Glossary

Abyssinia: former name for Ethiopia

amba: a flat-topped mountain

Amharic: the language of the Amhara tribe, widely spoken in Ethiopia and often regarded as the national language

amole: a uniform block of salt, once used as currency in Ethiopia

araki: an alcoholic drink, usually distilled from maize

asa wot: a spicy fish stew, made with freshwater fish

berbere: a highly spiced sauce common throughout Ethiopia in which meat dishes are served

Beta Israel: the tribe of Ethiopian Jews

birr: the national currency of Ethiopia: at the current rate of exchange, 12 birr equal £1

Buda: the religious hierarchy of the Ethiopian Jewish community believed to have the ability to transmit the Evil Eye

dejazmacth: a local nobleman

dink: the ancient Egyptian word for a dwarf, which is also found in various tribal languages in Ethiopia

doro wot: a spicy chicken stew, often served with hard-boiled eggs

enset: the ‘false banana’ plant, cultivated in Ethiopia and prized for its edible stem

falasha: one of the community of Ethiopian Jews, most of whom now live in Israel: the term is now regarded as politically incorrect

faranji: colloquial term for a foreigner

Ge’ez: the ancient language of Ethiopia, still understood by the country’s priesthood

ghamelawallas: sweepers in Calcutta and other Indian cities who buy the dust from the floors of jewellery workshops

injera: Ethiopian bread made from teff flour, upon which a communal meat stew is served

kai wot: a spicy lamb stew served in a berbere sauce

Karo: a tribe from south-west Ethiopia whose warriors paint their bodies in elaborate patterns

Kebra Negast (The Glory of Kings): sacred text of Ethiopia, which contains a detailed account of Solomon’s meeting with Makeda

Makeda: the Ethiopian name for the Queen of Sheba

makwamya: ritualistic prayer sticks used by the Ethiopian clergy

matatu: a communal taxi or minivan, popular in East Africa

mensaf: a Bedu dish of meat cooked in milk and served with flavoured rice

Mursi: a tribe from south-west Ethiopia, famed for the curious clay lip-plates that they wear

Oromo: one of the main tribes in Ethiopia, or their language

qat: the mildly narcotic leaf chewed in the Horn of Africa and in southern Arabia, sometimes called chatt in Ethiopia

shamma: a cotton shawl, worn throughout Ethiopia, often with a delicately embroidered border

shiftas: bandits

sistra: an Ethiopian musical instrument, possibly of ancient Egyptian origin

tabot: a replica of the Ark of the Covenant

teff: a grain popular in Ethiopia, from which injera is made

thaler: a Maria Theresa dollar, once used in various African countries as currency, and still minted by the Austrian government

tukul: a wattle-and-daub or simple stone hut

werk: the Amharic word for gold

zill-zill tibs: shredded beef strips fried and served with sauce