Amhara, Ethiopian in Germany

Introduction / History

The Amhara people are related to the Tigray and Tigre people of Ethiopia and Eritrea who together make up the Habeshans. These people can trace their origins back to Shem, eldest son of Noah. They left present day Yemen and settled on the African side of the Red Sea inhabiting the Nile Delta and all land East of the valley down to the Ethiopian Highlands. These people are known in antiquity as the Ancient Egyptians who retreated back to Ethiopia and Eritrea after countless takeovers of Egypt. here they established other great kingdoms such as Sheba/Saba and Axum. After the Middle Ages they soon split into 3 tribes: Amhara, Tigre and Tigray with their own languages that all derived from Ge 'ez, their ancient language.

After the countless times Egypt has been subdued by foreign power, the majority of the Egyptians retreated to the safe haven of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Today the Amhara live mainly in Central and East/North Eastern Ethiopia. A small number are in European countries like Germany.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Amharas in Germany are usually people with education and the possibility of having a professional job. They must adjust to a fast-paced urban environment.

What Are Their Beliefs?

From early encounters with the Hebrew people, many Habeshans adopted the early form of proto-Judaism. Though the high and ruling class continued to practice the Egyptian pagan religion until Queen Makda of Sheba was converted by King Solomon to Judaism. Christianity came to the Amhara through Coptic missionaries. The Amhara and other Habeshans were the first African converts to Islam after sheltering Muhammed's followers from their enemies in Mecca. Because of the Islamic expansion, Aksum was cut from other Christian kingdoms which created their own unique form of Coptic Christianity by incorporating Judaistic rituals and laws and putting a large focus on monasticism. today the majority of Amhara people are Ethiopian Orthodox and the minority are Sunni Muslim.

What Are Their Needs?

Ethiopian Amharas in Germany need to be able to adjust. Some are dealing with the traumas of war. New arrivals need help learning the German language.

Prayer Points

Pray for a move of the Holy Spirit to revolutionize families and churches among the Ethiopian Amharas.
Pray for Germany to be the seedbed of spiritual growth for these Orthodox Christians just as it was for Roman Catholics in the days of Martin Luther.
Pray that soon Ethiopian Amharas in Germany will be studying the Bible and holding one another accountable.

Text Source:   Joshua Project