A critical reflection on the hollowing out of a historic term, and a plea for its renewal
In a nation where politics is dominated by questions of identity and social fractures, Ethiopianism once promised a unifying vision, originally born of the struggles of Ethiopia to maintain its independence in the face of colonial powers (specifically Italy), while retaining a national ethic of sacrifice and humanity.
But in this long-form reflection on the term, Yonas Amare questions whether it has now become merely a rhetorical device for those seeking power. Is ‘Ethiopianism’ today a sincere civic ideal, or just the price of admission to the game of politics, in a system which benefits the few?
The article opens with the poet Dereje Yirga’s vision of Ethiopia, as contained in the words of the national anthem approved in 1984: noble, sacrificial, indivisible. Yirga’s words describe Ethiopianism as something deeply moral, as a spirit tied to justice, pride, and dignity.
Yet that vision is fading. The article argues that Ethiopia, as it stands now, is not a country where a shared national identity binds its people. Instead, mutual suspicion, violence, and silence have replaced public trust.
Amore says that from the Derg’s ideological imposition of “one Ethiopia,” to the EPRDF’s ethnic federalism after 1991, every ruling system has shaped and manipulated Ethiopianism to suit its goals. During the revolutionary era, to be “Ethiopian” meant to serve the state unquestioningly. In the post-1991 period, the state pivoted toward ethnic nationalism, weakening any unifying narrative. The article criticises how this shift disintegrated civic identity, ultimately rendering Ethiopianism suspect or irrelevant in much of the country.
This historical context sets up the article’s main critique: that Ethiopianism today is often performative, transactional, or opportunistic. Political figures such as Lemma Megersa and Jawar Mohammed are discussed as examples of leaders whose public statements about Ethiopian identity have shifted based on political circumstances. One moment Ethiopianism is praised as a binding force; the next it is dismissed as a threat to autonomy. Such contradictions, the article argues, expose the ideological bankruptcy of much of contemporary politics in Ethiopia.
Amore draws on a wide array of voices including Dr. Melaku Tegen, Ato Assefa Chabo, and political scientist Yusuf Yasin, to show how different generations interpret Ethiopianism. Older intellectuals see it as a civic ideal eroded by ethnic clientelism. Some younger voices reject it entirely, viewing it as a slogan of Amhara or centralist domination. Yet others insist that its true meaning has never been given a fair chance to flourish under democratic conditions.
One of the article’s sharpest insights is that Ethiopianism has been weakened not just by elites but by the erosion of everyday civic bonds. The culture of political exchange has become so transactional, so embedded in what the article calls “the four kilo ticket” (a metaphor for material handouts or entry to power), that ideological sincerity is rare. It’s not that Ethiopianism is inherently flawed, the article argues, but that it has been emptied out by its cynical use.
The effects of this collapse are visible: constant ethnic clashes, displacement, and the rise of fear over freedom. Yet, in spite of this grim landscape, the article does not end in despair. Instead, it calls for a return to Ethiopianism not as an ethnic label or state slogan, but as a civic ethic, something that demands mutual recognition, historical accountability, and the willingness to build shared political space.
The article offers no easy solutions. But it does insist that without reimagining Ethiopianism in civic, inclusive, and morally grounded terms, the country risks deeper fragmentation. The question is no longer whether Ethiopianism is possible but whether Ethiopia’s leaders and citizens still have the imagination to give it substance again.
Original article (ኢትዮጵያዊነት አሰባሳቢ የፖለቲካ አጀንዳ ወይስ አራት ኪሎ የመግቢያ ትኬት (‘Ethiopianism: A Political Agenda or a Four Kilo Entry Ticket?’)) by Yonas Amare was published in Amharic on 5 January 2025.
It is available here.
The Ethiopian Reporter is a private Amharic- and English-language newspaper based in Addis Ababa, widely recognised for its coverage of Ethiopian politics, social issues, and culture. It is known for hosting diverse perspectives and commentary, though it operates in a challenging media landscape marked by fluctuating press freedoms.
Summary by ZN.
