We made a little detour on our way to Hawassa to visit the Sidama people, renowned for their high-quality coffee, which is considered a hallmark of speciality coffee. As the origin of Coffea arabica, Ethiopia, and the Sidama region in particular, has deep cultural and economic ties to coffee production. For 1 kilogram of roasted coffee, they need to collect 3 kilograms of coffee beans, which they sell to the local cooperative for 150 ETB/kg.
The Sidama are known not only for coffee production but also for a rich cultural heritage, including the Fichee-Chambalaalla new year festival. They are a Cushitic-speaking people with a history of self-administration, and in 2019, the Sidama Zone became the 10th official regional state in Ethiopia after a referendum on autonomy. Their culture includes the worship of a sky god, a divine king, and traditional spiritual guardians called ancestors. We paid 1,000 ETB for a local guide and 1,000 ETB for the coffee ceremony.
