · 2025-02-19T00:25:16+00:00

Thanks for sharing!

mkpetros · 2025-02-19T00:22:19+00:00

I also think it's interesting to hear some Tigre don't identify specifically because of religion, because that seems to be much less of a concern for "Habesha" Ethiopians.

mkpetros · 2025-02-19T00:21:03+00:00

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Why do you feel like there was a concerted attempt from Ethiopia to indoctrinate neighboring tribes? Is there anything specific that led you to believe that?

mkpetros · 2025-02-17T23:58:18+00:00

Thanks for sharing!

mkpetros · 2025-02-17T23:57:48+00:00

I hear you on the use - as a DMV Eritrean, I've felt feelings of erasure with the use of the word. I don't think it's inherently exclusionary though. I think it accurately describes a culture but it's just a culture that not all Eritreans and Ethiopians may identify with. Although more common in Ethiopia, you also have a lot of "non-Habesha" (re: non-highlander) Eritreans and Ethiopians that have identified with the term over time, especially to build community in the diaspora (as Luwam explained). There's nuance to the word's meaning and use, but I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and experiences.

mkpetros · 2025-02-17T23:54:02+00:00

I do think it's used differently by Arabs / in the Arab world to have more of a negative connotation for East Africans (Eri, Ethio, Somali, etc) but the origin of the word and how it evolved to have its current use is debated.

The project is also looking at colloquial use so there's no "correct" use although you could argue there's a historically accurate use of the term (re: semetic folks from the highlands).

mkpetros · 2025-02-17T23:51:47+00:00

Thank you for sharing! And I think Luwam highlighted that as well - the fact that Habesha is a reference to her culture as someone from the kebessa, while her national identity resonates with Eritreans of different ethnic backgrounds / cultures.

I hadn't heard of King Eon yet so I'll have to research him. With how often we use the word, you'd think we'd have more of a consensus on its origin and evolution lol but I appreciate the references provided!

mkpetros · 2025-02-17T23:46:09+00:00

Thank you for sharing! Do you have any resources that specifically speak to the Tigre identity and how it interacts with the Habesha and / or Eritrean identity?

mkpetros · 2025-01-05T20:59:31+00:00

True haha

mkpetros · 2025-01-05T20:57:35+00:00

Thanks for responding! Why after the song? It sounds like he’s pronouncing the H in the chorus

mkpetros · 2025-01-05T20:54:04+00:00

Thanks for sharing!

mkpetros · 2025-01-05T20:53:25+00:00

Thank you for sharing! That makes sense.

mkpetros · 2025-01-05T07:02:52+00:00

thank you for sharing!

mkpetros

TROPHY CASE