UNIT TWO: PEOPLES AND CULTURES IN
ETHIOPIA AND THE HORN HUCSSH
2.1. Human Evolution
A. Biological Evolution:
Some mammal primates developed into Pongidae such as
gorilla, chimpanzee, etc.
Others evolved into Hominidae (human ancestors) through
natural process after 170 million years.
One group of hominids was known as australopithecines
(southern apes).
See the name of additional australopith. fossils , age, place &
period of discovery hereunder.
Chororapithecus- 10 million B. P., Anchar/West Hararghe,
2007.
Ardipithicus ramidus - 4. 2 million B.P., Aramis in Afar, 1994.
Australopithecus afarensis, Selam- 3.3 million years B.P,
Dikika, Mille (Afar),2000.
•Australopithecus Afarnesis (Lucy/Dinkinesh)- c. 3.18 million
years B. P.), Hadar (Afar) in 1974 A. D.
Australopithecus garhi-2.5 million B.P., at Bouri, Middle
Awash B/N 1996 and 1999.
Australopithecus anamensis was discovered around Lake
Turkana.
•Lucy was bipedal and its fossil was the most complete hominid
skeletons so far unearthed.
•Australopithecus Afarensis appears to have been the
ancestor of human beings from the among the Australopiths.
Genus Homo-
-result of the development of human brain.
-emerged 2-2.5 million years B.P.
Fossils of Genus Homo discovered in Ethiopia and the Horn
include:
i. Homo Habilis-handy human being.
-derived from Latin terms "Homo" (human
-known in skillful use of its hands.
-dated 1.9 million years B. P.
-has been found in the Lower Omo Valley.
ii. Homo erectus- walking upright
-dated 1.6 million years B. P.
-invented fire and started burial practice.
-discovered at Melka Kunture, Konso, Gardula and Gadeb.
- originated in Africa; then spread out to the rest of the world.
iii. Homo sapiens - knowledgeable human being
• Archaic Homo Sapiens dated 400, 000 years B.P.).
• Homo sapiens idaltu- 160, 000 years B.P
• Homo Sapiens Sapiens- 100, 000 years B.P.
• Lower Omo and Middle Awash valleys are the major centers
of human evolution in Ethiopia.
Archaeological evidences suggest that East African Rift Valley is
a cradle of humanity.
B. Cultural Evolution
• is related to technological changes that brought socio-
economic transformation on human life.
• grouped into Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age.
Stone Age:
Just as people do today, Paleolithic peoples used
technological innovations, including stone tools.
Stone tools had been the first technologies to be developed
by human beings.
• By taking their features and ways of production, stone
tools can be grouped into:
#Mode I (Olduwan)-were crude and mono-facial.
-made and used by homo habilis.
-produced by the direct percussion.
-dated 2.52 million years B.P.
#Mode II (Acheulean)
-were bifacial
-invented by homo erectus
-dated back to 1.7.million years B.P.
-produced by indirect percussion, hammering.
#Mode III (Sangoon)
-flexible and finest tools were made.
-produced by homo sapiens
-Sangoon (named after Sango Bay in Uganda.
The period of usage of stone tools is divided into sub-periods:
Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic.
• Paleolithic (Old Stone Age)-3.4 million to 11, 000 B. P.
• an age when human being developed language.
• a period when mankind sheltered in cave.
• used stone, bone, wood, furs, and skin materials to
prepare food and clothing.
• Sex-age labor division of labor began where:
– able-bodied males as hunters of fauna
– children and females as gatherers of flora.
• Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age )-11, 000-10,000 B. P.
• was transition between Paleolithic and Neolithic.
Note: The oldest evidence of stone tool in the world) was
found at Dikika in 2010.
2.2. Neolithic (New Stone Age)
Revolution: 10, 000-6, 000 B.P.
• Domestication was great feature of Neolithic revolution.
• Domestication of plants and animals due to:
– Declining number of animals and availability of
plants.
– Awareness of growing cycle of most of grass types.
• Domestication transformed mankind from mobile to
sedentary way of life.
• The process of domestication took place independently
in the various parts of the world, including Eth. and the
Horn.
• People of Ethiopia and the Horn domesticated Teff (Eragrotis
teff), dagussa (Eleusine coracana), nug (Guzotia abyssinica),
enset (Ensete ventricosum/edule), etc.
• Archaeological sites of the domestication of plants and animals
in Africa Horn include:
Emba-Fakeda around Adigrat in Tigray
Aqordat and Barentu in Eritrea
The Gobodara near Aksum
Lalibela Cave in Lasta
shore of Lake Tana in Gojjam
Laga Oda near Charchar
Lake Basaqa near Matahara
- Playa Napata and Kado in the Sudan
- Cyrenaica in Libya
2.3 The Peopling of the Region
2.3.1. Languages and Linguistic Processes
• Ethiopia & the Horn is marked by linguistic diversity.
• Linguists classify languages of Ethiopia and the Horn
into Afro-Asiatic and Nilo-Saharan language super
families.
• Afro-Asiatic: this super family is sub-divided into:
– Cushitic language family
• Northern Cushitic: Exa. Beja
• Central Cushitic: Agaw (Awign, Kunfel, Qimant, Hamtanga
and Bilen).
• Eastern Cushitic: Afar, Darashe, Gedeo, Hadiya, Halaba,
Kambata. Oromo, Saho, Sidama, Somali, Ale, Libido etc.
• Southern Cushitic: Dhalo (Kenya) and Nbugua (Tanzania).
– Semitic language family
• Northern Semitic: Ge'ez, Rashaida, Tigre, Tigrigna
• Southern Semitic:
#Transverse: Amharic, Argoba, Harari, Silte, Wolane & Zay.
#Outer: Gafat (extinct), Gurage and Mesmes (endangered).
– Omotic language family
• Anfillo, Ari, Banna, Basketo, Bench, Boro-Shinasha, Chara,
Dawuro, Dime, Dizi, Gamo, Gofa, Hamer, Karo, Keficho,
Konta, Korete, Male, Melo, Oyda, Sezo, Shekkacho, Sheko,
Wolayta, Yem, Zayse.
• Nilo-Saharan in turn is classified into:
– Chari-Nile language family: Anuak, Berta, Majingir,
Mursi and Nuer
– Koman language family: Gumuz, Koma, Komo and Sese
• Language status and classification may not remain static is
affected by such as factors:
– population movements and urbanization
– Warfare and territorial expansion,
– Trade and religious and, etc.
• Some languages like Gafat were dead and others like
Amharic have thrived).
2.3.2. Settlement Patterns
• Studies indicate that environmental, socio-economic,
and political processes significantly shaped the spatial
distribution of peoples in the region.
#Cushites- Red Sea in the East to the Blue Nile in the West.
• They evolved to be the largest linguistic group in the
region.
• They spread over wide areas from Sudan to Tanzania.
#Semites-settled the northern, north central, northeastern,
south central and eastern part.
#Omotic Peoples- majority south western Ethiopia along
Omo River except Boro-Shinasha & South Mao.
#Nilotes- mainly found along Ethio-Sudanese border.
• Some section of it inhabited as far as southern Omo.
2.3.3. Economic Formations
• The domestication of plants and animals gave humanity
two interdependent modes of life: agriculture and
pastoralism.
• Topographic features and climatic conditions largely
influenced economic activities. E,g.
Highlanders= mainly sedentary agri./mixed farming.
-Eastern lowlands= mainly pastoralism
-Western lowlands= pastoralism, shifting
agriculture, fishing, apiculture and hunting.
• Both highlanders and lowland population also practiced
fishing, handicraft and trade.
#UNIT 2#