Ethiopia, a place of ancient culture, in the Horn of Africa, is a rugged, landlocked country split by the Great Rift Valley. Being the most populous landlocked country in the world, as well as the second-most populous nation on the African continent, Ethiopia is the place of origin for the coffee bean. It is a land of natural contrasts, with its vast fertile West, jungles, and numerous rivers, and the world's hottest settlement of Dallol in its north. The Ethiopian Highlands are Africa's largest continuous mountain ranges, and Sof Omar Caves contain Africa's largest cave. Ethiopia has also the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa. It's ancient Ge'ez script, also known as Ethiopic, is one of the oldest alphabets still in use in the world.

Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia. It is the largest city in Ethiopia, with a population of 3,384,569 according to the 2007 population census. As a chartered city, Addis Ababa has the status of both a city and a state. It is where the African Union and its predecessor the OAU are based. Addis Ababa is therefore often referred to as "the political capital of Africa", due to its historical, diplomatic and political significance for the continent. The city is populated by people from different regions of Ethiopia the country has as many as 80 nationalities speaking 80 languages and belonging to a wide variety of religious communities.