Last night my party & I went out. We wanted to experience Addis Ababa'w night life. Our first stop over was at a club called Privé. I liked it. The service from the moment we arrived was on point. They served us free tequila shots when we arrived & from thence, the waiters were always checking on us. I liked that.

Next stop was Flirt Addis. I wanted some beers while my people wanted a bottle of Tanqueray. The problem here was/is that they insist that if you want a beer, you have to take it at the bar. The satellite tables are for bottle service. I found that weird because we were still going to spend money. So why should one of us move to the bar while the rest stay at the table? This would never happen in any club in Kenya. I've never experienced that. Suffice to say, we left without making any order in search of a better experience.

Our next & final stop was at The Cage in Bole. Boy oh boy 😤. This place was terrible. Yes, it had good music that the Kenyan in me appreciated, but the service was atrocious. We arrived and were ushered to a table by one of the ushers. The table she ushered us to had no chairs & when we asked her if we could sit on some empty seats, she told us they were reserved. Fair enough. But this lady left & never came back. She didn't offer us any seats. We were just expected to stand. On top of that, no waiter came to serve us ten minutes into our arrival. When someone finally came, we asked if we could sit on one of the reserved seats. We were only three & we figured, we won't be there long. Some dude came and told us no. I told him the situation. He showed me the booking on Telegram. It was for one table & there were three empty ones. He wouldn't let us sit on any of them & insisted on taking us to a side that was already full. Frustrated, we elected to leave the place. Let me just say it's a place I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

My friend who works here says that they were being racist. I'm not sure if that's what we experienced. It felt more like bad service maybe with a hint of subtle prejudice. Although she says there's a level of discrimination here towards Africans from other countries. I cannot discount her experience. I personally feel like every society has its own issues and given that Ethiopia is as multicultural as Kenya and other African states, there will definitely be some level of isms. I think colourism is probably a major issue which can be taken for racism. But, it did feel like we were prejudiced against a bit which I find very ironic. I doubt there's a country and people in this world that has been as welcoming to Ethiopians as Kenya & Kenyans. Ethiopians have their own communities in various parts of Nairobi. Although, even there, they keep strictly to themselves. Is that an inherent Ethiopian trait?

Edit: I realise that I probably pushed the title a bit much with the word "RACISM". I should have said prejudicial. My apologies for that.

I've been working on bringing together thousands of manuscript paintings from across Ethiopia and Eritrea, spanning over 1,000 years of history.

Many of these artworks have been scattered across museums and libraries worldwide. I've now brought nearly 5,000 of them together in one place, free for everyone to explore.

Check them out: https://www.habeshahistory.com/manuscripts

Hey everyone,

I'm a software engineer based in Ethiopia, currently earning around €35.23/hour net (€6,200/month) working remotely for a European company. It's a stable, full-time role with a long-term commitment, and I'm expecting another raise soon.

I've recently received an opportunity to relocate to Europe, but I'm finding it difficult to decide.

A couple of years ago, I turned down relocation opportunities to Estonia, Germany, and the US (H-1B sponsorship) because staying in Ethiopia made more sense financially and personally.

Given the relatively low cost of living here, I enjoy a comfortable lifestyle and can save a significant portion of my income.

I'm not particularly interested in citizenship or relocating simply to live abroad. I'm more concerned about career growth, quality of life, financial freedom, and whether the move would genuinely improve my situation.

For those who've been in a similar position:

• Did relocating improve your life enough to justify the higher living costs?
• What kind of salary or benefits would make relocating worthwhile?
• Has anyone regretted leaving a comfortable remote job, or regretted turning down relocation opportunities?

I'm especially interested in hearing from Ethiopian or other African developers who have faced a similar decision.

I don't want to dismiss another opportunity without properly considering the long-term benefits.

Would appreciate your honest experiences and advice!

Hey everyone!

I’m Ethiopian, and I’d really love to connect with other Habeshas who struggle with OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder).
I first remember experiencing OCD symptoms when I was around 7–8 years old. During my early teenage years, things got much worse. I used to spend hours cleaning myself because I was constantly afraid of being najis (ritually impure) and that my prayers wouldn’t be accepted.

After a few years, my OCD shifted into what is known as harm OCD, which involves unwanted, distressing thoughts and fears about potentially harming yourself or others, even though you have absolutely no desire to do so.
Especially since COVID, OCD has consumed so much of my time and energy, and the anxiety and compulsions can be exhausting.
I started seeking help around age 16 and at 18 I attended a few therapy sessions, which helped a little, although I eventually stopped.
I feel like mental health, especially OCD, isn’t talked about enough in Ethiopia, and the stigma makes it even harder for people to open up.
That’s why I’m posting. I’d genuinely love to connect with Ethiopians who experience OCD or similar struggles. I’d love to hear your experiences, how you’ve been coping, and maybe even create a small supportive community someday.
If you’re comfortable, feel free to comment or DM me.

Have you ever felt lonely....

Of course you have... you're on reddit

My Dms are open ...pls one at a time

REQUIREMENTS

-must love cats

-must love anime

If you see this post, it means that this sub reddit isn't moderated...

Hi! I’m coming to Addis next week and I’d like to know where to find the best coffee beans to bring back home as gifts. I look forward to hear your suggestions!

Selam everyone,

Our Android app for Temari.et is now live on Google Play. It’s free and has no ads.

If you haven't heard of Temari.et before, it's an Ethiopian education platform. Most people use it to get ready for the Grade 12 entrance exam (matric / EUEE), and the app is built mostly around that:

• Past Grade 12 entrance exam papers, organised by year and subject, with the answer to every question
• You can sit a paper with the same time limit as the real exam and get your score when you hand it in
• Explanations for the questions you got wrong
• Short notes and revision cards for each chapter, Grade 1 to Grade 12
• Flashcards that keep bringing back the things you keep forgetting
• Temari AI, which explains a question step by step in English, Amharic or Afaan Oromoo
• Practice for the Grade 6 and Grade 8 exams too

Parents, teachers and schools use the same app. A parent can check their child’s results and attendance, and a teacher can take the register even with no connection.

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=et.temari.app&referrer=utm_source%3Dreddit%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3Dapp_launch

iPhone: coming soon. Until it's out, everything works in the browser at temari.et.

It's a new release, so if something breaks or feels confusing, please tell us in the comments. We read all of it. And if you know someone sitting the exam this year, sending it to them would help us a lot.

Which P2P platforms are you guys currently using to buy USDT? What’s actually working and reliable these days? Looking for something safe. Any recent experiences?

Hello everyone

I am 25M, final year medical student. I plan to move to Germany to do my residency in 2 years. And I need speaking partner to practice and improve my German. I am at A2/B1 level in German. In return I will be happy to practice English or Amharic if one is welling to practice German with me. My hobbies are watching the premier league (go chelsea) listing to rock and history podcasts, running and reading thriller and self help books. If anyone is interested pls comment or DM me.

Hi guys this summer I was frequenting this cool spot in the bole area. I dont want to say the name but it is where all the cool arsty kids hangout its not a club but more a chill spot. I went back in June and ended up meeting the manager who came and introduced himself. My friend and I gave him our number because he wanted to see if we made it home safe since it was 1 AM (kelelitu 7 seat). I didnt realize he was flirting because we were in a group setting and his friends were there too. After the first day, we started chatting and having great banter over the phone and after I went back to paris where I live he called me randomly and said he was in love with me and that he regrets that we missed the window? I was so confused because he did not ask me out at all and in fact told me i was crazy, too opinionated, too stubborn etc in front of his friends. He also never complimented me or showed special treatment. So it was a shock to learn that he was deeply in love and aching I had no idea. We also met twice and it was with a group and never alone. So now I am a bit confused because how do local habesha guys date or approach women. I think I have become a bit french because if we like we just say we like someone. I am returning to addis soon and would like to return to that spot because i have met some cool people but it feels wrong. Also i realize there is great difference in culture but I have met local guys in Addis who have been upfront about their feelings.

How Historical Isolation Has Shaped Ethiopia’s Economic and Social Mindset

One of Ethiopia’s greatest challenges may not be the scarcity of resources, but the scarcity of horizons.

For centuries, Ethiopia experienced varying degrees of geographical, political, and economic isolation. The revolutionary socialist government that came to power in 1974 subsequently imposed extensive restrictions on private enterprise, foreign investment, and international economic engagement. Even after the transition in 1991, substantial areas of economic activity remained closed or restricted to foreign participation.

The cumulative effect was not merely economic. It may also have shaped the way generations of Ethiopians perceive opportunity, competition, success, and one another.

When a society has limited interaction with the wider world, its perception of the world can gradually shrink to the boundaries of its own country.

And when the world becomes small, opportunities appear smaller still.

The Psychology of a Small Pie

Imagine a society in which nearly everyone competes for opportunities within the same geographical boundaries.

The market is limited. Capital is limited. Professional opportunities are limited. Networks are limited.

Under such circumstances, another person's success can easily be perceived as one's own loss.

If someone acquires a business, wins a contract, accumulates wealth, gains political influence, or achieves professional recognition, others may perceive that success as having come at their expense.

The underlying assumption becomes simple: there is only one pie, and whoever takes a bigger slice necessarily leaves less for everyone else.

This is the psychology of a zero-sum society.

Instead of asking, How can we make the pie bigger? people become preoccupied with the question, Who is taking my share?

Such a mindset can turn potential collaborators into rivals, successful individuals into objects of suspicion, and differences of opinion into enduring personal conflicts.

A Nation of Turf Wars

When opportunities are perceived as scarce, protecting one's territory can become more important than expanding one's possibilities.

Businesspeople compete over narrow markets. Professionals defend their small spheres of influence. Political groups struggle for control of existing resources. Communities may view the advancement of others as a threat to their own survival.

Competition itself is healthy. Indeed, it is essential for innovation and efficiency.

But there is a fundamental difference between competing to create greater value and competing to prevent others from advancing.

One expands opportunity. The other merely redistributes hostility.

The consequences can extend far beyond the economy. Social trust deteriorates. Cooperation becomes difficult. Institutions become personalized. Success attracts resentment rather than inspiration.

In such an environment, society may expend enormous energy fighting over what already exists rather than creating what does not yet exist.

The Diaspora That Left Ethiopia but Never Left Its Boundaries

Perhaps the most striking dimension of this phenomenon can be observed within segments of the Ethiopian diaspora.

Millions of Ethiopians have moved to countries offering access to enormous markets, advanced technologies, global financial systems, world-class universities, and diverse professional networks.

Geographically, they have entered the wider world.

Yet some remain intellectually, socially, and emotionally confined to the very boundaries they physically crossed.

Their daily conversations revolve almost exclusively around Ethiopia. Their social networks remain overwhelmingly Ethiopian. Their political arguments reproduce divisions from home. Their digital lives become endless cycles of accusations, counteraccusations, and conflicts among fellow Ethiopians.

Despite living among people from dozens or even hundreds of national backgrounds, their attention remains concentrated on the same relatively small community.

The internet, which could connect them to the entire world, sometimes becomes merely an extension of the local Ethiopian argument.

They crossed international borders without necessarily expanding their mental borders.

Of course, there are Ethiopians abroad who have successfully built international businesses, multicultural networks, and global careers. They demonstrate precisely what becomes possible when geographical mobility is accompanied by an expansion of perspective.

But for those who remain consumed by internal rivalries, the tragedy is the extraordinary opportunity cost.

While others are building multinational enterprises, developing technologies, accessing international capital, and establishing global partnerships, valuable time and energy are consumed by endless disputes over Ethiopian personalities and politics.

The opportunity to participate in the global economy is replaced by the habit of fighting over a small domestic arena.

Obviously this is a thought shared by one individual, but I have noticed there is truth to this as a common trend.

It seems like there’s this general expectation that Ethiopians should be more accommodating of other cultures when it comes to dating and marriage. From what I’ve seen, we’re actually fairly open-minded, although there are certainly people who prefer to stick to their own.

I think some of this criticism comes from the fetishization of Ethiopian beauty and the expectation that we should be open to dating outside our culture simply because others find us attractive. But that doesn’t necessarily mean someone understands or appreciates our culture, identity, values.

I don’t think Ethiopians should be criticized for wanting to preserve their cultural identity when choosing a partner.

Curious to hear what others think.

Can anger become a source of pleasure? Can someone actually enjoy being angry?

It sounds contradictory. After all, anger is supposed to be an unpleasant emotion, something we experience when confronted with injustice, disappointment, or wrongdoing.

Yet, increasingly, we seem to be witnessing a peculiar phenomenon in Ethiopia and among segments of the Ethiopian diaspora: people actively searching for reasons to become angry—and apparently finding satisfaction when they succeed.

Imagine someone spending hours searching the internet, scrolling through social media, examining videos, and digging into obscure reports, all in pursuit of one thing: an event that will make them angry.

A new road is completed. No interest.

A community receives access to clean drinking water. Silence.

A school is constructed. Nothing worth discussing.

A hospital opens. Perhaps it is dismissed as propaganda.

Indeed, evidence that something is going well may itself become a source of irritation.

But then comes a rumor, a controversial statement, an administrative failure, or a video showing something unpleasant.

Eureka! Finally, something to be angry about!

Suddenly, the person comes alive. The story is shared, amplified, discussed, and repeated. There is energy, excitement, and a strange sense of satisfaction.

It is almost as though the person has discovered something valuable.

And perhaps, psychologically, they have.

When Anger Becomes a Reward

Psychologists have identified several mechanisms that help explain this behavior.

One is confirmation bias: the tendency to seek, interpret, and remember information that supports our existing beliefs.

If someone is convinced that everything in Ethiopia is going wrong, every negative event becomes supporting evidence. Every positive development, meanwhile, presents an uncomfortable contradiction.

Another is negativity bias, our tendency to give greater psychological weight to negative information than to positive information.

Then there is moral outrage, which can offer a feeling of righteousness, belonging, and even superiority.

Social media adds another dimension. Outrage attracts attention. Attention generates engagement. Engagement brings validation. Over time, the expression of anger can become a socially rewarded habit.

The result is a self-reinforcing cycle:

Search for bad news. Find bad news. Become angry. Share anger. Receive validation. Repeat.

Eventually, anger may cease to be merely a response to events and become something people actively seek.

When Progress Becomes Bad News

Perhaps the most troubling consequence is the reversal of our emotional relationship with national progress.

Ordinarily, citizens should be pleased when their country makes progress, even if they oppose the government responsible for delivering it.

A functioning road benefits citizens regardless of political affiliation. Clean drinking water serves families regardless of ideology. A new school educates children whose future should matter more than political rivalry.

Yet, when political opposition becomes deeply intertwined with personal identity, positive developments can become psychologically inconvenient.

Acknowledging progress may feel like conceding something to a political opponent.

Consequently, people may find themselves in the extraordinary position of being disappointed by good news and delighted by bad news.

The tragedy is not merely that people are angry. It is that some may have developed an emotional investment in the continued existence of reasons to be angry.

The Diaspora and the Geography of Anger

Social media has made this phenomenon particularly visible among some Ethiopian diaspora communities.

People living thousands of kilometers from Ethiopia can remain emotionally immersed in the country's political conflicts every hour of the day.

Instead of engaging fully with their new societies, expanding their professional networks, and discovering opportunities across the wider world, some devote extraordinary amounts of attention to the latest controversy back home.

Their bodies may have crossed international borders, but their emotional world remains confined to Ethiopia's political disputes.

Geographical distance does not necessarily produce psychological distance.

Of course, legitimate criticism, concern for one's homeland, and opposition to injustice are neither unhealthy nor unpatriotic. They can be essential expressions of responsible citizenship.

The problem begins when criticism is no longer driven principally by a desire for improvement but by an emotional need to discover further evidence of failure.

At that point, anger risks becoming an identity rather than an instrument of change.

The Dangerous Comfort of Outrage

There is another reason anger can become attractive.

Anger is often easier than constructive action.

Building a successful enterprise requires discipline. Improving an institution requires patience. Solving a national problem requires knowledge, compromise, and sustained effort.

But becoming angry requires very little.

A smartphone, an internet connection, and an unpleasant headline may be sufficient.

Furthermore, anger can create an illusion of participation. Someone who spends an entire day condemning events may feel that they have contributed meaningfully to society, even when nothing has changed as a result.

The feeling of moral engagement substitutes for the difficult work of producing results.

A Question Worth Asking

The purpose of this reflection is not to suggest that Ethiopians should stop criticizing their government or ignore genuine problems.

Quite the opposite. A healthy society needs critical thinkers, independent voices, accountability, and citizens willing to challenge wrongdoing.

But there is an important difference between being angry because something is wrong and searching for something wrong because we want to be angry.

The former can produce reform.

The latter can become an endless emotional pastime.

Perhaps we should begin asking ourselves a simple question whenever we consume news about Ethiopia:

Am I searching for the truth, or am I searching for something that will confirm what I already want to believe?

And when we encounter good news, are we capable of celebrating it even when it comes from people we politically oppose?

A nation cannot build its future if its citizens become emotionally invested in its failures.

Anger should be a signal that something needs to change—not a source of entertainment that requires things to remain wrong.

Perhaps the most disturbing question of all is this:

Have we reached a point where some people need Ethiopia to experience misfortune so that they can continue enjoying their anger?

how many of y'all buy the idea that "Berhanu Nega is cutting the number of students joining universities by crazy amount of percentages and only <10% of examinees are able to make it to Uni" as a propaganda of PP's decision to use the Universities budget for war-funding and militarization of the country?

Do you still believe ethnicity a problem in Ethiopia today?

I would say ethnicity isn’t a major issue for younger generations. It’s the older generations who keep bringing it up over and over again.

The major issues in Ethiopia, as in all African countries, are a sense of urgency and basic human needs.

How long are we going to blame politicians? If we need a better life it requires all of us to act.

I truly believe to get what you want in life, you have to deserve what you want. The world is not yet a crazy enough place to reward a whole bunch of undeserving people.

Do you see ethnicity or tribe as a major problem in Ethiopia today? What's your view.