Ethiopia remains Ethiopia

Ethiopia became Ethiopia through the Amhara, who built their country through their strict, devout, adherence to God, and to the Bible. 

They took seriously the Biblical verse: "Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands out unto God."

There is a lot to untangle here, but suffice for now that this kept the name "Ethiopia" through generations, through wars, invasions, famines, internal conflicts, and the devastating years of Communism.

It is a miracle that Ethiopia survived, that its language (Amharic) survived, that the Church still has bishops and priests. And crosses.

The President of Ethiopia, an Amhara, the modest, matronly, but astute and clever (intelligent) Sahle-Work Zewde, shows us this in many small ways. 

Once again, that will be part of a larger essay, but here she is with the outgoing Ambassador of Turkey, Yaprak Alp, a tallish, turkic woman (she's not white, nor is she arab-looking).

President Sahle-Work is wearing the distinctive hinged cross, prominently showing.

I haven't yet seen such a clear display of her Orthodox Christianity in other photos. 

But, perhaps this occasion merits it.

She is bidding farewell to the Ambassador, another female, who opted for a braided decoration around her neck.

Foreign relations and trade/investment negotiations aside, Ethiopia remains Ethiopia.