Wot I Learned at the Red Sea Online Quiz | Mixed Nations

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. As I enter the Red Sea Restaurant, the album "Abugida" is playing on the sound system. What controversial Ethiopian artist is singing?

Answer: Teddy Afro

Teddy Afro, whose real name is Tewodros Kassahun, is one of the more popular musical artists in Ethiopia. "Abugida" was his first album in 2001. His songs have been banned by the government, the true mark of great music. Afro spent 18 months in jail in 2008-2009 on charges that many believe were politically motivated. Mekurya is a jazz saxophonist. Mengisteab is a noted singer/songwriter from Eritrea. Fela Kuti was one of Africa's most prominent musicians, so much so he was the subject of a popular Broadway musical. Kuti was from Nigeria, not Ethiopia.

2. Our waiter at the Ethopian restaurant introduces himself as Aman. Looking over the menu, I order the Gomen. What will I be eating?

Answer: Collard Greens

Gomen are spiced collard greens. Ethiopian cooking is divided into yetsom wot (vegetarian) and yefisik wot (meat) dishes. Chicken stew is Doro Wot. Lamb Stew is Yebeg Wot. Spiced lentil stew is Misir Wot. Most Ethiopian meals include injera, a spongy bread made with tef flour. While much of Ethiopian cooking is vegetable based, beef, chicken and lamb are common. Much of Ethiopian food is heavily spiced, especially with berbere. Pork and shellfish are prohibited by religious beliefs. Coffee is served at almost all meals, while the most popular alcoholic beverage is tej, a honey-based wine.

3. Like many restaurants, there is a display of money from different countries. As I look at the bills from Ethiopia, what type of animal can I see on every denomination?

Answer: Lion

A lion is used as a security feature on the left hand side of the front. Since 1976, the currency of Ethiopia has been the Birr. It is printed in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100. The Kudu is on the reverse of the 5 Birr. Water buffalo can be seen on 50 Birr.

4. I ask our waiter Aman about Ethiopia's major export. He says he will bring some to our table. What does he return with?

Answer: Coffee

Coffee regularly makes up between 25 and 35 percent of Ethiopian exports. Ethiopia is Africa's top producer of coffee, and the top consuming nation. Sidamo and Hirrar are two of the country's more famous coffee regions. Europe and Asia are the two major markets for Ethiopian coffee, but the United States does import it as well. Oilseeds and legumes are an important sector of Ethiopian agricultural exports. While the flower industry was only started in 2004, government investment has made it grow dramatically.

5. Looking around, I see an Ethiopian calendar on the wall. What is odd is that it's not for this year. How many years off is the calendar?

Answer: Seven

The Ethiopian calendar is seven years and three months earlier than the Gregorian calendar. It begins on September 11 or 12. Ethiopians celebrated the start of the millennium on September 11, 2007. The first month of the calendar year is Maskaram.
The calendar is based on calculations by a monk named Annianus of Alexander, who lived in the fifth century AD. He based the start of AD from the Annunciation - when Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit - which Annianus dated as August 29, 8 AD (Julian calendar). He also calculated the date for the creation of the world as March 25, 5492 BC.

6. Our waiter Aman says that one day he hopes to be in the Olympic Games, in the same sport as his heroes Abebe Bikila and Haile Gebreselassie. What sport is he training for?

Answer: Distance Running

Abebe Bikila became the first black African to win Olympic gold, when he won the 1960 marathon. Bikila repeated in 1964. Haile Gebreselassie was one of the world's premier 10,000 meter runners; he won the gold at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. Between 1960 and 2012, Ethiopians won 45 Olympic medals, and every one was in distance running.

7. The restaurant has photographs of Ethiopia on the walls, including one of a church that was built underground. Aman tells me the church is in what city?

Answer: Lalibela

The World Heritage site of Lalibela contains 11 churches, carved directly out of the rock. They are some of the most significant religious and architectural structures in all of Africa. Axum is the site of the one of Africa's greatest civilizations, and has spectacular ruins. Harar Jugol is the fourth holiest city in Islam, and has 82 mosques.

8. As we discuss the church, Aman says he is the same religion as the majority of people in Ethiopia. What religion would that be?

Answer: Christianity

Roughly two-thirds of Ethiopians are Christians. Of those, roughly 80 percent are Ethiopian Orthodox, and most of the rest are Protestants. The other third are Muslims. Only a small percentage of Ethiopians still practice animism. Ethiopia was one of the first nations to adopt Christianity, all the way back in 316 CE. The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion dates back to that era, and some believe it holds the Ark of the Covenant.

9. Aman shows me a website that a friend of his in Ethiopia has set up. What is the country code top level domain at the end of the address? (Hint: Aman says surfing the internet is cheaper than phoning home).

Answer: et

Logically, .et is the domain designation for Ethiopia. While the government was making strides to improve internet access, it has been slow going. By 2012, internet penetration was only at 1.1 percent, one of the lowest levels in Africa.

10. As I exit the Red Sea Restaurant, I notice a map of Ethiopia. Ironically, Ethiopia lost its access to the Red Sea when what province become a separate country in 1993?

Answer: Eritrea

Eritrea fought a war of independence against Ethiopia for thirty years, from 1961 to 1991. They finally achieved victory in 1991, after the fall of the Communist military government in Addis Ababa. Eritrea and Ethiopia fought again in 1998-2000, in a war which cost tens of thousands of lives. Asmara is the capital of Eritrea. Djibouti and Somalia are separate nations which border the Red Sea.

Source: Author parrotman2006

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Snowman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Wot I Learned at the Red Sea Trivia Quiz

If you want to learn about Ethiopia, what better place than an Ethiopian restaurant? Come along on my visit to the Red Sea Restaurant and find out more about this fascinating country.

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