Ethiopian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Ethiopia lies in the Horn of Africa and is one of the oldest countries in the world, with its own alphabet, calendar and ancient Christian traditions. It was never colonised, apart from a short Italian occupation. Amharic is the main working language. Ethiopians in Birmingham include students, professionals and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 709 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Ethiopian; and 757 residents gave Amharic as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still.

Working for Birmingham

Ethiopian residents work in healthcare, social care, transport, hospitality and business, and Ethiopian restaurants serving injera have found a loyal following. Ethiopian professionals, including doctors, engineers and teachers, contribute across the city, and students study at its universities.

Birmingham is one of the youngest and most diverse cities in Europe, and its progress has always depended on people who chose to make it home. Its hospitals, schools and universities, its building sites, workshops, warehouses and kitchens all rely on skills brought from around the world. The Ethiopian community adds its own share to that effort, and takes pride in giving back to the city that welcomed it.

Culture and community life

Coffee is said to have been discovered in Ethiopia, and the traditional coffee ceremony, with beans roasted and brewed by hand, is a symbol of friendship. Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year in September, and Timket, the celebration of Epiphany, are joyful festivals, and Ethiopian long-distance runners are famous worldwide.

Like so many of the communities that make up modern Birmingham, the Ethiopian community shows how a city can be home to many cultures at once. Its members are proud of where they come from, and just as proud to be Brummies.