Ethiopia: Cinema and Theatre

Ethiopia that had been at the high-up as one of the few world powers in the 1st and early centuries of the 2nd millennium, and later to descend to poverty line to the extent of being synonym for famine and degradation in an English dictionary, is currently on the verge of socio-economic renaissance. Likewise, the country that experienced film viewing in the very early years of the development of world cinema for more than hundred twenty years had eventually lagged behind those African countries exposed to cinematic arts a few decades ago; but now relatively ascending to its historical status. These days, over hundred films are produced on annual bases in Ethiopia. Regarding theatre arts, Ethiopia is the first country in Africa that produced a native play hundred Years ago. Nevertheless many articles, books, and encyclopaedias written on African and theatre do not as such include the Ethiopian account, hence adversely affecting the wholeness of universal knowledge. This book thus attempts to narrow the gap by portraying the historical development of Ethiopian cinema and Theatre.