People
Horn of Africa – map, where it is, countries, facts
The Horn of Africa is likely to be the most conspicuous segment on the African map, but little is known about the region. In fact, most people know it as the region that is always in perpetual war, or the region that is blanketed by drought and all sorts of adversity. Read on to clarify such miscalculated assumptions!
Before the region became known as the Horn of Africa (abbreviated as HOA) it used to be called Bilad al Barbar (literally, Land of the Berbers). This is because in ancient times the region was inhabited by the Eastern Barbarians or Baribah (Berbers) – as stated by the ancient Greeks and the medieval Arabs respectively. It was later referred to as the Horn of Africa by the pre-colonial British immigrants, who took the name from that country’s horn-shaped appearance on the map of Africa.
Horn of Africa – Where is it, map
It is a region that juts out into the Arabian Sea, sideways along the southern region of the Gulf of Aden. In short, if you look at the map of Africa, this is the easternmost flange of the map, jutting 100km into the Indian Ocean.
countries in the Horn of Africa
The term Horn of Africa initially refers to the peninsula in north-eastern Africa, which consists of four different countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea.
Notwithstanding their similar geographic location, the inhabitants of this region are as diverse as one would call it, given their linguistic and ethnic affiliations, as well as their apparent pattern of relationships. In detail, Djibouti has 10 different ethnic groups, Eritrea 14, Somalia 15 and finally Ethiopia with 90 ethnic groups. Despite their cultural differences, most of these groups speak Afroasiatic languages of either the Semitic or Cushitic branches.
Scholars have suggested that this region is most likely the region the ancient Egyptians called Punt or NetJeru (meaning God’s Land). The ancient Puntites, whose historical records show a close relationship with Pharaonic Egypt, are believed to have inhabited the region during the reigns of Queen Hatshepsut and Pharaoh Sahure.
Also mentioned is the kingdom of D’mt, which apparently dominated Eritrea and the northern part of Ethiopia in the 7th and 8th centuries BC. With its capital in Yeha, the kingdom introduced irrigation systems, manufactured iron weapons and tools, and also cultivated millet. Finally, there is the Aksum Kingdom – also referred to as the Aksumite Empite – which appears to have been a primordial state in the highlands of present-day Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Facts about the Horn of Africa
1. The four countries of the Horn of Africa have played an important role in the development of a number of cultural and modern currents in various fields, including art, architecture, cuisine, music technology, literature and theology – just to name a few. But for one, Ethiopia is known as the origin of coffee as well as ancient art of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. Aside from that, the Ethiopians also introduced the first known use of teff – in making a type of flatbread the natives refer to as injera – between 4000 and 1000 BC.
The region is also recognized for producing tons of indigenous writing systems, the most notable being the Ge’ez. In fact, the Ge’ez – also known as Ethiopian – is an abugida script originally developed to create the Ge’ez language.
Another amazing cultural trait of the people of this region comes from their unique style of music, commonly referred to as Qenet by the locals. It generally consists of four main models; bati major, tezeta bati, anchihoy and finally ambassel.
2. The residents of this region have long practiced one of the three major Abrahamic faiths. But before these religions spread across the land, Ancient Axum could make stelae and coins bearing the crescent-shaped symbols of Ashtar the deity. This kingdom would later emerge as one of the first states to embrace Christianity – in the 4th century after King Ezana II’s conversion to Christianity.
Then shortly after the Hijra, Islamin got introduced to the region of the Arabian Peninsula. This happened after a number of persecuted Muslims fled to this region in the late 8th century, where they were protected by King Ashama Ibn Abjar.
3. In 1869 – during the opening of the Suez Canal – when every European nation was looking for a piece of Africa, Italy invaded Eritrea and successfully made it its colony Horn on January 1, 1890, they were decisively stopped by the Ethiopian force, which was to be feared at the time. And in 1941, the Commonwealth, in conjunction with the newly formed Ethiopian Patriotic Resistance, managed to expel the Italian force from Eritrea. This subordinated Eritrea to the British government until 1951, when Ethiopia managed to merge it in 1950 at the request of the United States under UN resolution.
Present-day Djibouti – from 1862 to 1894 – was formerly ruled by Somali and the Afar Sultans – local authorities who worked with France from 1883 to 1887 to gain a foothold in the region. This lasted until 1894 when Leonce Lagarde established a permanent French government in Djibouti.
4. The economy of this region depends on a number of important exports. For example, the Ethiopian economy is dependent on coffee, which accounts for about 80% of total exports. Then there is Somalia’s economy, which depends mainly on livestock and bananas and accounts for over 50% of its total exports.
Also worth noting is the cross-border trade between countries in this region, which appears to be undocumented and unofficial, despite an estimated $250 million in revenue it generates for the countries involved.
5. Apparently Horn of Africa has over 220 different animal species. Among them are the Baboon, Hamadryas, Ammodile, Desert Warthog, the Somali Wild Ass, and the Somali Pygmy Gerbil. The silver dikdik, the dibatag, the speke’s gazelle and the beira are threatened with extinction.
6. The Horn of Africa has so far managed to produce a number of world-famous spots. Among them are long-distance runners like Derartu Tulu (the first woman from Ethiopia to win an Olympic gold medal) and Kenenisa Bekele (the only woman to have won the 10,000m twice). Another famous athlete from this region is Haile Gebrselassie, who was awarded “Athlete of the Year” by the IAAF (International Association of Athletes Federation) in 1998.
