Armenians in Ethiopia.. a small community story
Most people think of the Armenians in Ethiopia as the Arba Lijoch group, or the forty Armenian children who arrived in Addis Ababa in 1924.. but the Armenian presence there is older than that.
Learn more about the forty Armenian children:
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One of the most famous old figures is Matius the Armenian, who was associated with Ethiopian pottery at the beginning of the 16th century and served on a mission to Europe on behalf of Ethiopia. As for the Armenian community in its modern form, it began to appear clearly in the 19th century. One of the first names was Bogus Markarian, who arrived in Ethiopia around 1865 and settled in Addis Ababa, then linked to the Emperor Yohannes IV’s pottery.
Over time, Armenians settled in Addis Ababa, Harar, and Deir Dawaa. After the Armenian genocide in 1915, new families from areas such as Aynatab and Kellikia arrived, and the community grew.
Trade and crafts
Armenians worked in trade, importing cotton, silk, glass, metals, and cars for Ethiopia, and trading in Ethiopian products such as coffee, leather, wax, and ivory. Some of them also entered the supply of weapons to the Ethiopian army. There were also doctors, pharmacists, engineers, lawyers, and accountants, in addition to tailors, shoemakers, and carpet makers.
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa became the center of the community. In 1923, there were about 400 Armenians in the capital, and they had a church and a school. In Deir Dawaa, there were about 12 to 14 Armenian houses in 1928, and with them a church of St. Minas.
The community established its institutions, the most important of which was the Armenian school. A small school began around 1915, and after divisions within the community, the schools were merged under the name Kevorkoff National Armenian School. Although the number of Armenians decreased, the school’s shape remained, and most of its students were Ethiopians.
The Church
The Church of St. George in Addis Ababa was the center of religious and social life for Armenians. With the migration of families, the church remained one of the most enduring signs of the community’s presence.
1974.. The Turning Point
In 1974, the fall of Haila Selasi and the arrival of the Dergese system changed the country’s landscape. The assimilation affected business owners and property owners, including Armenians. Families lost their businesses and property, and migration began. As families left, the community shrunk rapidly, and a large part of the old Armenian community in Addis Ababa disappeared.
Armenians in Ethiopia today
The Armenian government estimates the number of Armenians in Ethiopia to be around 100 people, most of them in Addis Ababa. The number is small, but there is still a church, a school, and Armenian families. Most importantly, some of the old families have remained connected to Ethiopia itself, having lived there for generations.
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