Abstract:
Iran and Ethiopia have had bilateral relations for almost two thousand years. These relations were accompanied by cultural exchanges among the people, resulting in the acceptance of both nation’s cultural elements by the other. A thorough knowledge of these cultural exchanges is not only important in understanding the history of the bilateral relations between the two countries; it would also be helpful in planning future relations between Iran and Ethiopia. Therefore, this paper aims to study the important subject of “cultural exchanges between Iran and Ethiopia” through an analysis of the way in which each nation has culturally influenced the other. Based on Lahsaeizadeh’s theory of “Cultural Exchange between Different Ethnic Groups”, and through a meticulous observation of Iran-Ethiopia relations throughout history via library and field research, this paper attempts to examines the bilateral cultural influence of one nation on the other. The analysis of diverse historical documents as well as comprehensive field research indicate that while both nations have culturally influenced each other, it was the Iranian culture that had mostly influenced the Ethiopian culture for centuries in the field of language, architecture, religion and music. The reason for this strong influence is mainly the wider dominion of the Iranian civilization and culture.
Machine summary:
A Comparative Study of Historical Cultural Exchange between Iran and Ethiopia Amirbahram Arabahmadi Assistant Professor, Department of Central and Southern African Studies, University of Tehran, Iran (arabahmadi@ut.
Based on Lahsaeizadeh’s theory of “Cultural Exchange between Different Ethnic Groups”, and through a meticulous observation of Iran-Ethiopia relations throughout history via library and field research, this paper attempts to examines the bilateral cultural influence of one nation on the other.
Although there is no further information about the cultural relations between Iran and Ethiopia in the seventeenth century to the present times, the similarities between the musical instruments of the two countries indicate the direct or indirect influences of Iranian music on Ethiopian music.
In fact, after the historic migration of a group of Iranians to the East African coast and islands in early Islamic centuries, Ethiopia became one of the countries with traces of Iranian culture and civilization.
The main questions examined in this paper were the following: “What are the features of historical-contemporary relations between Iran and Ethiopia?”, and “In this relationship, which component and country played a dominant role?” The Iranian culture as a dominant culture has had significant impacts in different fields on Ethiopian peoples including: deep historical links in the ancient era, penetration of the Persian language to the Amharic language, construction of palaces and buildings in Harar and Dire dawa according to the Iranian architecture, introduction of Islam, and enrichment of traditional music.