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Discover The Beliefs and Traditional Practice of Coffee in Ethiopia.

Beliefs and Traditional Practice of Coffee in Ethiopia

Most Ethiopians think that if guests drink fewer than three cups of coffee from the “Jebena” during the “buna” ceremony, they are deemed disrespectful. Ethiopians believe that drinking all three cups of coffee during the “buna” ceremony brings good fortune and luck to the individual. Furthermore, coffee is a social lubricant drink used by the elders (in Amharic “Shimagle”) to handle social conflict. The participants and conflict mediators drink coffee at the end of the negotiation as a sign of future peace and accord.

“Zar” (bad/evil spirits thought to be capable of holding people captive until they receive specific offerings) is a widely held traditional belief in Ethiopian coffee ceremonies. The conduct or physical appearance of someone who has “zar” changes and appears to be sick, and their facial expression conveys to others that they are possessed or affected by black magic and require particular care. Special therapies are used in the Ethiopian community to treat those who have the “zar.” Ethiopians' well-known remedies include exposing the sufferer to significant volumes of traditional incense smoke (in Amharic “Shitto bahrzaf”), as well as roasting coffee beans and coffee brew. The individual being treated will be asked to inhale the perfume to excite them, and prayers will be made to help them release their spirit.

In Ethiopia (certain parts of the Amhara area), people believe in Amharic "tenkiay" spiritual rituals (mostly men). The “tenkiay” foretells the fate of his followers, including matters like earnings, prospective marital partners, enemies, and friends. “Tenkiay” needs “zar” to predict the future (spirit). When there is a good coffee ceremony done by a gorgeous unmarried female, this enters the “tenkiay” body.

Beliefs and Traditional Practice of Coffee in Ethiopia

In Oromia, there is a coffee ceremony (coffee and butter) celebration known as “Atété.” There are two coffee rituals in Oromos. The first is a national celebration called "Wadaaja" and the second is a family ritual called "Atété." For Oromo people, both of them are regarded very religious; in this indigenous religion, Oromia inhabitants pray to their God, "Waaraqaa," for good rain to avoid wars with other tribes. In parts of “Wollo” (Northern Ethiopia), coffee is said to have supernatural qualities that protect the home, and a ceremony honoring it is held.

Traditional Ethiopian small-holder farmers sing a traditional song while harvesting, such as "yegebi minchachin bunna bunna ye economy waltla buna bunna," which means "coffee is a source of money." Coffee has historically been used as a remedy in Oromo traditional society. It is primarily used to treat pain and sickness, such as a headache. A person suffering from a headache should drink more coffee in this situation. If a tourist feels ill, they should first smell the coffee berries and put them in their nose to improve their health. If this does not work, the berries are chewed and swallowed.

Coffee, both roasted and powdered, is considered to be a wound-healing cure; wounds are covered in coffee powder and then wrapped in leaves or cotton. The Oromia people utilized roasted coffee powder combined with honey to treat a person who was suffering from diarrhea. Coffee is also said to be a preventative medicine that protects people from illness, and the smoke produced while roasting is thought to kill vectors and eradicate any cause of illness. Furthermore, when powdered coffee leaves are mixed with honey and boiled, the resulting extract is thought to improve blood flow, reduce asthma, and act as a pain reliever.

The Ethiopian coffee ceremony is a sophisticated event that still needs substantial skill to prepare by women dressed in traditional attire. The coffee ceremony may have started in Ethiopia and then travelled to Arabia, where it was polished and brought back, or it may have formed in Arabia and then been adopted by Ethiopians and improved to suit their culture. There are also different kind of ‘Jebena’s for different parts of Ethiopia.

In Amhara, the ceremony of coffee was a very important activity. All the accessories for service are kept on the table. There must also be some sort of food, such as popcorn or roasted grain, which are both traditional and inexpensive options. Grass, leaves, and occasionally flowers are spread on the floor around the “rekabot.”

Coffee is firmly embedded in Oromian culture's cosmology. As a consequence, coffee is inextricably linked to people's rituals and cultural traditions. The Oromo have a ritualistic way of making and drinking coffee that they follow every day. The Oromo people believe that if the coffee ceremony is done properly, God (“Waaqa”) would come near to them, providing aid and fulfilling wishes. The coffee ceremony might also be used to bring feuding parties together.

In SNNPR of Ethiopia (Kaffa, Bench-Maji, and Sheka Zones), coffee is prepared not only from coffee beans but also from the leaf of the coffee Arabica together with some spices. The coffee leaf preparation involves roasting, boiling, and mixing with various spices to create a medicinal beverage known to prevent and treat common illnesses like malaria, high blood pressure, and stomachaches.

Coffee remains a significant element of Ethiopian pride and diplomacy, with coffee ceremonies being an integral part of both local and international events. The practice continues to be a rich expression of Ethiopia's cultural identity and heritage.

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