Ethiopia is an ancient country, with a long history of independence. The country has mosaic of people and diverse cultures. It is situated between 3 ̊ 14’ N latitude and 33 ̊ 48’ E Longitude in the Horn of Africa and shares borders with Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia and Sudan.

A prominent feature of the country is its rugged topography, comprising alpine mountains, flat-topped tablelands, deep canyons and rolling plains. The country’s population in 2008 is 73.9 million. In respect to age structure, those under 15 years old constitute 48%; those between 15 – 64 years old make up 49%. The majority of the population, about 85%, live in the highlands of the three largest regions (Amhara, Oromia, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples), and Tigray. Other people are living in the relatively lowland regions of Afar, Somali, Benshangul –Gumuz, and Gambella. About 80 different languages of Semitic, Cushitic, Omotic, and Nilo-Saharan origin are spoken in the country. With regard to religion, Ethiopians are Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Protestant Christians and followers of other faiths.