Call for Amhara Diaspora Community | áĽáŞ áá á፠á˛áŤáľá፠áá á á¨á°áĽ
For many of us Amhara diaspora, identity has been shaped by both being Amhara and Ethiopian, often without seeing those two as contradictory. We were raised to see Ethiopia as a shared home of many cultures, languages, and peoples, all contributing to something larger than themselves. That sense of unity was always central to how I understood myself. But over time, especially in recent years, my understanding of identity has shifted. The ongoing conflict and violence affecting communities in Ethiopia, particularly the targeted harm against Amhara communities, has forced me, like many others in the diaspora, to confront questions I never thought I would have to ask so directly. What does it mean to carry that Amhara identity in a time when it feels politically charged, contested, and in many spaces, under pressure? I want to be very clear, this is not a call for hatred, division, or hostility toward any other ethnic group in Ethiopia. That is not what this is. I believe deeply in coexistence, in shared humanity, and in the idea that Ethiopiaâs strength has always come from its diversity. Nothing I am saying here should be read as opposition to that. But I also think there is a difference between unity and erasure. What Iâve been reflecting on is that Amhara identity and culture, in many conversations, often gets folded into a broader âEthiopian identityâ in a way that can unintentionally flatten it. As if being Amhara is simply synonymous with being Ethiopian, rather than being one distinct thread within a much larger national fabric. And I donât say that to create separation. I say it because visibility matters. Across different Ethiopian communities, both inside Ethiopia and in the diaspora, there has been a growing expression of ethnic pride and cultural visibility. People are increasingly sharing their traditions and openly naming their identities with pride. I think that is a powerful and healthy thing. It reflects preservation, survival, and belonging. But I also feel that Amhara identity has not been given the same open articulation, not because it doesnât exist, but because there has historically been an expectation of restraint, or a prioritization of national unity over ethnic expression. I believe in Ethiopian unity. I believe in it deeply. I think it is necessary, especially for any future of stability and collective strength. But I also think unity should never require silence about who we are. Amhara culture is not invisible or abstract. It is not just a background layer of âEthiopian cultureâ as a whole. It is distinct, it is lived, and it is real. And recognizing that does not diminish anyone else, it simply acknowledges reality. What I am trying to express is not a rejection of unity, but a refusal to see unity used in a way that unintentionally discourages cultural Amhara pride. Because if other communities can openly express pride in their identity without hesitation, then Amharas should be able to do the same, without apology and without feeling like it contradicts national belonging. I think it is time for more openness and more willingness to speak about who we are, not quietly, but clearly. We can hold both truths at once. We can be proud Ethiopians. And we can be proud Amharas. Those identities do not need to compete. But neither should one be expected to disappear into the other.
As Iâve watched conversations unfold both online and in diaspora spaces, I often see Amhara traditions, history, and cultural expressions being dismissed or outright denied as having cultural legitimacy. There is a growing narrative in some spaces that Amharas âdo not have a distinct culture,â or that what is recognized as Amhara culture is simply borrowed from others or indistinguishable from broader Ethiopian identity. And I honestly find this deeply concerning. In todayâs political climate, there seems to be an increasing tendency to treat culture as something to compete over, as if it must be exclusively âownedâ rather than shared, influenced, or historically intertwined. But this framework is not only reductive, it misunderstands how culture actually works. When communities live side by side for centuries, across shared geography and history, cultural exchange is inevitable. That does not erase identity, it reflects it. What frustrates me is not disagreement or academic debate, it is the consistent denial of Amhara identity altogether in certain narratives. The idea that we have no culture. That we are simply an extension of others. That we do not exist as a distinct people in meaningful cultural terms. I reject this completely because, at a certain point, this stops being a discussion and becomes an erasure of identity. And that is not something I can accept quietly. I have always felt that there is often an unspoken pressure to prioritize âEthiopian unityâ in a way that unintentionally leads to downplaying or softening our own cultural expression. Almost as if openly celebrating Amhara identity might be seen as disruptive to unity itself, but I donât think that balance is healthy. For example, in the US diaspora, we have long-standing Ethiopian cultural festivals like ESFNA, which I genuinely appreciate and think are important spaces for shared heritage and community gathering. I do not think those should be diminished in any way. They matter and they bring people together. At the same time, in recent years, weâve also seen more visible cultural spaces emerge for other communities, including Oromo and Tigrayan diaspora festivals and gatherings. Whether it's cultural festivals, celebrations, or community-specific events, these spaces have grown in visibility, pride, and participation. And I think that is something worth acknowledging without defensiveness. Because what Iâve noticed is that when it comes to Amhara cultural expression in diaspora spaces, there is often hesitation, not because the culture is absent, but because there is a fear of being seen as âtoo separateâ or ânot sufficiently unified.â And in practice, that can result in our cultural expression being less visible than it should be, I donât think that is fair. Especially not in a moment where, for many of us, our connection to home is already shaped by grief, displacement, and concern for what is happening to our families and communities. In that context, silence should not be the expectation placed on us. Instead, I think the response should be the opposite. More engagement, visibility, and investment in community.
Ultimately, culture does not survive passively. It survives when it is practiced, spoken, shared, and defended. If the suffering and loss experienced by our Amhara community does not move us toward greater unity, awareness, and action, then what will? What will it take for us to fully step into preserving who we are, openly and without hesitation? This is not just about pride. It is about continuity. It is about presence. It is about refusing to disappear quietly in the name of harmony. The beauty in our Amhara culture, from Wollo, Gojjam, Gondar, and Shewa, is too deep and valuable to suppress. And I think it is time we start having that conversation more honestly. If we are serious about strengthening Amhara identity in the diaspora, then it has to start with community building at the most human level. The Amhara diaspora needs more spaces that are intentionally ours. This is not in opposition to anyone else, but in affirmation of who we are. Spaces for youth to connect. Spaces to learn from elders. Spaces that are not just symbolic, but active. That can look like organizing, fundraising, education, activism, and long-term community building. But it can and should also look like lighthearted, family-friendly gatherings. Cultural festivals. Holiday celebrations. Events to preserve language, music, traditions, and history. We already have cultural moments throughout the year that hold meaning for us. I think we need to be more intentional about actually gathering around them, preserving them, and passing them forward. Not just as symbolic observances, but as real opportunities to build familiarity, trust, and connection within our Amhara diaspora community. Because I genuinely believe that from that kind of environment where people feel seen, connected, and proud without hesitation, something deeper can grow. From that foundation, conversations become easier. Organizing becomes more natural. Collective action becomes more possible. Real change, real dialogue, and real long-term impact donât start in abstraction, they start with relationships. And I think that is where we need to begin, with showing up for one another, consistently, in ways that are meaningful. More than anything, Iâm writing this to start a conversation. I want to hear from others in the diaspora, especially those who have wrestled with these same questions. Because I donât think these conversations should be avoided anymore. I think they should be spoken out loud and tangible Amhara community building efforts need to be initiated.
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