Ethnological Museum of Addis Ababa, Ethnographic museum at Addis Ababa University Campus, Ethiopia
The Ethnological Museum occupies two floors of Haile Selassie's former palace and displays over 13,000 objects representing Ethiopian cultures and traditions. The collection ranges from religious items to household goods and crafts, covering all aspects of Ethiopian life.
The museum was founded in 1950 based on a collection that began with Italian zoological objects and ethnographic artifacts gathered by the first university graduates. This founding marked the start of systematic documentation of Ethiopian cultural heritage in institutional form.
The ground floor displays different life stages practiced by various Ethiopian communities: childhood traditions, adult customs, and death rituals still observed today. These exhibits show how daily practices remain woven into the lives of local people.
The museum is open every day except public holidays and charges different admission fees for adults, students, and those wishing to photograph. It helps to arrive early in the day to view the exhibits without large crowds.
The entrance features a staircase with 13 steps installed by Italian forces, with each step representing one year of Mussolini's rule. This architectural detail marks the complex history of Ethiopia during Italian occupation.
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