Current Time in Ethiopia
Ethiopian culture regarding time
Ethiopian culture regarding time
Ethiopian time
In Ethiopia, a unique time system is used in daily life, with sunrise at 1:00 and sunset at 12:00. This is different from the Western 24-hour system, so you need to get used to the local time expressions to avoid confusion.
Flexible sense of time
In Ethiopia, punctuality is not very important, and being 30 minutes to an hour late is common. This is influenced by the cultural background that prioritizes relationships and situations.
Meetings and gatherings often start later than scheduled
Even in business situations, it is not uncommon for everyone to not arrive at the scheduled time. Since the meeting will start as soon as the participants are present, it is wise to act with plenty of time.
Ethiopian values regarding time
A sense of time that emphasizes human connections
They tend to value relationships with others and the situation at hand rather than strictness in time. This culture prioritizes "how to interact with the person now" over plans.
Socializing tends to be long
When gathering with friends and relatives, conversations and coffee ceremonies often last a long time and usually do not end at a set time.
Not rushing is an expression of "calmness"
It is not appreciated to appear in a hurry, and it is sometimes considered polite to act with a sense of leisure. This is a value that remains deeply rooted even in urban areas.
Things foreigners should know about time when traveling or moving to Ethiopia
Be aware of the difference between Western time and local time
Official schedules are often communicated in Western time, but Ethiopian time is sometimes used in everyday conversations, so it is necessary to check.
Be flexible about appointment times
It is common for people to arrive later than the appointed time, so foreigners should relax their idea that being late is rude.
Public transportation and services may not always run on time
It is important to allow yourself plenty of time as buses and government procedures often do not proceed as planned.
Interesting trivia about time in Ethiopia
Coffee ceremonies take more than an hour
The traditional coffee ceremony held at home or in the workplace begins with roasting the beans and usually takes more than an hour, symbolizing the long-term exchange.
A year is made up of 13 months
The Ethiopian calendar is made up of 13 months (12 months have 30 days, and 13 months have 5-6 days), and is about 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar.
The New Year Begins in September
The Ethiopian New Year, Enkhutash, is in September, and this creates a unique seasonal atmosphere with festivals and traditional costumes filling the towns.