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Wedding traditions of Addis Ababa

A highland capital of white cotton dresses, elders' negotiations and a seven-day party.

Ethiopian weddings are known for the telosh, a custom of formal meetings between families, and for the shimagile, the elders who act as negotiators. The couple wears a traditional outfit with embroidered borders, the habesha kemis, and the groom a cape. A feast of doro wat, injera and tej is served.

Addis Ababa: Partial view of Addis Ababa skyline from Sheger park
Photo: DaneyWiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A wedding here

The elders ask the bride's family for permission, and the bride is brought out after a formal exchange of gifts. After the ceremony the bride returns to her home, and the mels, a day-after meal, is held. Dancers perform the eskista, a dance of the shoulders.

Law and change

The Orthodox church sanctions marriage in a sacramental form and civil marriage is also recognised. The legal age is 18. Marriage by abduction, telefa, is a crime but is reported in rural areas, along with child marriage in some regions.

Wedding customs of Addis Ababa

EskistaThe dance.

Also part of it, and being written: Habesha kemis (The dress.), Injera (The bread.), Marriage by abduction (The contested practice.).

A wedding trail idea for Addis Ababa

  1. Merkato A very large market.
  2. Holy Trinity Cathedral A cathedral.
  3. Entoto Hill A viewing hill.
About this page

Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

KindRiteVowBetrothalGift customAttireAdornmentPerformanceFeast customBlessingPlayFamily roleSettingModern
StageFinding a matchEngagement and betrothalThe weeks beforeThe eveProcession and arrivalThe ceremonyThe wedding feastReception, dance and giftsAfter the wedding

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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