Ethiopia: Ethnicity · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Ethiopian Paradox discusses ethnicity in Ethiopia and ” Melese's strategy to establish a governing system of ethnic federalism emphasising rights of “nations, nationalities, and peoples.” He writes that in Ethiopia ethnicity has gone too far…..”Instead of ethnicity referring to cultural-linguistic communal groups, built around ties of real or putative kinship, taking pride in the in-group, common consciousness and identity of the group-as is the case in most multi-ethnic societies–under the TPLF, cultural prejudice and social discrimination against “others” has been encouraged and perverted into denying others basic human and economic rights. This ethnicity run wild exaggerates differences, intensifies resentments and antagonisms, and sharply divides races and nationalities. Mutual suspicion and hostility are bound to emerge in a society bent on defining itself in terms of such jostling and competing groups.”